–Grand Bassa Vs. Rivercess County in Kickball & Football
IPNEWS-Monrovia: In 1956, President William V.S. Tubman, the 18th president of Liberia under his National Unification Policy decided to use sports as a national reconciliation tool to unite the country, which at the time was comprised of four counties – Maryland, Sinoe, Grand Bassa and Montserrado.
Chief Patron of Sports President George Weah
President Tubman’s National Unification Policy was crafted as a tool to bring the natives and the then ‘Americo Liberians’ or sons and daughters of free slaves, who had returned to Africa under the auspices of the American Colonization Society (ACS), to give birth to a country called Liberia today.
As the counties, territories came together and as well as new counties were being formed to join the Republic, the need for coexistence became paramount, but the predecessors to President Tubman could not easily find an easy path; and so when Tubman succeeded president Edwin Barclay, his Open Door Policy as well as his National Unification Policy were key agendas for his administration, as he led Liberia for 27 consecutive years.
When Tubman died and his Vice President William R. Tubman succeeded him in 1971, the National County Sports Meet continued to be used as a reconciliation tool in Liberia, where Liberians put aside their religious, political, tribal differences among others to unite in one accord to support their respective counties as they compete in the National County Sports Meet.
President Williams V.S. Tubman give birth to the National County Sports Meet as a reconciliation and unification tool for Liberia in the 1950s as more counties and territories came together to form a whole called Liberia.
When the military junta – the People’s Redemption Council (LPC) of Master Sergeant Samuel Kanyon Doe overthrew the True Whip Party (TWP) government, thus leading to political friction in the country, the National Count Sports Meet was also used to unify the people of Liberia. Also under the regimes of former President Charles Taylor and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf the National County Sports Meet was the chief reconciliation tool to keep Liberians united.
Fast forward to 2022, the National County Sports Meet, has been named the Bicentennial Edition of the 2022 – 2023 National County Sports Meet, under the theme: “LIBERIA a NATION CELEBRATING 200 YEARS OF EXISTENCE – MAINTAINING THE PEACE THROUGH WOMEN SPORTS PARTICIPATION.” Exactly 200 years after the return of free slaves that led to the establishment of the country today called Liberia, the Ministry of Youth and Sports under the leadership of Minister D. Zeogar Wilson, along with dynamic team, decided to continue to use the National County Sports Meet as a unifying tool as it has been over years in Liberia.
And kick ball rolling, the 2022 National County Sports Meet kicks off, Today Saturday, December 17, in Grand Bassa County where the official opening ceremonies will be held. According to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Grand Bassa VS Rivercess in Kickball and Football at the Doris Williams Sports Stadium will be the opening games for this year tournament.
As anticipated, scores of Liberians are expected to throng into Buchanan, Grand Bassa County today to witness and participate in the official ceremony.
Sponsorship of the National County Sports Meet
ArcelorMittal Liberia Is Headline Sponsor
The world over, hosting any sporting fiesta is cost intensive as Liberia is no exception. The Ministry of Youth and Sports is challenged financially to single-handedly fund the National County Sports Meet, so quite recently as preparations were being made for the National Sporting festival, one of Liberia’s leading Concessions, ArcelorMittal – Liberia became the Headline Sponsor and provided a check of US$275,000 (Two hundred seventy-five thousand United States Dollars) to the Ministry of Youth and Sports as support for this year’s National Country Sports Meet.
Minister D. Zeogar Wilson received the check at a dinner on Monday, November 14, 2022 in Monrovia, and stated that US$250,000 will go to the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the hosting of the tournament, while 25,000 will go to Nimba, Bong, and Grand Bassa counties where ArcelorMittal is currently operating.
Minister Wilson also disclosed that 5,000 will be given to each of the counties to prepare for the tournament.
On his part, ArcelorMittal CEO Mr. Jozephus Coenen recounted the numerous contribution his company has made and continue to make towards the development of sports in Liberia, he stressed that ArcelorMittal will continue to support sports in Liberia. Mr. Coenen said that ArcelorMittal is in Liberia to stay and will continue to support the socioeconomic development of the government as its partner.
Speaking on behalf of both houses of the National Legislature, Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon during the presentation on November 14, 2022 in Monrovia said that the county sports meet should not be a political league instead it should be an event where young talents are discovered. He thanked ArcelorMittal Liberia for their sponsorship and urged them to copy a good example of LAMCO by owning a team in the National Football League.
It can be recalled that ArcelorMittal Liberia provided US$120,000 (One hundred twenty thousand United States Dollars) as the Gold sponsor for the 2021/2022 National County Sports Meet.
LISCR Donates Trophies and Awards to MYS
LISCR CEO Mr. Abraham Avi Zaidenberg presents medals and trophies for the 2022/2023 National County Sports Meet
As the Ministry of Youth and Sports continued to search for sponsors for the 2022 National County Sports Meet, another international firm, the Liberia International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), through its CEO Mr. Abraham Avi Zaidenberg, donated sports materials worth US$10,000 (Ten Thousand United States Dollars) to the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the 2022/2023 National County Sports Meet.
Making the presentation at his office in Monrovia some time ago, Mr. Zaidenberg said LISCR has always been a partner and will continue to be a partner to the Ministry of Youth and Sports. He stressed that for the past five years, LISCR has supported the National County Sports Meet and also served as Prime Sponsor for the Intra-Governmental Tournament.
Mr. Zaidenberg presented 4 big size trophies, 20 individuals’ trophies and awards, 450 customized medals which include 150 gold, 150 silver, 150 bronze, and 3000 customized ribbons for accredited participants.
Deputy Minister of Sports G. Andy Quamie, received the items and expressed gratitude to Mr. Zaidenberg for his continuous invaluable support to the National County Sports Meet and recounted Mr. Zaidenberg’s numerous support to the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Deputy Minister Quamie also described the LISCR as a sports promoter and visionary who is unbending on football development in Liberia.
APM Terminals Liberia Renew Its Sponsorship for the National County Sports Meet – Donates Jerseys
Deputy Youth and Sports Minister for Administration Audrian Smith Forbes receives sample of the jerseys from APM Terminals Liberia Mr. Clay Crain for the 2022/2022 National County Sports Meet
Also APM Terminals Liberia once again renewed its sponsorship to National County Sports Meet with a donation of sporting items to the Ministry of Youth & Sports.
The items donated consist of branded jerseys valued at US$15,000 for all the teams participating in this most prestigious sporting event in the country.
The items were presented to the Ministry of Youth & Sports, by Managing Director for APM Terminals Liberia, Mr. Clay Crain who reiterated the company’s commitment to support the tournament as part of its effort to invest in initiatives that bring out the talents of Liberian youths and help foster national cohesion and development.
Mr. Crain emphasized that APM Terminals Liberia has been supporting the National County Sports Meet for the past 5 years and sees it as a strategic investment into the promotion of Sports and talent discovery from all parts of the country.
A cross section of staffs of Ministry of Youth and Sports and APM Terminals Liberia as well as Deputy Minister Forbes and APM CEO Crain during the presentation of the jerseys for the National County Sports Meet
“Our continuous sponsorship of the National County Meet is founded on our strong belief that the Liberian youths are the bedrock for economic development in this country.
Our mandate as a company is to provide efficient Port services to ultimately support the economic growth of Liberia and reposition the Freeport of Monrovia as the economic hub of the Mano River Sub-region.
We know that this vision will not be realized if the young people of Liberia are not empowered to liberate their talents and creative energies. We see sports as key to this and we will support the discovery and nurturing of those talents.” Mr. Crain commented.
Deputy Youth and Sports Minister for Administration and Acting Minister, Mrs. Audrian- Smith Forbes received the items and praised APM Terminals Liberia for their continuous support to the National County Sports Meet adding that such support is instrumental for the organization and success of the biggest sporting festival in the country
“For five years now, APM Terminals Liberia has always been providing sponsorship to the National County Meet and we are honestly grateful that APM Terminals Liberia will always be coming to the assistance of the government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports. These jerseys are very nice, well designed, and will go a long way in making the County Meet a beautiful event,” Deputy Minister Forbes said.
Ministry of Youth and Sports Still Needs National Government Financial Support
In a passionate plead to the national government, Deputy Youth Sports Minister Andy G. Quamie when he appeared on a local radio called on the government to make available what it budgeted for the National County Sports Meet, as every cent, nickel and dime will be needed to make the 2022/2023 sporting fiesta a success.
Deputy Minister Quamie noted that hosting such a national tournament, which teams have to travel from end of the country to the other, the financial support of the Government is highly needed to make the tournament a success.
He expressed optimism that everything will be done by government to provide the needed funds for the hosting of the 2022/2023 National County Sports Meet as it has always done in the past and will do in the future.
2022/2023 National County Sports Meet Rules and Regulations Update:
2022/2023 National County Sports Meet Rules and Regulations Update:
13.0 ARTICLE XI: PLAYER’S ELIGIBILITY
13.6 Any county that registers or fields a suspended player/athlete from the LFA, LVF, LBA, LAF, and LKF shall forfeit its match, points, goals, and innings will be awarded to the opposite team and the faulting player(s) shall be suspended from the tournament:
- a) Football three (3) points and two (2) goals;
- b) Kickball three (3) points (5) innings;
- c) Volleyball three (3) points (5) sets;
- d) Basketball two (2) points (20) baskets;
- e) Athletics – Nullification of result
13.7 No county shall be allowed to register a foreign national as a player.
- All naturalized citizens who are players of county teams MUST present their naturalization documents during registration and leave a copy with the Organizing Committee (All 5 disciplines)
- All players/athletes participating in the 2022/2023 National County Sports Meet MUST present one of the followings: a valid National Identification Card, Passport Birth Certificate, or its equivalent. (All 5 disciplines)
13.8 Only two players from the former national team can participate per county. (Volleyball)
13.9 Only three (3) players per club team are allowed to play for a county. (Volleyball)
13.10 All counties’ jerseys shall be numbered and marked as per FIVB standards. (#1 to # 20 back and front for the shirts and the front for the bottom).
13.11 Each county shall dress a maximum of twelve (12) players per game. (Volleyball)
13.12 Matters not provided for will be decided by the Organizing Committee. (All 5 disciplines)
13.13 Only two (2) first Division players and three (3) Second Division players can participate. Not more than three (3) players from the same team are allowed to play in a game at the same time. Basketball
13.14 Two (2) half-fifteen (15 ) stop times will be played during the preliminary rounds and Four (4) quarters normal time during the Quarter/Semi & Grand Final. (Basketball)
13.15 Matters not provided for will be decided by the Organizing Committee. Basketball
- Each county is allowed to register two (2) female athletes and two (2) male athletes per event.
- Athlete is allowed to participate in only three (3) track events including a relay and one field event. All athletes must be identified during the competition (with a jersey)
- No coach is allowed to enter the perimeter of the competition. This will warrant the disqualification of aligned athletes from the competition.
- Each county is allowed to use only two (2) national athletes
- Only IAAF Certificated Coaches will be allowed to coach the counties teams
- Every county should use not more than EIGHTEEN (18) athletes.
- Each county is allowed to register EIGHTEEN athletes (9 female and 9 male) and five officials (One Team Leader, Two coaches, One Medic, and Care Taker)
- All IAAF rules will be applied during the competition
14.1 Absolutely there will be no former or current player(s) who have played more than 5 (Five) competitive matches (WORLD CUP and AFCON QUALIFIERS, CHAN, INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES, AND WAFU) for the Senior National Team (The Lone Star) will be permitted to participate in the National County Sports Meet (FOOTBALL).
14.2 Two (2) players from the 1st Division and Three (3) players from the 2nd Division league will be allowed to participate on each team in the 2022-2023 National County Sports Meet (FOOTBALL).
14.3 A Team promoted or relegated qualifies her players automatically after feeding that player in LFA sanctioned league. (Football)
14.4 A Team promoted or relegated qualifies her players automatically after FEEDING that player in LVF AND LBA sanctioned league.
14.5 Players that decide not to go along with relegated or promoted team shall continue to maintain their previous status before the team was either relegated or promoted. (Football)
14.6 Players with conflicting ages or birth records via their federation/association Connect and the MYS NCSM Database shall be considered ineligible to partake in the NCSM and suspended for a season from their federation’s league activities. (All 5 disciplines)
14.7 A PLAYER RELEGATED to a lower league is considered at that level after being fielded two seasons, and if PROMOTED, the player is considered after being fielded in a single season (KICKBALL)
14.8 Each county shall register ten (10) players from the Liberia Kickball Federation league-one while eight players from league- 2 (two), league 3 (three), and non-division. (Kickball)
14.9 No county shall be allowed to register more than three (3) players from the same club. (Kickball)
4.10 No coach shall be allowed to coach two or more counties in the tournament and no coach shall be a player or athlete on any of the County teams; however, a player may participate in more than one sporting discipline of a county.
14.11 No player shall function as a coach or vice versa at any time during the competition. (All 5 disciplines)
14.12 Any player found guilty of ineligibility shall be immediately expelled from the tournament and suspended from partaking in the next two editions and recommended for suspension for One (1) season from his Association/Federation organized league, and the player’s county shall forfeit the points and goals from every match that the player played. (All 5 disciplines)
14.13 No team shall benefit from any ruling after a stage has been completed by the other (Preliminary, Quarter Final, and Semi Final). (All 5 disciplines)
14.14 All counties MUST sign a service contract with players and technical staff and submit a copy to the organizing committee during registration for the 2022/2023 National County Sports Meet. (All 5 disciplines).
