Thick cloud of confidence circles around the Kickball and Basketball components of the National County Sports Meet as the competition draws closer to its near end without official sponsors for prizes and awards in the end. While the athletes in these disciplines continue to demonstrate fair-play in sportsmanship, their faith lies in limbo been left without an announced prize amounts for winners.
Despite many sponsorships and government financial support for the event, the Ministry of Youth and Sports is yet to declare what the champions in these two categories will receive after the grand final so that transparency and accountability can stand tall across all disciplines of the tournament.
So far, out of the three disciplines in this year’s national county sports meet, only football has an official prize sponsor who has made public the amount competed for by all teams and individual awards prizes.
It can be recalled that Winners Incorporated, Liberia’s leading betting company, contributed five million Liberian dollars (LRD 5,000,000) to the National County Sports Meet for champions and individual awards in the football category.
The champions are set to receive two million Liberian dollars (L$2,000,000), the runners-up one million Liberian dollars (L$1,000,000), and the third-place team five hundred thousand Liberian dollars (L$500,000).
However, sources within the Ministry of Youth and Sports have revealed to the local media outlets that both basketball and kickball lack specific sponsors. As a result, the rewards for these categories might have to come from gate receipts collected during the tournament.
When contacted, officials from the Ministry of Youth and Sports declined to comment on the matter, leaving players and fans in uncertainty about the potential rewards for their efforts.
The lack of clarity has led to frustration among participants and raised questions about the ministry’s commitment to supporting all sports equally.
A conversation with the Liberian Basketball Association (LBA) Secretary General Calvin Diggs burst out a call for urgent need for financial support to the outstanding disciplines. “We are appealing to the public, corporate bodies, and philanthropists to come to our aid in the ongoing event. The sustainability of the basketball category is at stake, and without proper funding, we risk not rewarding our winners” he stated.
He highlighted the positive impact that basketball has on the country, emphasizing that investing in the sport will not only mean investing in the future of the country.
“Basketball is more than just a game; it’s a tool for social change and youth empowerment. With adequate sponsorship, we can continue to nurture talent and provide opportunities for our young athletes,” Diggs added.
Furthermore, Diggs said basketball in Liberia has long been a source of inspiration and unity for the youth, providing a platform for young athletes to showcase their talents and pursue their dreams.
However, despite the challenges, the LBA remains hopeful that the public will respond to their plea and help sponsor their category in the 2024/2025 National County Sports Meet (NCSM).