“Very Proud Of This Achievement” -Weah Congratulates ‘LEAD-MFA U-15 Girls’ Champions

Liberia’s Chief Patron of Sports, President George Manneh Weah, has extended a special congratulatory message to the U-15 Girls Soccer Team of LEAD-Monrovia Football Academy following a splendid performance while representing Liberia at a USA-based tournament in the United States.
LEAD-Monrovia Football Academy’s U-15 female team captured the crown as Champions of the 2019 USA Cup held in Minnesota, United States of America. The young female squad defeated Vardar United 7-6 in post-match spot kick after 2-2 draw during regular time in the Final.
According to a social media post, the Liberian leaders said: “I am pleased to congratulate the ‘LEAD Monrovia Football Academy Under-15 Girls soccer team’ for their splendid performances while representing Liberia at the just ended ‘Target USA Cup’ tournament held in the United States; and for emerging as Champions of the competition.”
“The Government and People of Liberia are very proud of this achievement and truly grateful for the level of pride it has brought to our Nation. This feat signifies the rich talents our youth possess, and their ability to harness those talents when given the opportunity,” President Weah stated.
The Liberia’s Chief Patron of Sports further said that the girls’ triumphant success in the Target USA Cup Tournament also serves as an embodiment of resilience, hard-work and discipline.
The USA Cup attracted more than 1,000 teams every year, making it one of the biggest youth football tournaments in the world. It is held annually at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis.
The LEAD-Monrovia Football Academy’s U-15 girls’ team became the first Liberian team in history to participate in the tournament. They were invited by Major League Soccer club Minnesota United to participate in the 35th edition of the USA Cup in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
The victory of the girls, President Weah indicated “further renews our vigor as a Government to invest more into our youths through the establishment of more youth-based programs that will cultivate the talents of our young people thereby laying a solid foundation for our future generation.”
President Weah, in his words said: “As we celebrate this milestone accomplishment, I would like to also extend profound thanks and gratitude to the Government and people of the United States; as well as the organizers of the ‘Target USA Cup’ tournament for affording our Liberian U- 15 Girls team the opportunity to gain international exposure by participating in this competition.”
The Liberian soccer legend moreover praised and applauded the leadership of the Monrovia Football Academy, the trainers and coaches for their role in preparing the girls for the contest.
“We are truly gratified by the level of discipline, sportsmanship and preparedness the girls exhibited during the tournament. They are truly our Nation’s pride and Once again, Congratulations to the girls,” the President concluded.
It can be recalled that long before the U.S. women’s national soccer team started making headlines this summer at the World Cup, two key members made a trip to Liberia, planting seeds for a dream that played out last week at the USA Cup in Blaine.
In 2016, current U.S. female soccer team coach, Jill Ellis, and goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris visited the Monrovia Football Academy, an institution that aims to use soccer and education in creating the future leaders of Liberia.
For the young girls at Monrovia Academy, Ellis and Harris became instant role models, not some faraway celebrities. When the Americans made their World Cup championship run this summer, while fighting for equal pay, the Liberian girls watched intently, and with a purpose.
While Monrovia Academy itself aims for an equal split in genders, there was a special significance for the academy’s first-ever trip to involve a youth girls’ soccer team. “I came here for a purpose,” said Naomi Morris, one of 14 girls on the team.
Meanwhile, the team is expected to get a rousing welcome by supporters and stakeholders of women football as well as other institutions into youth football development. The first batch of the team is expected to arrive back home today, while the rest will return before the close of the week.