By S. Siapha Mulbah
The Government of Liberia, on the eve of the kick-off date earlier scheduled for the nation’s most anticipated and watched event, the National County Sports Meet, announced the postponement to a later undisclosed date.
The event according to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, was to start Saturday December 16, 2023 with its opening ceremony held in Fishtown, Rivergee County. On last Friday, Sports Minister, D. Zeogar Wilson, disclosed that the tournament had been postponed by the government, through communication from the Joint Presidential Transitional Team (JPTT).
According to the Minister in a statement, the decision to postpone the sporting festival was based on precedent.
He said, “In 2017, the transitional team of then President-elect, George Manneh Weah, requested the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf government to kindly leave the hosting of the National County Sports Meet to the Weah-led Government, and Madam Sirleaf’s government agreed.”
According to him, it is upon the same precedence or indication that the Transitional Team of President-elect, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, made a similar request to have the National County Sports Meet hosted by the soon to be inaugurated administration, and President George Weah has accepted.
The last minute to time decision left local county steering committees in unwarranted costs, including the booking of facilities for camping of players, transportation, players and coaches’ training sessions, as well as the signing of players, among others.
Following the pronouncement on Friday, December 15, players from the various counties’ camps were seen regrettably reporting back to their homes, despite the Ministry’s disclosure that the competition could be held at a later date by the new authority that could be appointed at the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
