Monrovia—The President of the Liberia Chess Federation (LCF), Thomas Karyah, has raised alarm over the mounting pressure the federation is facing from creditors who financed their recent travels to Budapest, Hungary.
The LCF was preparing for the 45th World Chess Olympiad when it accumulated debts after the government failed to disburse an allocated sum of $47,000 intended for the delegation’s travel expenses in September.
During appearances on two separate sports programs on Saturday, October 5, 2024, Mr. Karyah emphasized that the government has yet to release these funds, which are crucial for repaying the creditors.
“Since our return nearly two weeks ago, we have exhausted all possible avenues to resolve this issue, yet nothing has materialized,” he lamented.
Mr. Karyah claimed that since April, officials from the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Finance have been deferring their requests without any clear timeline for when the funds will be accessible.
“We are under serious pressure from those people, and the interest rates keep increasing,” Mr. Karyah explained.
He expressed the belief that the financial instability has contributed to players boycotting games during open sessions, negatively impacting the team’s overall performance and morale.
“The team faced numerous challenges during the competition due to the lack of government support,” he added.
In response to Mr. Karyah’s concerns, G. Andy Quamie, Deputy Minister for Sports at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, acknowledged the federation’s frustrations.
He, however, assured that the ministry is actively working to resolve the issue.
“Karyah, you know we are not the problem regarding the delay in funding, but we are making every effort behind the scenes to ensure the money is released very soon,” Quamie stated during a phone-in on a Truth FM Sports talk program.
The LCF continues to await the necessary government support to alleviate its financial burdens and reinstate its standing in the chess community.