Published: January 10, 2025
MONROVIA – The Chief Patron of Sports, President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, will officially kick off the 2024-2025 National County Sports Meet (NCSM) on January 12, 2024, at the David Momo Stadium in Robertsport, Grand Cape Mount County. This announcement was confirmed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
As one of the government’s flagship initiatives, the National County Sports Meet is organized by the Ministries of Youth and Sports and Internal Affairs, with technical support from various sporting federations and associations. This year’s edition, Liberia’s biggest sporting festival, is being held under the theme: “Inclusive Development Through Sports.”
The event serves as a platform to promote national unity, reconciliation, and short-term employment for young people. On the sporting front, it aims to scout talents for Liberia’s national teams.
Three Disciplines Featured
In an interview with The Liberian Investigator, Youth and Sports Minister Jeror Cole Bangalu revealed that this year’s tournament will feature three disciplines: football, kickball, and basketball.
Minister Bangalu also disclosed that each county will receive a subvention of US$15,000, of which US$10,000 has already been disbursed for the preliminaries. Host counties — Bong, Grand Cape Mount, Sinoe, and Grand Gedeh — will each receive an additional US$3,000 for preparations.
The Minister appealed to Liberians to support their counties for the tournament’s success and assured the public that measures have been put in place to avoid mistakes from the previous edition.
Sponsorship Details
APM Terminals Liberia has committed US$25,000 to provide jerseys for all participating counties. Winners Incorporated has contributed L$5 million in cash prizes for the champions and individual awards.
Players recognized as “Man and Woman of the Match” in football and kickball will receive L$5,000 during the preliminary stages, with the prize increasing to L$20,000 for the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals.
Opening Fixtures
The tournament will commence with a match between hosts Grand Cape Mount County and Nimba County at 4:00 PM at the David Momo Stadium in Robertsport. Grand Cape Mount failed to reach the quarterfinals last year, while Nimba County was eliminated in the semifinals. Before the football fixture, both counties will face off in kickball at 2:00 PM.
In Gbarnga at the David Kuyon Stadium, hosts Bong County will have a tough opening fixture against Grand Bassa County at 4:00 PM, while Maryland will face Bomi County in football at 2:00 PM, with kickball fixtures mirroring the schedule.
In Group B, Montserrado County will take on Margibi County at the Albert T. White Stadium in Zwedru at 2:00 PM, followed by hosts Grand Gedeh County versus Grand Kru County at 4:00 PM. Kickball matches are scheduled for 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM respectively.
At the Greenville venue, River Cess County will play Sinoe County at 2:00 PM, followed by a clash between Gbarpolu and Lofa Counties at 4:00 PM.
River Gee County enters the tournament as the defending football champions, while Lofa County holds the kickball title.
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