MONROVIA – At least one person has been confirmed dead during the grand finals of the 2024/2025 National County Sports Meet on Sunday at the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Sports Complex in Paynesville.
The deceased, identified as Saa Tamba, reportedly fell from the inner fence outside the stadium while attempting to make his way to the perimeter during the final match between Grand Gedeh and Lofa Counties.
According to a medical report, he sustained severe head injuries and was pronounced dead at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center on Sunday.
It was initially reported that little Saa was trying to reach the perimeter for celebration. However, The Liberian Investigator gathered that many spectators climbed over the 10-foot-high inner fence due to heat exhaustion.
Due to overcrowding at the 18 entry gates, several people also fainted. Medical personnel at the SKD Stadium struggled to revive them, while the National Fire Service sprayed water over the suffocating crowd to provide relief.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has promised to give Saa Tamba a befitting burial.
Minister Jeror Cole Bangalu wrote on his Facebook page:
“Today, we awoke to the sad news of the passing of Saa Tamba at the SKD Sports Complex after the final match between Grand Gedeh and Lofa. The Ministry of Youth and Sports has guaranteed total involvement to ensure a befitting homegoing. We once more express our sincere sympathy to the bereaved family.”
Despite the tragic incident, the ministry has remained tight-lipped about the reasons behind the overcrowding at the stadium, and no investigation has been announced.
Besides the death of Saa Tamba, several individuals also sustained serious injuries. One of them is football journalist Roland Bandorkai, who twisted his ankle and suffered multiple cuts on both legs.
Recounting his ordeal in the medical room, Bandorkai said he was pushed into a glass panel at the main VIP entry by officers of the Executive Protection Service while trying to access the media tribune under the VVIP stand.
“The entry was overcrowded, and the officers weren’t even allowing those with access passes and tickets to enter easily. As they tried to push us back, I was shoved into the glass. More than four pieces of glass were removed from my skin. My leg is so badly injured that I can’t walk,” he explained.
Most of the unconscious people in the medical room were women.
Last year, the Ministry of Youth and Sports announced that over L$75,000 was confiscated from individuals believed to have duplicated tickets.
A similar situation may have occurred this year, as thousands of ticket holders were unable to enter the 26,000-capacity stadium.
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