Kholifa Stars emerged victorious over Wusum Stars in a closely contested match at Magburaka Town Field on Saturday. The Tonkolili-based club secured a narrow 1-0 win, thanks to Santigie Dumbuya’s solitary goal in the 71st minute, separating the two sides. This Northeast region derby marked the first meeting between the two teams in the Sierra Leone top-flight league, intensifying the historical rivalry between the districts of Bombali and Tonkolili 1.
Despite the heightened geographical rivalry, both teams displayed caution throughout the match, maintaining possession and adopting a semi-high defensive line. This strategic approach, much to the dismay of spectators, resulted in a less intense atmosphere than expected at the Town Field 1.
The crucial goal by Santigie Dumbuya, a former Kamakwie Stars striker, earned Kholifa Stars three valuable points. The victory proved to be a much-needed boost for the home team, which had endured a challenging start to the campaign, languishing in 16th place after seven games 1.
Head Coach Hassan Madie expressed optimism, stating, “This victory comes at a critical time for us. After a gloomy start and a recent loss in a friendly match to Northern Rock FC by two goals to nil in Makeni, we needed this win to restore our confidence. The team showed resilience, and I believe this is a turning point in our season” 1.
