LFA Executive Committee Approves Artificial Turf for NorthStar Stadium

The Executive Committee of the Liberia Football Association (LFA) has approved the installation of an artificial turf at the NorthStar Stadium in Mount Barclay, Montserrado County.

NorthStar is the home facility of third-division club Nimba United, which is owned by LFA Second Vice President Saye-Taayor Adolphus Dolo.

The turf was originally intended for the Stephen Tolbert Estate Field in Gardnersville. However, according to LFA President Mustapha Raji, the association has been unable to secure the lease documents for the field since 2022.

Speaking on a local radio station recently, Raji revealed that individuals claiming ownership of the property have complicated efforts to obtain the lease.

“There are claims by certain individuals that they own the land, which they say was sold to them by the National Housing Authority. Since 2022, we have been trying to secure a lease agreement for the property, but we’ve made no progress,” Raji explained.

The artificial turf, Raji added, is a gift from his friend Yasser Hassan al-Misehal, president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.

“We have identified areas we want to develop, but it’s also up to the community to facilitate the process,” he noted. “When we returned from Saudi Arabia in 2022, where we were promised an artificial pitch, we began negotiations with the relevant authorities. Unfortunately, the lease agreement for the Stephen Tolbert Estate Field has not materialized.”

Given the persistent challenges, the LFA Executive Committee recently voted unanimously to redirect the turf to the NorthStar Stadium for installation, should the lease issue remain unresolved by the time the turf arrives.

Raji dismissed claims that he or his vice president influenced the selection of NorthStar as an alternative venue. He emphasized that the decision was made collectively by the Executive Committee.

“If I had to decide, I would have taken it to Marshall, where LISCR Football Club has a large facility,” Raji said. “Mr. Adolphus Dolo was not the one who proposed NorthStar either. The decision to use NorthStar was reached unanimously by the Executive Committee. Nimba United has contributed significantly to football development in Liberia, and there’s nothing wrong with the club benefiting from this project.”

Raji added that Nimba United’s investment in football mirrors similar efforts by other clubs, such as Nimba Kwado, which will also benefit from a turf installation through a public-private partnership.

Once regarded as the most valuable club in Liberia due to its property value, Nimba United has suffered two consecutive relegations. The club dropped from the First Division to the Second Division in the 2021–2022 season and further descended to the third tier in the 2023–2024 season. Football pundits have attributed the club’s struggles to poor administration.