Monrovia – The Club Presidents Association of Liberia (CPAL) has extended its congratulations to the newly elected officials of the Sports Writers Association of Liberia (SWAL) following their victories in the Saturday, December 9, polls in Careysberg.

By Jaheim T.  Tumu- jaheim.tumu@frontpageafricaonline.com

Among the candidates who vied for positions in the polls, Varmah Kamara emerged victorious, defeating Prime FM’s Molley Trojan Kiazolu. Meanwhile, Christopher C. Walker, the Sports desk editor at FrontPageAfrica, secured the vice president slot, triumphing over Nathanial Tokpah. Edwin Boye Dolo, voted as the ideal choice for the Secretary-General position, overcame William Decent Toe in the competition.

The remaining three positions had no contenders, as those who ran won on white ballots. Jerome Willie secured the Assistant Secretary position, Naomi Tappia as Financial Secretary, and Yusuf Sherif as Chaplain.

In a congratulatory message signed by the chairman of the institution, Chris Geeply Weah, CPAL expressed delight for Team Varmah Kamara, publicly known as the “Integrity Team,” for their victories in the elections. CPAL also issued a caution to the new leadership, urging them to work efficiently to ensure genuine reconciliation for the betterment of SWAL.

The communication further expressed satisfaction and applauded SWAL for the successful and transparent elections held at the just-ended elective Congress. The CPAL communication stated, “It is now our hope that the new leadership will work expeditiously to unite the association in the best interest of sports in Liberia.” Emphasizing their commitment, the message added, “We can assure you, the new leadership, of our unwavering commitment and support to your leadership.”

Monrovia – Members of the Sports Writers Association of Liberia (SWAL) elected new leadership for the next three years on Saturday, December 9. Varmah Kamara emerged victorious, defeating Trojan Kiazulu to become the new president of SWAL.

The parent body of all Sports Journalists in Liberia conducted its elections on Saturday, December 9th, ushering in a new leadership team. The elected officials include Varmah Kamara as president, Christopher C. Walker as Vice president, Edwin Dolo as Secretary General, Jerome Willie as Assistant Secretary, Naomi Tappia as Financial Secretary, and Yusulf Sherif as Chaplain.

In a closely contested election, Kamara secured 55 votes, surpassing Trojan Kiazulu’s 49 votes. Kamara will replace the outgoing president, Kolubah Zayzay, who chose not to seek re-election for a second term. Initially, Zayzay intended to contest the position but withdrew after consultation with stakeholders.

Kamara, along with his team, referred to as the “Integrity Team,” will serve in their new roles at SWAL for the next three years. Expressing his enthusiasm, Kamara stated, “I have been involved with SWAL for a long time, and the fact that I am given the opportunity to contribute at the highest level makes me delighted. I am delighted not only as an individual but for the members who entrusted me to serve in this capacity.”

The newly elected Vice President, Christopher C. Walker of FrontPage Africa Newspaper, defeated Nathaniel Tokpah with 59 votes to Tokpah’s 45. Walker, who initially considered running for the presidency, expressed confidence in his victory and emphasized his commitment to elevating SWAL.

Walker thanked his supporters and acknowledged the defeated candidates for their efforts, calling for unity and reconciliation within the organization. He stated, “It’s time for reconciliation, which is a key element of our leadership.”

In the race for Secretary General, Truth FM reporter Edwin Dolo won with 59 votes against ELBC’s William Decent Toe, who received 46 votes. The positions of Assistant Secretary, Financial Secretary, and Chaplain were won on a white ballot by Jerome Willie, Naomi Tappia, and Yusulf Sherif, respectively.

A total of 105 individuals participated in the closely contested elections. The date for the inauguration has not been set but is expected to take place in January.

Below is the manifesto of the Integrity Team of Varmah Kamara:

Integrity Manifesto

The Integrity Manifesto has been carefully developed around four cardinal pillars. These agendas aim to address the main challenges facing SWAL:

Capacity Building: The Integrity Team plans to implement a quarterly training program to enhance the skills of sports journalists, engaging regional and international partners for comprehensive training.

Financial Viability: The team emphasizes the importance of financial independence to make SWAL a vibrant institution. They aim to seek support from local and international partners, as well as public and private corporations.

Independence: The Integrity Team underscores the need for SWAL to be an independent and critical voice in sports journalism, highlighting and reporting on issues in the sporting sector without bias.

Decentralization: The team supports the continuation of the decentralization program to extend SWAL’s activities to all 15 counties, attracting more individuals, especially females, to sports reporting.

The manifesto concludes with a call for members to vote for the Integrity Team, emphasizing the strengths and qualifications of each team member.