The president of the Liberia Taekwondo Federation, Master Junior Pewee Russian, has vowed to ban any official, Master, or Grand Master from practicing Martial Arts across Liberia once involved with sexual harassment, violence against women, rape, among others.
Master Junior Pewee Russian said the World Taekwondo Federation is strongly against such attitudes, and it has measures in place to clamp down hard on perpetrators involved across the world, making Liberia no exception.
The Liberia Taekwondo Federation president spoke recently to local media in Paynesville at the climax of Day Two of a week-long online training for coaches conducted by the Federation, in partnership with Goal Team Liberia.
The training was intended to prepare Liberian coaches about the existing day reality of the sport, with emphasis on the growth of Taekwondo and Martial Arts.
Recently, the Liberia Taekwondo National team performed poorly at the 2023 delayed All African Games in Ghana, and the team’s output throughout the event was attributed to lack of understanding of the game.
Following the tournament, the World Taekwondo Federation, in partnership with Goal Team Liberia, held a weeklong workshop for coaches to update them on their shortcomings.
However, Master Russian said, before his coming to power, it was alleged that one of their masters was involved with sexual assault against a female, and he wants to establish an investigative team to get the reality of the issue.
“I want to make it clear that this caveat is not only for coaches, masters, or grand masters; even a senior student or a beginner student involved in any of these acts, will have themselves to blame”.
“This is not intended to witch-hunt anybody, but to bring decency to the Federation as it has been mandated by our parent body,” Master Russian added.
Master Junior Pewee Russian has, however, said there are plans in place to bring total transformation to the Federation, and one of them is the training of coaches to be on par with other countries.
He acknowledged that the national team will soon begin producing needed results if the coaches can start teaching the best lessons to the athletes.
“Though there are still other levels to cover, but by the completion of the exercises, our coaches will have been transformed to begin passing knowledge to others. Getting a complete wining national team requires time and adequate preparation,” he maintained.
The National team coach of the Taekwondo Federation, Sam Dennis, who was in charge of the team during its participation in the 2023 All African Games in Ghana, lauded the World Taekwondo Federation and Goal Team Liberia for the workshop.
Coach Dennis said, based on what he learned from the workshop, he can assure the public that no more excuses if the team poorly performs.
“My colleagues and I learned lot of things today in keeping with the current day reality of the sport. As coaches, we are under obligations to pass the acknowledge over to others in the best interest of the game,” he said.
