Sports Fm/TV

09/07/2024

SWAL Describes 2024 National SPORTS BUDGET as Total MOCKERY:

The Sports Writers Association of Liberia - SWAL has described as mockery, the allotments made for sports development in the 2024 national budget.

In a press statement, SWAL said it's disheartening that sports, particularly football continue to receive back-kick , despite the presence of several sporting personalities, including two former Presidents of the football association, representative Musa H.Bility and Senator Edwin M.Snowe at the National Legislature.

With over US$7 million in the 2024 national budget for the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS), US$150,000.00 was allotted each for the National football and the National County Sports Meet (NCSM).
Table Tennis Association got 258 USD, Up Country Basketball got an allocation of US$3,691, while Grassroots Sports Development: received US$1,230.00 and Liberia Chess Federation was allotted US$1,230.00.

Two hundred forty six dollars (US$246.00) was also allotted for the Liberia Volleyball Federation, while the Track and Field got US$246.00 and Liberia own discipline, the Liberia Kickball Federation (LKF) was allocated US$738.00.

Africa triple champions, the National Amputee Team was given US$3,400.00, with Liberia Karate Federation being allotted US$258.00.

The Liberia Athletic Federation (LAF) received US$24,276.00. Disgustingly, US$1,230.00 was allocated for Liberia's second most popular sport, Basketball and Inter School Sports Association received an allotment of 492 USD.

In total, a little over US$3,37,000.00 was appropriated for Sports, one of the least allotments in recent years.

SWAL wonders how the legislators, many of whom are high-ranking sports enthusiasts put pens to papers to approve US$1,230 .00 for basketball and US$150,000.00 for national football for example?

The Sports writing body believes the amount allotted to the various disciplines do not manifest the current financial challenges facing the sporting sector.

The organization in a Monday, July 8, 2024 release asserted that sports is a key area of employment whether short or long term for vast majority of young people, as such, government must express willingness to support the sector.

SWAL lamented further that the allotments made for the national teams, kickball, Basketball and Volleyball federations are pocket change that will further strangulate those disciplines.

The Press Union Of Liberia (PUL) auxiliary emphasized that, if the Boakai-Koung leadership is serious about the so-called RESCUE and ARREST agendas, it must be holistic, instead of giving a blind-eye to the important role of sports in national development.
SWAL is there calling on Sports stakeholders to join hands and vigorously campaign for increments in the next budget.

04/07/2024

LFA threatens to relegate club NOT meeting the licensing program.

The Liberia football association has threatened to relegate clubs that will not meet up with the club licensing program.

The club licensing program is a digital system intended to register and track the activities of clubs participating in the local leagues.

Requirements of the system include a football development program, players registration, administrative policies amongst others.

Addressing a daylong news conference Tuesday, July 2, 2024, the Liberia FA president, Mustapha RAJI said any club failing to take advantage of system will be relegated.

“Any team that will failed to apply through the club licensing program will be relegated,” RAJI added.

Mr. RAJI identified current 1st division champion, Watanga FC and Paynesville Fc as the only clubs that have successfully completed the process while he encouraged others to follow suit.

However, the president of Senior Female Professionals, Emmette Glasco has described the decision to relegate club as harsh.

Mr. Glasco in a telephone interview on Thursday, July 4, 2024 said the Liberian FA can fine clubs instead outrightly relegating.

“Other countries are still struggling with the program as such the football house should be lenient and seek fines instead of relegation,” he added.

According to him, the club licensing program requirements are complex and difficult to fulfil as such the Liberian should be more flexible instead of the other round.

17/06/2024

A manual VAR is being used in an ongoing Montserrado County District #7 Unification Tournament in Liberia.
It’s the first time the technology is being used in Liberia 🇱🇷.

📸 Amadu Kromah

11/06/2024

First division side, FC Fassell formerly FC Kallon signs a Belgian Coach, Ivan minneart for an undisclosed fee.

Addressing a news conference on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, FC Fassell president, CASSELL Kuoh said the 3 year deal will last up to 2027.

Mr. Kuoh added that the mandate of the Coach is but not limited to winning all the major leagues and help to build local players.

Also speaking the newly sign coach, Ivan Minneart promised to make a difference in making Fassell a better club in the LFA 1st division league.

“All coaches may have the same kind of playing style but I add little salt and pepper to make a difference,” Coach Ivan asserted.

20/05/2024

Congratulations to the team for winning 3rd place.

02/04/2024

SWAL leadership commends Bea Mountain Defender, Kemoh Kamara for gifting the organization 50 United States dollars from his Djibouti game par diem.

This is unprecedented in the history of Liberian players.

Bea Mountain and Lone Star defender Kemoh Kamara presented L$9,600.00 to the Sports Writers Association of Liberia SWAL .

He said the money was an appreciation from his per diem received during Liberia back-to-back meetings with Djibouti in the AFCON25 preliminary qualifiers.

It was a surprise.Little, but enough from a sports writer's perspective. Congratulations Kemoh. More wins!

31/03/2024

Congratulations to Abraham Africa Bellien Boimah and Nisha Smith on tying the knot. We pray for God’s abundant blessings in this Union.

26/03/2024

“The physicality of the players has improved a lot, the speed has improved and the chance of making mistake has improved and so mentally they start to think a bit quicker and more United,”Coach Mario Marinica bragging after the Lonestar 0-0 draw against 10-men Djibouti to qualify to the group stage of the AFCON qualifiers.

24/03/2024

Grace Fahnbulleh wins Bronze medal for Liberia in women’s 54kg boxing category at the ongoing All African games in Accra, Ghana.
📸Jeror Cole Bangalu

21/03/2024

LONESTAR Ends Winning Drought:

The Liberian Lonestar netted two goals against Djibouti late Wednesday’s night in Marrakech to end a 10-game winning drought.

Mohammed Sangare of Scottish Premiership side Livingston, scored the first goal from the penalty spot in the 23-minute to separate both sides.

Then Captain Oscar Dorley doubled the score in the 35th minute to put the score at 2-0 to seal the Red, white and blue boys much anticipated victory at the Marrakech Central Stadium.

The match is the first-leg of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations preliminary rounds while the return leg is expected to take place at the famous Samuel Kanyan Doe Sports Complex March 26, 2024 in Monrovia.

20/03/2024

SWAL Appoints New Technical Staff ahead of a fixture with Football Fans Association.

The leadership of the Sports Writers Association has appointed License Coach, Gologo Ben Garkpah as head Coach of the pen pushers squad.

Coach Garkpah replaces former SWAL president and Garndersville Fc Secretary General, Roland Mulbah.

While Success Tv Reporter, Roland Bandorkai will serve as his deputy and Sports Journalist and United football coach, Theophilus Geekor will serve as Technical Advisor.

Meanwhile, SWAL is expected to meet face to face with Liberia National Football Fans Association in her first fixture under the new leadership.

The event which is organized by the Liberia National Football Fans Association will see the sports pen pushers fighting to sn**ch their first trophy to kick-off her 2024 footballing campaigns.

20/03/2024

Liberia’s Maia McCoy is now the 2nd fastest woman in Africa.

The Liberian athlete won a silver at the ongoing African Games in Accra after clocking 11.49 seconds in the 100 meter and 4x4 relay.

This is the 2nd silver medal for Liberia after the Scrabble squad secured the country’s first at the all African games.

However, Liberia is yet to appear among the list of medalists despite winning two from Athletics and scrabble.

While we are yet to establish the reasons for not listing Liberia amongst countries winning medals, our team will continue to investigate the matter.

18/03/2024

He finished as the Best Liberian Performer despite losing his phone.

👉🏿The story of Scrabble player Vasco Menco Garwo I

“It was a record breaking moment for me.Thanks to God and through hard studies,I was able to finish as the best performing Liberian scrabble player at the side event of the 13th African Games where scrabble was introduced for the first time.

Winning 16 out of 28 games against top rated Scrabble players across the continent is an achievable feat for me.

I won against participating players from the following countries playing at the side event
(Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, Kenya, Zambia, South Africa etc)

Though I missed my 1st game due to my phone getting missing in an Uber(taxi) and having a stressful opening day, I was able to muster the courage to push for more.

Thanks to the National Team too at the Main event for winning the 2nd place and bringing the Silver trophy home.

It's an honor to wear the red, white and blue colors and the smiles says it all.
We won't rest until we get there!!!!
Never say die until the bones are rotten.
🙏🙏💪💪♥️♥️

17/03/2024

Liberia Wins Silver at the All African Games:
By: Edwin Dolo

Liberia lost to Uganda in the final of the Scrabble category at the All African Games in Accra, Ghana.

Having defeated Uganda in the Group Stage, Liberia lost in the first two rounds of the grand final to take home the Silver medal.

Liberia finished top of a round-robin group of eight countries before edging out Team Kenya in the semi-final.

Uganda, for their part, defeated world giants Nigeria to make it to the Grand final.

Team Liberia was led by Lemuel Gibson who recently won the National Scrabble Championsship.

Malek Sheriff and Roland Boykai who is the second best Scrabble player in Liberia currently made up the country's 3-man team.

This is the first time Scrabble was included as part of the sporting disciplines at the All African Games.

The Liberian delegation included the President of the National Scrabble Association of Liberia (NASAL), Lester Morris, and Vice President Joseph Avery.

Others include Alvin Roberts Vasco Garwo, Abraham Kollie, Jonathan Wesley and Gabriel Potter.

16/03/2024

Football stakeholders meet President Joseph Boakai to discuss sports development.

The gathering which focused on key issues within the sporting sector did not include any other member from the over 22 sporting federations in Liberia.

The delegation included Youth & Sports Minister, Jeror Cole Bangalu, LFA president, Mustapha RAJI, Deputy Sports Minister, Andy Quamie and Assistant Minister and Executive Committee member of the Liberian FA, Murvee Gray.

16/03/2024

Eye catching 1st division football fixtures.👇🏾

15/03/2024

💪🏿👏Murphy Oscar Dorley

Captain Oscar ©️🇱🇷

Po čtyřech letech ve Slavii Oscar proti AC Milán poprvé navlékl kapitánskou pásku. Jsme na tebe pyšní, Osky! 🫶

Největší rozhovor s naší liberijskou hvězdou najdete v novém magazínu 𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐅𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 👉 bit.ly/slavisticky-halftime

15/03/2024

Six out of 40 foreign based players INVITED for Liberia’s AFCON Preliminary Qualifiers against Djibouti.

Lonestar Head Coach, Mario Marinica has selected six foreign based players out of the forty (40) vetted for the upcoming AFCON qualifiers.

Addressing a news conference Thursday, March 13, 2024 at the Liberia Football Association, Coach Marinica said out of the 40 foreign based players vetted, only six convinced him of making the team.

Coach Marinica added that his 24-men squad is dominated with local based players who he believes can get the job done for Liberia.

Liberia which has traveled to Djibouti will take on their counterpart in the first leg on March 19, 2024 while the return leg will take place in Monrovia on March 24th.

Full listing:👇🏾

* Goalkeepers
1.Tommy Sango - LISCR FC
2. Abdulai Koulibaly - Global Pharma
3. Emmanuel Deanneh - Paynesville Fc

* Defenders
1. Philip Tarnue - Watanga
2. Mark Pabai - Koper fc / Slovenia
3. Sebastin Teclar - LISCR fc
4. Musa Sesay - LPRC Oilers
5. Natus Swen - Watanga
6. Jah Nyanforh - Blackmen Warriors
7. Sampson Dweh - Viktoria Plzen/ Czech Republic
8. Kemoh Kamara - Bea Mountain

* Midfielders
1. Mohammed Sangare - Livingstone fc- Scotland
2. Joachim Adukor - Sliema Wanderers / Malta
3. Nohan Kenneh - Shrewsbury / England
4. Marcus McCauley - PDRM/ Malaysia
5. Abdulai Bility - Heaven Eleven
6. Murphy Oscar Dorley - Slavia Prague / Czech Republic
7. Chauncy Freeman - Watanga
8. Farsedu Logan - Watanga
9. Edward Ledlum - Paynesville Fc
10. Sheku Sheriff - LISCR FC

* Forwards
1. Clement Zubah - Mighty Barrolle
2. William Gibson - Heaven Eleven
3. Terry Sackor - LPRC Oilers

04/03/2024

Liberian FA axes 7 clubs due to Lack of Office Space
Source: Liberia Football Association

The First Instant Board (FIB) of the Liberia Football Association (LFA), in keeping with the book of sanctions, has fined seven clubs US$250 for not having an office space.

They are Cece United, Kallon FC, Paynesville FC, Heaven Eleven, Gardnersville FC, Nimba FC and Ambassadors FC.

It followed spot checks conducted by the LFA club licensing department among clubs in the first, second and women’s upper divisions in keeping with the club licensing regulations.

The FIB also gave Global Pharma, Invincible Eleven, Margibi FC, Real Muja, Determine Girls, Senior Female Professionals and Stages Queen two weeks to erect or have signpost (signboard) leading to and at their office.

Meanwhile, the clubs are yet to respond to the latest fine by the FA.

29/12/2023

Just In:
LFA terminates Keita’s contract for sporting just cause

The Liberia Football Association (LFA) announces the termination of the services of men’s senior national team head coach Ansu Keita.

In a December 29 letter to Keita, LFA secretary-general Kollie A. Dorko (Atty.) said a majority decision was reached to immediately end the contract for sporting just cause without compensation at an executive committee meeting on 18 December.

The LFA thanked Keita for his contribution to football development and wished him the best in future endeavors.

The search for a new coach will be announced in 2024.
Source: Liberia Football Association

05/12/2023

Football pundits DEMAND Pepper Fc owner, Samir Kamara SUSPENSION for attacking assistant Referee, Charles Boimah:

Football pundits are demanding the suspension of Pepper fc Owner, Samir Kamara for attacking assistant referee, Charles Boimah.

During a 3rd division game in the LFA Garndersville sub-association league, Mr. Kamara got furious and attacked the assistant referee for a decision against his team.

Kamara who was captured by Sports journalist, Pontia Jadoe in a viral video circulating online sees him stoning the assistant referee and physically attacking him behind a wire fence.

The action has prompted football pundits to call on the Liberian FA to immediately suspend him from all football activities across the country.

Meanwhile, Kamara who formerly played for Watanga, LPRC Oilers, and LISCR has alleged that the assistant referee was the first to physically attacked him which prompted his reaction.

01/12/2023

Another Court Case looms over basketball:

Despite what many describing the just ended basketball elections as peaceful, the rigmarole amongst basketball is far from being over as some aggrieved members drag the new leadership to court again.

The body which spent over 3years in deadlock over court proceedings after a controversial 2019 elections on September 23, 2023 reinstated Rufus Anderson with a six week window to conduct the elections in line with a mandate from FIBA Africa dated November 20, 2019 after the controversial elective congress.

But on Thursday, November 30, 2023, Basketball stalwart, Jake Kabakole who was running for the just ended elections as president against incumbent Samukai Konneh filed a writ of prohibition on all basketball activities across the country.

The writs place a halt on all basketball activities in Liberia until the court’s hearing which is slated for December 18, 2023.

Find details below:

Subject: Prohibition of Liberia Basketball Association Activities

My Fellow Basketball Stakeholders,

Moments ago, the Vice President for Administration, Mr. Yanquey Borsay, was served a writ in his capacity as Acting President of the Liberia Basketball Association. He was served a Writ of Preliminary Injunction on behalf of Petitioner Jake Kabakole of the City of Monrovia from J. Kennedy Peabody, Resident Circuit Court Judge of the Civil Law Court. The writ of injunction temporarily restrain and prohibits all basketball, activities under the Abraham Samukai administration until.the the judge hears the case on December 18, 2023 at 10:00 am.

Based on the order of the court as of now all basketball matters and activities have ceased.

Please remain patient and allow the court process to take its course.

We are very confident in the court system of Liberia. We are sure of the outcome mirroring the results of the LBA October 31, 2023 elections.

Sincerely yours,

Calvin A. Diggs

30/11/2023

“I’m not perfect but I’ll demand more from my colleagues for the betterment of the game,” new Technical Director, Doco Wesseh.

The United States based Liberian was speaking on Thursday, November 30, 2023 flanked by the LFA technical consultant, Moussa Sheikh Kamara who hailed from Senegal at their unveiling ceremony at the Liberia football Association headquarters in Congo Town.

Though detail surrounding their contracts is yet to be revealed, Doco replaces the late Henry Brown who served in the position for eleven years (2012 - 2023).