Executives of the Liberia Football Association have lauded administrators’ clubs in the association’s programs for being passionate of football development and giving more time to have the process growing faster.
Acting Liberia Football Association (LFA) president Sekou Konneh and other stakeholders praised passionate administrators for their contributions to the growth and development of football in Liberia.
Professor Konneh said many administrators continue to honor several trainings and meetings called by the football association to improve the game which is a good sign of cooperation.
The LFA Vice president for Administration spoke at a two-day FIFA-sponsored club licensing workshop for clubs in the women’s upper, lower and community divisions at the LFA headquarters in Swankamore, Congo Town on Wednesday May 17, 2023.
“It is always a pleasure to interact with stakeholders because we made a commitment to build your capacity. Some of us, who are at the LFA today as leaders were clubs’ officials yesterday. You are here because of the passion you have for football,” he said.
“Football is an addiction. You are making tremendous sacrifices today. Today’s stakeholders are tomorrow’s potential leaders in the LFA. We expected a full house here today because we have 32 clubs in all the women’s divisions. We can only say thank you for coming,” Konneh said.
He explained that the club licensing regulations introduced by FIFA and CAF, which are being implemented by the LFA, are not intended to witch hunt clubs or silence critical voices.
“We must have systems if we want things to be different. What makes it different in Ghana from Liberia is the system and we have asked CAF and FIFA to allow us to implement the bare minimum requirements, Konneh expressed.
“We know every club will not have the same office like LISCR. So we say just furnish a room in your house, NGO or organization as your office. Those are some of the minimum requirements we have been implementing because we want club licensing system to work in Liberia,” added Konneh.
Also gracing the occasion was LFA 3rd Vice president Jodie Reid-Seton who believes club licensing is about setting standards.
“Our role is to help you regulate and structure your clubs. FIFA wants the game to be standardized. That’s why it introduced club licensing. So we all talk about standards and professionalism but it begins with club licensing,” said Jodie.
“As you leave from here after two days, we want you to share your knowledge with the others so that the club can function when you aren’t around. Kindly share your knowledge,” pleaded Jodie.
LFA’s Technical Director Henry Browne also pleaded with officials to help grow their clubs by providing roles and responsibility for technical staff and players.
LFA’s First Instant Board chairperson, Jeror Cole Bangalu facilitated on the history of club licensing.
Mighty Barrolle Vice president for administration, Roseline C. Hunter-Konneh, who is also an instructor at the University of Liberia, discussed administration and governance in women’s football.
And LFA Club Licensing Manager Mohammed A. Sheriff discussed the club licensing and its general provisions.
