Barely 14 days to the official kick-off of the Africa Zone three handball championship in the Ivory Coast, there have been no positive developments from the Liberia National Handball Association (LNHA) regarding the participation of team Liberia.
The championship according to plan will kick off on the 3rd to the 9th day of July 2022, with six participants featuring both their under 18 and under 20 male junior teams.
The participating countries are Liberia, hosts Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Niger, and Benin.
providing an update to our reporter in Monrovia regarding the participation of team Liberia, the President of the Liberia National Handball Association, J. Aratus Larkpor, said they are in contact with the Ministry of Youth and Sports to enable them to sponsor the trip.
According to Mr. Larkpor, they have been informed by the International Handball Association (IHF) that there will fine on the team that fails to participate in the competition.
LNHA President acknowledged that they are in need of six thousand four hundred and forty United States (USD$6,440) to enable them to have full representation at the tournament which will comprise over fifty delegates including players, officials, and technical staff.
“As we speak, our technical staff have selected potential players from the league who have been training on a regular basis ahead of the tournament. Just to let you know that our teams are greatly preparing for the tournament despite the challenges we are going through in terms of finance, standard play to practice, or to even host our league”.
“Though no positive talks yet from the government of Liberia through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, we believe that things will be better in sooner possible time, he explained”.
“For example, even the University of Liberia Gymnasium we are currently using for our league and our junior teams’ practices are not up to a standard which we have been called on humanitarian organizations and well-wishers for assistance, Mr. Larkpor said”.
“We want a modern gym to enhance our activities; as you all know that handball is an indoor sport. Again, our sport is not popular in Liberia like other sports which we also calling on the press to help us with the publicity, he added”.
The Liberia National Handball Association President also said the one thousand fifty United States dollars (1050usd) allotted to handball for the fiscal budget year 2022 is very little, adding that, they need massive increment which will help the sports to take positive sharp across Liberia.
Reported by Sports Director: Sylvester Tamba
Email: stamba498@gmail.com
Phone number: +231776687195
Whatsapp number: +231776687195
