LIBERIA: MYS sets April 14 for County Meet Opener …As President Boakai commits to Sports Development

It has been too long since the postponement of Liberia’s annual sports festival – the National County Sports Meet (NCSM), but the Unity Party (UP)- led Administration through the Ministry of Youth and Sports under the stewardship of Cllr. Jeror Cole Bangalu, has announced the opening date for the long-awaited sports festivities.

Speaking Monday, March 25, 2024 at a major news conference held at the Ministry of Youth and Sports or MYS in Paynesville, outside Monrovia, Minister Bangalu disclosed that the tournament will now officially kick off April 14, 2024 at all four host venues across the country.

The host venues include: Kakata, which include host Margibi, neighbor Grand Bassa and Lofa; Sanniquellie which brings together host Nimba, neighbors River Cess and Bong and Grand Kru.

Also Montserrado County will host Gbarpolu, Bomi and Grand Cape Mount Counties in Monrovia and River Gee will host her south eastern peers of Grand Gedeh, Sinoe and Maryland Counties.

“The Ministry of Youth and Sports in collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Affairs hereby announces that the 2023/24 National County Meet that was postponed will now commence on April 14,” announced Minister Bangalu at a well-attended news conference amid cheers from the culture drum of the National Culture Troop led by veteran Kekura Kamara, alias Malawala Balawala.

In a bid to have a harmonious tournament, Minister Cole craved the indulgence of the various counties and sports associations/federations to ensure that transparency and fairness prevail at all levels of the county meet.

Fish Town in River Gee County was initially planned for the opening formalities prior to the postponement; however, the MYS boss disclosed that Monrovia will now serve that purpose with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai doing the official kickoff on April 14.

He urged all counties to exhibit high level of sportsmanship during the course of the county meet.

The Minister also used the occasion to propose a national culture County Meet, wherein each county will have the opportunity to showcase their cultural talents.

In a related development, Youth and Sports Minister Bangalu has extolled the national soccer squad, the Lone Star for triumphing over Djibouti in the two legs sof the preliminary stage of the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations.

And ahead of the second leg on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at the SKD, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai on Monday entertained the players and members of the technical team of Lone Star at the Executive Mansion, where he committed his unflinching support that would ensure the success of the Lone Star.

“The President pledged to continue to support the team and assured the Football Association that the government will do all possible to provide necessary support that will propel the team to victories,” Minister Bangalu asserted.

Meanwhile, President Boakai has constituted a 30-man fund raising steering committee to scout resources for the national team, something which Minister Bangalu believes is pivotal to ensuring financial support to the national team.