By Ishmail Saidu Kanu
Wilberforce Strikers, Bhantal FC, and Old Edwardians have made the perfect start to the new season with a 100% record after three games. However, things could not have gone any worse for Ports Authority and Kamboi Eagles.
They are at the bottom of the table and have yet to pick a point. The five-to-ten-day interval will offer them the chance to regroup and reflect on their start so far.
Here, Tribune Times looks at the things we have learnt from each club in the Premier League after three games:
1. Wilberforce Strikers – surprising the nation
After a poor start last season – losing two of their first three games and drawing the other – Wilberforce Strikers sit at the top of the Sierra Leone Premier League table (9 points) on goal difference after winning all three of their first games.
They have already scored eight goals, with three of them coming from striker Mohamed Kanu and two from forward Osman Kargbo. Mohamed has won two of the last three Man of the Match awards, with Osman securing the other against Bullum Stars.
2. Bhantal FC – continuing their good form
Like Wilberforce Strikers, Bhantal FC have a 100% record so far in the Premier League, scoring seven and conceding just one. They continue their fine start after gaining promotion last season, finishing second.
Striker Mohamed Bangura, who scored thirteen times last season, has already scored three goals, with two of them coming from the Wusum Stars match six days ago.
3. Old Edwardians – Fogbawa leading the May Park Boys
Bhantal are not the only team settling well in the league; Old Edwardians are making a flying start under Coach Dominic Junior Konneh. The May Park Boys have had a pronounced start, with three wins and seven goals.
Former Bo Rangers’ midfielder Mohamed Fogbawa has scored three goals in three games for Old Edwardians, and the team are currently lying third in the League. Last season, the May Park Boys drew their first three matches, a situation they have learnt from coming into this season.
4. Luawa FC – Cacao Boys maintaining
The boys from Kailahun are maintaining their unbeaten run after registering two wins and a draw in the League. Their first two Fridays were productive, with wins against Bai Bureh Warriors and Freetonians SLIFA.
Interestingly, the Cacao Boys have only scored two goals in their last three games, and those goals earned them their first six points. Their other match against Freetown City FC ended goalless.
5. Abacha City – Yellow Nation gaining ground
After losing their opening fixture to Wilberforce Strikers (5-2), newly promoted Abacha City bounced back to win their games against Mighty Blackpool (1-0) and Kamboi Eagles (2-1).
Lamin Kamara has scored two goals for the newcomers, including an 87-minute winner against Kamboi Eagles last Wednesday, taking them to fifth in the Premier League table.
6. FC Kallon – three points after disciplinary measure
The Cavaliers started last season with a win and two draws and have replicated the same campaign after receiving three points from the Premier League Board following a decision to discipline Freetonians SLIFA for gross misconduct.
FC Kallon fans will be delighted with the outcome of awarding their team the three points, and with fixtures coming thick and fast, they hope to impress as before.
7. Freetown City FC – doing fairly well
If not for equity, Freetown City FC would have been relegated from the Premier League last season, but they fought to pull away the odds. They started well by beating defending champions Bo Rangers 2-1 at home.
FCFC drew their other two games against Star Sport Academy (1-1) and Luawa FC (0-0). The City Boys are seventh in the table with five points, remaining unbeaten.
8. East End Lions – work in progress
East End Lions secured their first Premier League win against Bai Bureh Warriors over the weekend after their first two draws. The Killers drew their first three matches last season but managed to win one this term.
The former Premier League champions have scored just one goal this season but hope to do more in the upcoming fixtures.
9. Bo Rangers – champions yet to get going
The champions suffered a 2-1 defeat to Freetown City FC in their opening match. Last season, their opening game was a 1-0 win against Wilberforce Strikers at Southern Arena.
However, they bounced back in their match against lacklustre Ports Authority, beating them 2-1 at home before dropping two points again the following week when they drew 0-0 with Diamond Stars in Kono.
10. Star Sport Academy – newcomers finding their way
Star Sport Academy were welcomed to the Premier League with a 1-0 loss to Freetonians SLIFA. Even with young talents and fresh from winning the playoffs trophy, they couldn’t find the back of the net in that opener.
Their second match ended in a draw, but their 1-0 winner against the vulnerable Ports Authority was a hope-rekindler. They lie tenth with one win, one draw, and one loss.
11. Freetonians SLIFA – facing the consequences
Freetonians SLIFA finished tenth last season and won just one of their first three games. So far, they have dropped from sixth to eleventh in the table after FC Kallon were awarded three points due to a disciplinary decision against the Eagles for gross misconduct.
With three matches played, one win, and two losses, SLIFA will be frustrated to have lost out on three valuable points due to their own indiscipline.
*12. Diamond Stars – winless Easterners*
Diamond Stars are still looking for their first win this season after two draws and a loss in their first three games. It was the same start last year when they lost their opener and drew the other two.
The Easterners finished twelfth last season with twelve wins, thirteen losses, and nine draws. With those three results so far, they hope to improve and finish better by June.
13. Wusum Stars – all is not well in Makeni
With just two points from three games, Wusum Stars have had a poor start compared to last season when they secured one win and two draws. The Northern Rock have scored just once and conceded five.
Their next match is against league leaders Wilberforce Strikers on Sunday in Makeni.
14. Mighty Blackpool – Tis Tas Boys fumbling
Mighty Blackpool, one of the traditional teams in Sierra Leone, are on a snail-walk, just like in previous seasons, having lost two matches and drawn the other. The Tis Tas Boys are just above the relegation zone on goal difference.
They scored three times in three games and conceded five. Last season, they won two of their first three games, but so far, things are not looking good for the former champions.
15. Bai Bureh Warriors – Sabanoh Boys still finding their feet
It has been a tough start for Bai Bureh Warriors, with Luawa FC and East End Lions being two of their last three opponents, and unsurprisingly, the matches against those two teams ended in defeat for the Sabanoh Boys.
They are in the relegation zone. Losing their opener against Luawa FC at home was a turn-off for their fans who were expecting a win, just as they did in their first match last season when they beat Kholifa Stars 2-1 in Port Loko.
16. Bullum Stars – dangling in the drop zone
This is not what Lungi was expecting since Lamboi FC was changed to Bullum Stars. They are in the drop zone after three games, losing two of them and conceding four goals. Last season, they won two of their first three games, sharing the spoils in the other.
They started well, even though they finished fourteenth in the League. If they are to move from the red zone, they should start winning when they host Abacha City this coming Saturday.
17. Kamboi Eagles – disappointing fans after their return
Three games and three defeats show that Kamboi Eagles are currently struggling in their return to the topflight. Two away defeats and a home loss leave them second from bottom.
The Eagles must wake up from their slumber, as going down again won’t be good for their fans, considering that four teams are relegating this season. They welcome Mighty Blackpool on Saturday.
18. Ports Authority – a torrid start for the Waterfront Boys
Having done well last season with Musa Tombo Kamara scoring fifteen times to clinch the Golden Boot, Ports fans are wondering what is going wrong with their team after losing their first three matches.
Losing three in a row for the first time in almost three decades, the Waterfront Boys are sitting rock bottom of the table with zero points. They have a tough away fixture against in-form Luawa FC on Sunday.
Source; https://tribunetimessl.com/premier-league-what-have-we-learnt-from-every-teams-first-three-games/