By S. Siapha Mulbah
As part of efforts to make Chess a mainstream sport throughout the length and birth of the country, the Liberia Chess Federation (LCF) has begun initiating reforms programs targeted at activating more functional Chess Clubs in different communities to increase participation.
The federation wants to have more than hundred clubs in different parts of the country to control the day-to-day activities of the sporting disciple and give the general public the opportunity to get involve in playing the game at the community level.
Serving as a guest on a radio sports program last Saturday in Monrovia, the federation’s president, Thomas Karyah, disclosed that despite the size and population of Liberia, there are only 15 active clubs mainly in Monrovia that are currently recognized by the federation.
According to him, the data show that Liberia chess community is really underrepresented which calls for major reforms to have more accredited clubs. “a data showing 15 clubs in a whole country is an underrepresentation and this is a disadvantage to the federation and the people that are outside there with little understanding of what this beautiful game is.”
He explained that the federation has opened a process to have those playing chess in the communities with a group intending to be fully recognized as a club to visit the LCF headquarters to form part of the accreditation and vetting process.
However, he maintained that the accreditation status of the clubs will be given to newly established bodies that meet the standard set aside by the LCF to make sure that they all are functional and active for community activities.
According to him five persons under one vision of chess development in Liberia can form a club and have a structural leadership that will process the legal status of their institution so that they can become recognized by the LCF.
“We need more Chess clubs for public participation in the game. The process is now open for them to seek accreditation because getting such comes with so many benefits so we will only accredit actives clubs and make sure that they are stop centers for chess activities every time,” he said.
The president of the Chess federation maintained that clubs play crucial role in the administrative management of the game because every decision made will go for validation from accredited chess clubs and protect the interest of those playing.
Meanwhile, the Liberia chess federation in a recent executive meeting overwhelmingly agreed that every fund received from the government of Liberia in the national budget will have a guarantee allotment to accredited chess clubs all over the country.
Karyah said the decision made by the federation is to empower the clubs and strengthen them financially to be able to effectively run their respective programs and keep the game presence everywhere.
“Chess is a very important tool for every aspect of our society. So, we think giving the clubs the support to keep this game in all parts of the country will improve the work we are doing for the young people and the future of this country,” he asserted.
With the federation only two sources of income traced being the government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the International Chess Federation, LCF has promised to spread it tentacles to the communities through the clubs.
Currently, the LCF has boards, clocks and other materials for the game to be distributed to the clubs but they are under obligation to get legal status with the federation in order to start executing the LCF core-functions.