Published: October 29, 2025
MONROVIA — A season after the death of Black Man Warriors defender Amara Kamara, the Liberia Football Association (LFA) has begun providing ambulances at league matches in an effort to prevent similar tragedies during the 2025–26 campaign.
Kamara died on Jan. 28 while being transported to Ghana for spinal surgery. He sustained a spinal cord injury on Jan. 8 during a First Division match between Black Man Warriors and Bea Mountain.
His death sparked public outrage and criticism of the LFA’s medical preparedness at league venues. Among those who spoke out was football stakeholder Emmett Glassco, who accused the association of failing to ensure timely emergency response. LFA President Mustapha Raji rejected the accusations, arguing the responsibility could not fall solely on the association given the country’s broader healthcare limitations.
“Do we even have enough ambulances? We have clinics and hospitals, but how many of them have ambulances?” Raji said earlier this year.
In December 2024, Raji proposed that clubs use part of their subvention funding to purchase ambulances for match days. The suggestion, meant to address a long-standing gap in emergency coverage, aligned with FIFA guidelines requiring ambulances at all sanctioned matches.
During a meeting with the interim leadership of the Club Presidents Association, Raji estimated that providing ambulances nationwide for league matches would cost the LFA roughly $80,000 annually — a figure he described as unsustainable.
Despite those concerns, ambulances have been observed consistently at First Division and Upper Women’s Division matches since the start of the new season.
Speaking to The Liberian Investigator on Oct. 25 at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex annex, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) coordinator Alex Brent confirmed that the agency has an agreement with the LFA to deploy ambulances across the country for league fixtures.
“LFA put out a bid and we applied,” Brent said. “In fact, LFA and my boss are still talking, but in the meantime, we are providing ambulances across the country for their league games.” He did not disclose contract details.
LFA Media Manager Anthony Kokoi said he had not seen the contract but confirmed that ambulance coverage applies to all First and Second Division and Upper Women’s Division matches, including fixtures in Nimba and Sinoe counties.
“The agreement is to have ambulances at all match venues,” Kokoi said.
The move is part of the LFA’s wider effort to improve player welfare and match standards. The association recently announced that an independent agency will administer its new anti-doping program when it takes effect during the 2025–26 league season.
Random tests will be conducted for both players and referees, with results handled in accordance with the LFA’s disciplinary code. The Executive Committee approved the measure on Oct. 16, describing it as a step toward aligning Liberian football with international integrity standards.
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