Kuoh Foundation Academy (KFA), a youth football club, has become the first Liberian club to participate in a tournament in Europe.
By Danesius Marteh, [email protected]
KFA, which is owned by Cassell Anthony Kuoh, is participating in the Antalya Youth World Cup in Turkey from 16-20 May.
The global and large-scale youth football tournament is featuring 350 teams, including top teams from Europe and Latin America, and presents a unique opportunity for young talents to showcase their skills on an international platform.
Kuoh bankrolled the trip for a 25-man delegation, which departed Liberia via the Roberts international airport on 14 May.
This is a monumental achievement for Liberia and its football association as old as Methuselah.
Then Mark Professionals were scheduled to participate in the Toulon tournament in Lyon, France in 1999.
James Salinsa Debbah, with the involvement of Hilary Justine Colnoe (then DC 101 sports producer and presenter) had contributed US$20,000 for the trip with the hope of increasing Liberian professionals in Europe.
But the trip didn’t materialize because France’s foreign ministry reportedly informed its embassy in Abidjan, Ivory Coast to deny the delegation visas because it received information from Monrovia that the team was made-up of ‘ex-combatants who are purporting to be footballers’.
The likes of Isaac ‘Bulu Ballah’ Saar (RIP), Josiah ‘Africa Dust’ Seton, Aaron Cole, Bebe Jones, Joseph ‘Lepeh Lepeh’ Sayon, Eric Lee Wright, Jimmy Dixon, George Gebro, Peter Kromah (RIP), Michael Tommy, Eric Glasgow and Doco Wesseh were part of that failed trip.
France, maybe, had all right to believe this outright lies because talks of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD rebels) were in Lofa County desperate to unseat then President Charles Taylor and his government.
Social media have been inundated with praises for Kuoh, who wants to become LFA president in April 2026.
“Football is serious business and we are hoping to cash in on it. We also want to start a serious investment in youth football by exposing children to many underage tournaments in the world.
“This is also a manifestation of how we will develop football when we become LFA president because youth and grassroots football is the way to go. It is more than 10 years since Liberian players, including George Weah, James Salinsa Debbah, Joe Nagbe and Kelvin Sebwe, play in the big leagues in Europe. We want to produce the next Weahs, Debbahs and Sebwes,” explained Kuoh.
The Liberia Football Association (LFA) provided the technical support to ensure the trip materializes.
“This is a glorious opportunity for players because we don’t have these kinds of opportunities in our country. It is my prayer that the players will give a good account of themselves to attract scouts and create future opportunities for Liberian players to follow. I want to thank Kuoh for the initiative,” said acting LFA President Sekou Konneh (Prof.).
The Sports Writers Association of Liberia (SWAL) has also welcomed Kuoh’s initiative with the hopes that trees start to bear fruits sooner than later.
“I certainly welcome these kinds of initiatives as it will help to broaden the knowledge of our youthful talents and showcase them to advanced football communities. Liberia has a talent factory and only through these kinds of initiatives will the world know that there are more George Weahs in this country than it can imagine.
“Football is a big business around the world but it depends on how we position ourselves if we are to get returns. So the more we export our youthful talents through these kinds of programs the more we will attract more investors who will help to invest in our talent factory,” said SWAL President Varmah Kamara.
A piece of history has been made with the hopes that it leads to the export of Liberian footballers to Europe.
