Monrovia – The Liberia Football Association (LFA) has announced that the much-anticipated President Cup will kick off early August of 2018 to reawaken local football in the country.
Report by Christopher C. Walker, [email protected]
According to the vice president for operations at the Liberia Football Association Wilmot Smith, the tournament is intended to honor President George Weah and his wife Clar Weah for their service to Liberian football.
Smith told a news conference on Monday, July 30, 2018, that a total of 46 teams from the First, and Second Divisions and female football will participate in the inaugural edition of the George Weah President Cup.
Each of the participating teams is expected to receive two sets of Jerseys, two footballs including over one hundred thousand Liberian dollars as preparation package from the Liberia Football Association as the distribution of the items will begin on today, Wednesday, August 1, 2018 the chair of the tournament, Smith said.
“We intend to assure that the winner of the male category walk away with a 32-seater bus and the female category also walk away with a 20-seater bus,” Wilmot added.
“This year’s president cup will be very unique, it’s unique because we going to have the tournament in two phases – it’s not only going to be the President Cup but also the First Lady cup”. Smith said.
He asserted that the LFA decided to honor the First Lady for a new appointment as CAF female football ambassador, something he said needs recognition.
“The Executive Committee has decided that going forward all other president cups will be named and style the George Weah President Cup even if he is President or not,” the LFA vice president disclosed.
He of the conviction that the tournament will be colorful which he feels will show a new day in Liberian football under the chief patron of Sports George Weah who is a former international footballer.
Though the LFA is yet to give an official date when the tournament will kickoff, it is expected to kick off this weekend as the draw for the tournament will be held at the LFA headquarters on Benson Street today.
The tournament will be played on a knockout basis and may last for a month, said Smith.
“Interestedly we will have two old timers’ teams and four third division teams participating in the tournament all in an effort to reawaken football in the country,” Smith asserted.
Local football has not been played in Liberia for a year since the last national league ended in August of 2017 when LISCR FC won the double.
Many Liberian football pundits are believed to be relieved for once following many outcries for the return of local football.