Monrovia, Liberia – Players, coaches, referees, table officials, club presidents, and other members of the nation’s basketball regulatory body have received a severe warning from the Liberia Basketball Association (LBA), which threatens to prohibit them from participating in unapproved events around the nation.
The LBA said in a statement issued on Saturday, March 15, 2025, that all tournament founders and organizers must first have association permission. The event will be deemed unlawful if compliance is not met. According to the LBA, those who take part in unauthorized competitions will be banned for a period of time decided by its Grievance and Ethics Committee.
“Any player, coach, referee, table official, or team president who participates in or is involved with an unsanctioned event will be banned from all basketball activities per the directive of LBA President Mr. Abraham Samukai,” the release said.
The news comes after Vision Basketball, under the direction of Jacob Kabakollie, recently launched the first-ever Monrovia Madness All-Star Basketball Festival. Ten main communities in Montserrado County are expected to participate in the off-season tournament, which will be held at the Samuel Kayon Doe Gymnasium in Paynesville from April 2–6, 2025.
The LBA chastised Mr. Kabakollie and his sports management firm in October 2024 for representing Liberia in an African Basketball Festival in Accra, Ghana, without permission.
The squad finished in third place with three victories and one defeat, but the LBA said in a statement that the scenario was inappropriate because the team did not have official support from the Ministry of Youth and Sports or the association.
Following the November 2023 election congress, in which Abraham Samukai barely defeated Jacob Kabakollie by a vote of 26 to 25, tensions have remained high. Kabakollie challenged the outcome in court, claiming that more votes were cast than the 48 delegates listed during the roll call.
The vice presidents for operations and administration, Bruce Quaye and Yanquoi Borsay, have reportedly refused to work with the Samukai administration, indicating that the conflict has continued. During the election, both officials supported Kabakollie’s campaign.
