The Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) has attributed the overcrowding at the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Stadium during the grand finals of the National County Sports Meet to the duplication of accreditation passes by some individuals.
However, the Ministry dismissed claims that the lone fatality reported during the final match resulted from overcrowding. Instead, officials asserted that the death was due to self-inflicted harm or overexcitement by the deceased.
“No one died because of overcrowding. The lone death was self-inflicted. After the game, an overzealous fan decided to climb the fence and perform a tactical display. Unfortunately, he fell and died,” Youth and Sports Minister Jeror Cole Bangalu explained at a press conference on Thursday.
The deceased, identified as Saa Tamba, was a teenage supporter of Lofa County, which won the tournament.
Minister Bangalu acknowledged a previous report by The Liberian Investigator that heat exhaustion caused by the overcrowding led to several fans fainting, while others sustained significant injuries.
He further clarified that the issue was not due to ticket duplication, as previously reported, but rather the unauthorized duplication of accreditation passes. Additionally, some individuals misused their access passes to bring in family and friends. Several arrests were made during the tournament.
“Some passholders were sending their passes outside for others to use. We apprehended several of them,” Bangalu stated. “Last year, it was ticket duplication. This year, it was the manual accreditation passes. The problem we face now is the dishonesty of some individuals we entrusted with passes. Next year, it will be different.”
Contrary to the Minister’s remarks, The Liberian Investigator learned that the number of access passes issued by the Ministry was insufficient to accommodate all legitimate users. Consequently, the Ministry allowed some members of the Sports Writers Association to enter the stadium using their identification cards.
Access passes are typically issued to referees, statisticians, journalists, security personnel, players, and coaches representing participating counties.
Investigations also revealed that some security personnel and stewards assigned at the main entrance and the stadium’s 18 gates accepted bribes to allow unauthorized individuals to enter. Additionally, vendors outside the stadium were seen selling counterfeit tickets at lower prices than the official rates, further undermining the Ministry’s claim that no tickets were duplicated.
Due to the chaotic scenes at the gates, police resorted to using tear gas to disperse the crowd. Several people were injured in the process, and the stadium’s medical center was overwhelmed.
Income and Expenditure Report
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has released the income and expenditure report for the 2024-2025 National County Sports Meet.
At a Wednesday press conference, Minister Bangalu announced that the tournament generated a total of L$41.1 million and US$331,600. These amounts include the government’s contribution, sponsorship funds, and gate revenue from the quarterfinals, semifinals, and grand finals.
The Minister detailed that gate receipts amounted to L$16.7 million and US$64,000, while the government contributed L$21.3 million and US$180,000. Sponsors provided L$2.9 million and US$87,000.
In terms of expenses, Minister Bangalu disclosed that L$32,045,360 and US$295,654 were spent on various costs, including support to the 15 counties, fuel for the stadium, payments for casual workers, awards, and per diems for referees and other officials. The Ministry reported a remaining balance of US$45,346 and L$9,077,642.85.
Minister Bangalu clarified that revenue generated from the preliminary rounds was not included in the report, as those funds were retained by the host counties. Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Bong, and Sinoe Counties hosted the preliminaries.
Lofa County emerged victorious in both football and basketball, while Grand Bassa County claimed the kickball championship.
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