County
FAs Yearn For Renaissance
By Julu M. Johnson, Jr.
Three Sub-Associations of the Liberia Football Association (LFA) have
begun putting together the broken pieces following years of war.
During the visit of the President of the LFA, Cllr. S. Izetta Wesley,
to Gbarnga last Friday, each Chairman of Bong, Nimba and Lofa Counties
called on the LFA to assist them in their drive to restore football
activities to their respective counties.
The Bong Chairman Joseph Fredericks indicated that his association
would soon start the third division league, reasons for which he
submitted a proposed budget that would enable them execute their plan.
Ahead of the start of the league, the Bong Chairman pointed out that
it was necessary to carry out some renovation works at the mini
stadium in the county’s capital.
He is of the confidence that there would be teams partaking from the
various districts of the county.
According to him, the league would expose hidden talents which could
later be seen on the national level.
Mr. Frederick appealed to the LFA President to use her “good offices”
in assisting the training of coaches, referees and administrators. The
training, as stated by him, would familiarize them with the game
instead of playing by “heart.”
The Bong Chairman noted that those to be trained would thereafter pass
the knowledge over to the players in order to be aware of the laws of
the game. “When there is any promotion to go to Monrovia, they will
have some knowledge about the game.”
In her response, LFA President Wesley described the Gbarnga stadium as
one best facilities and viewed it as one worth working on to
accommodate national league matches.
“We are all looking forward to decentralization because the war
damaged the plan over the years,” said the LFA boss.
With a new government now in place, the LFA President hopes for
stability so that the decentralization program would go on.
By the acquisition of a deed for the land bearing the Gbarnga stadium
by the Bong Sub-Association, Cllr. Wesley admonished the
sub-association to begin working closely with the LFA to achieve the
needed objective.
“You cannot start any competition without training. So, the first
thing you have to do is train your administrators, referees and
coaches.
“We will send the instructor here to do the training. It depends on
how soon you want that. You will determine that.”
On behalf of Nimba County, the Vice Chairman for Administration of the
Sub-Association, Joseph M. Kollie, Jr. disclosed that his group is
faced with similar problems likewise Bong County.
As a result, he informed Cllr. Wesley that the Nimba Sub-Association
intends to engage LFA with its own project proposals for possible
assistance.
“Nimba in the past produced two first division teams and one second
division team.
“Nimba is a county of football and we are under pressure from the
youth of the county.
“We told them that it is because of the difficulties but it’s time now
to see the way the LFA can help us,” the Nimba Vice Chairman pleaded.
Also speaking, Lofa County Chairman Harris T. Kennedy said it was
customary that the head of the LFA visits her subordinates at where
they function.
Mr. Kennedy complained about the level of destruction the war has
inflicted on Lofa to the extent that he cried that the county has gone
down the drain in terms of stadium, manpower and human resources.
“I am grateful that she has come to know our plights. We lack football
pitch and human resources such as training.
“Even as Chairman, I need to be trained. I need to go through formal
workshop and know about the new game and new day about football
activities,” the Lofa Chairman appealed.
He urged Cllr. Wesley to continue her visits to other counties.
“From the time she assumed leadership from Edwin Snowe, she has been
trying her best. She has been working out of no way. I will stand by
her to see her go far,” he concluded.
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