The Lower River Regional Football Association (LRRFA) third division league is currently playing its regional qualifiers as part of their drive to expand the league to increase the number of participating teams and the player pool.
The country’s least populous region currently has six teams playing in the league, comprising of the six administrative districts in the region but for the first time in the 2021 league, eight teams will be competing for honors to be crowned regional champions and the right to represent LRR in the provincial four-region triangular for promotion to the national second tier.
Since the absolute decentralization of football in the country, attained by the GFF with the promotion of B4U Kiang West to the second division in July 2018, the LRR region has been the biggest beneficiaries with Jarra West also qualifying to the national second division league, making it two teams, the highest by any region outside of Kanifing, Banjul and West Coast.
Eight teams entered the competition for the two places in the regional league proper and in a competition played in the form of knockout encounters, Japineh and Kinteh’s 11 are both through to the final phase of the qualifiers following wins over Tabokoto FC of Soma and Pakalinding respectively. The latter won 1-0 while the latter were winners in a three-goal thriller against their Pakalinding neighbors.
Matches will continue this weekend when Dibba Oil takes on Bantang and Jarra Karantaba FC entertains Julafaar FC of Kiang West. The winners of those matches will join Japineh and Kinteh’s 11 in the last four for the final hurdle of the qualifiers. The draw for the last stage of the qualifiers will be conducted on Sunday.
Currently, Kiang West, Jarra United, Jarra East, Jarra Central, Kiang East and Kiang Central are the six teams that are assured of a place in the league.
