Published: July 28, 2025
HARPER, Maryland County — In a historic advancement for sports and academic development in Liberia, William V. S. Tubman University and the Liberia Football Association (LFA) have signed an agreement to launch the country’s first university-accredited diploma program in football coaching.
The landmark agreement was formalized on July 25 in Monrovia, with Tubman University President Dr. Olu Q. Menjay and Liberia Football Association President Mustapha I. Raji presiding over the signing ceremony. The initiative marks a significant milestone in aligning academic instruction with professional sports training in Liberia.
The program will be fully integrated into Tubman University’s curriculum and is set to offer aspiring coaches a rigorous blend of theoretical foundations and hands-on experience in modern football coaching. “This collaboration reflects our commitment to academic excellence and national development,” said Dr. Menjay.
He added that “Tubman University is proud to lead this effort in formalizing football education in Liberia.”
Under the agreement, the LFA will provide technical support, including curriculum development, mentorship programs, and coaching standards to ensure the diploma meets both academic and professional benchmarks.
A comprehensive annex, currently being finalized, will detail the program’s structure, course content, and implementation timeline. “The diploma program creates a structured pathway for developing qualified coaches,” LFA President Mustapha Raji. Said, adding that, “It’s a strategic step toward improving the quality and professionalism of football coaching across Liberia.”
The agreement was legally consummated, and it includes a clause allowing either institution to terminate the partnership with 90 days’ written notice. It also ensures continuity by extending its terms to legal successors or representatives of both institutions.
The diploma coaching program is expected to be available as early as the upcoming academic semester. Both Tubman University and the LFA have indicated a shared interest in expanding the scope of their partnership to include future programs in sports medicine, referee training, and sports management.
The program’s launch is seen as a critical turning point in Liberia’s efforts to professionalize sports education and to empower a new generation of coaches with the tools needed to elevate the game both locally and internationally. “This is more than a sports program,” Dr. Olu Menjay added. He continued, “It is a nation-building initiative that empowers youth, creates jobs, and strengthens Liberia’s position in global football.”
The partnership underscores the potential of institutional collaboration to drive meaningful change and development, merging the fields of academia and athletics for long-term national impact.
The undertaking has been embraced and welcomed by many sports enthusiasts, with some describing it as a new dawn in rebranding the game of soccer, as well as other sports in the country, that would possibly consist of a functioning academic system aimed at providing professional academic education related to them (different sports).
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