Published: June 18, 2025
MONROVIA – Once celebrated as Liberia’s most widely played sport—especially among women—kickball is now teetering on the edge of collapse, undermined by poor infrastructure, dwindling support, and unfulfilled promises from government officials.
A Women’s Game Without a Home
Kickball, a women-only sport in Liberia, features two teams of nine players who compete on a triangular field, scoring points through home runs. While it remains a staple of Liberian schoolyards and communities, it lacks the institutional backing and investment needed for its survival.
For years, games have been staged in a vacant lot within the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Sports Complex—an area devoid of basic amenities. Players change in the open. Fans have no seating. Restrooms are nonexistent.
During the dry season, spectators are left standing under the blistering sun. When it rains, both players and fans crowd under the SKD stadium’s main structure, which doubles as a makeshift locker room.
Unkept Promises and Political Rhetoric
Hopes were briefly raised when former President George Weah pledged to build a dedicated kickball stadium during his term. While recreational parks emerged across the country, none were allocated to the sport. Weah’s 2023 electoral defeat left the commitment unfulfilled.
Montserrado County Senator Saah H. Joseph also promised in August 2023 to construct restroom facilities at the SKD site. Nearly two years later, the space remains unchanged, forcing players and supporters to relieve themselves in the open.
Budget Cuts Deepen the Wounds
The Unity Party-led administration slashed the Liberia Kickball Federation’s (LKF) annual budget from $1,050 to $750. Federation president Emmanuel Surprise Whea publicly rejected the cut in September 2024, warning of its severe impact—especially on player safety and medical support.
“This is embarrassing,” said Aries Kickball Club player Choice Tokaph during a June 15 league match. “We have to change in the open, attend nature in the open, and play on a bad pitch—despite this being Liberia’s own sport.”
Zion Sisters head coach Joseph Kolongbo echoed the frustration, blaming injuries and poor team performances on the dusty, uneven field.
“We need the government to see reason and support this sport. Build a proper facility for us,” he said.
Safety Concerns Rise
Kolongbo also criticized the lack of medical staff at league matches. The LKF previously instructed clubs to provide their own medics, but many teams cannot afford the cost.
“We were told to get our own medics, but we can’t afford them,” Kolongbo said. “I’m recommending that the federation assign first-aid professionals to league matches.”
Without ambulances, injured players are often transported on motorcycles, prompting serious safety and emergency response concerns.
Sponsorship With Strings
Earlier this year, the National Lottery Authority (NLA) announced a 2.7 million Liberian dollar sponsorship package for the 2025 kickball season, intended to empower female athletes. However, controversy has followed.
Despite league-wide requirements for teams to wear the sponsor’s logo, Kolongbo said clubs have received no financial support from the deal.
LKF President Whea confirmed that teams were informed in advance that the sponsorship funds would not be shared. He also acknowledged the federation’s struggle to provide medical coverage.
“We had medical people at the games before, but now we don’t have money to keep them,” he said.
A Sport at Risk
With no proper playing field, inadequate medical support, and dwindling financial resources, Liberia’s kickball community finds itself at a crossroads. The sport that once united neighborhoods and uplifted women across the country is now begging for recognition, funding, and basic respect.
Unless urgent action is taken by policymakers and sports authorities, the future of Liberia’s beloved kickball could slip away—leaving behind only memories of a game that once defined community spirit and national pride.
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