Tubmanburg – A week-long youth elementary football tournament, organized by the Liberia Football Association (LFA) in collaboration with the Inter-School Sports Association (ISSA), officially commences today, Thursday, February 19, at the C.H. Dewey Sports Ground in Bomi County.
By Macaulay Sombai, [email protected]
The competition will center in Tubmanburg through Friday before shifting to the Gbah Soccer Pitch on Tuesday, February 24, to accommodate matches for 12 schools based in the Gbah township.
ISSA Vice President for Administration J. Melton Yoko confirmed to FrontPage Africa that 21 schools are participating in the developmental tournament.
He disclosed that nine schools will represent Tubmanburg City, while 12 hail from Gbah.
According to the organizers, the opening day fixtures in Tubmanburg include: H.Q. Taylor vs. Global Rescue, while Free Pentecostal vs. GOAMINT, and the other match will see Devine Daycare taking on Moses Vincent school.
Organizers noted that trophies and sporting equipment will be awarded to the champions and runners-up to incentivize grassroots excellence.
Yoko expressed gratitude to LFA President Mustapha Raji and the association’s leadership for their sustained commitment to school sports.
“We are very grateful to the LFA family for their support toward the growth of youth skill development,” Yoko said. “We assure them that all sports equipment and funding provided will be used strictly for its intended purpose, building the next generation of talent.”
With a large turnout of student-athletes expected, Yoko urged school administrators to maintain a high standard of sportsmanship.
“We are calling on officials of the 21 schools to ensure their student-athletes remain under control before, during, and after games,” he added. “The goal is to have a successful and responsible tournament that reflects the best of our youth.”
The tournament is part of a broader LFA mandate to decentralize football opportunities, bringing structured competition to rural counties where athletic resources are often scarce.
