Paynesville – A peace and reconciliation tournament aimed at uniting residents of Montserrado County’s electoral District #6, has kicked off with 20 participating communities.
The tournament, which is being supported by the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Mr. Nathaniel F. McGill, is under the theme, “Uniting Citizen through Sports.”
According to the organizers, Citizen United for Peace and Reconciliation, the tournament is intended to bring people of the district together after an electioneering period that tore friends apart.
Mr. Eric Sando Perry, the organization’s spokesperson, told FrontPageAfrica that the drive is to give young people the opportunity to become tolerance to each other.
“We have already achieved one of our objectives, to unite the people by merging the 52 communities in the district to form 20 communities, out of which came the 20 teams,” Mr. Perry said. He further stated that because the people decided to honor these matches, it indicates reconciliation.
“The district had political tension especially between young people during the just-ended senatorial by-election and we decided to melt that feeling on the football pitch,” he added.
Also making remarks, Deputy Public Minister, Joseph Todd, who did the kick-off, thanked the organizers for the friendship and common humanity to organize such tournament.
Deputy Minister Todd said the participants are all Liberians and residents of the district who see sports as a single unifier.
“The tournament is unique in such a way that each team is comprised of individuals from various political divide playing for and against each other and sharing the same pitch.
“Sports is a recognized instrument for promoting solidarity, peaceful, conflict resolution and inter faith dialogue.
“I am overwhelmed by Citizens United for Peace and Reconciliation in collaboration with the Coalition for Democratic Change District #6 leadership that saw the need to bring the communities together through sports and making our young people to play football and kickball.
“I believe that through this tournament, friends from different political backgrounds can unite,” Minister Todd said.
Meanwhile, the tournament which is expected to resume Wednesday, February 5, will end on February 29, 2020 and the winner is expected to walk away with a cash prize.