Monrovia, Liberia – The 2024 national budget’s allocations for sports development have been deemed absurd by the Sports Writers Association of Liberia – SWAL.
Despite the presence of several sporting personalities, such as two former presidents of the football association, Representative Musa H. Bilitsky and senator Edwin M. Snowe at the National Legislature, SWAL said in a press release that it is depressing that sports, especially football, continue to receive negative press.
The National Football League and the National County Sports Meet (NCSM) each received US$150,00.00 from the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS)’s 2024 national budget, which totaled over US$7 million.
Grassroots Sports Development received US$1,230.00, Liberia Chess Federation received US$1,230.00, Table Tennis Association received 258 USD, and Up Country Basketball received US$3,691 in funding.
A further two hundred forty-six dollars (US$246.00) were designated for the Liberia Volleyball Federation, US$246.00 for Track and Field, and US$738.00 for Liberia’s own league, the Liberia Kickball Federation (LKF).
The National Amputee Team, the triple champions of Africa, received US$3,400.00, while the Liberia Karate Federation received US$258.00.
US$24,276.00 was given to the Liberia Athletic Federation (LAF). Horrible enough, US$1,230.00 was set aside for basketball, the second most popular sport in Liberia, while 492 USD went to the Inter School Sports Association.
A little over US$3,37,000.00 was allotted for sports in total, which is one of the lowest amounts in recent memory.
SWAL is curious as to how lawmakers, many of whom are avid sports fans, put pen to paper to approve funding for national football and basketball, respectively, of $150,000.00 and $1,230.00.
According to the Sports Writing Body, the funding distributed throughout the different sports does not reflect the financial difficulties the sports industry is currently facing.
According to the group, the majority of young people find job in sports, whether it be temporary or permanent, and as such, the government needs to show that it is willing to assist this industry.
SWAL also bemoaned the fact that the allocations granted for the national teams, volleyball, basketball, and kickball federations are only pennies on the dollar and would further stifle these sports.
The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) auxiliary stressed that the Boakai-Koung leadership has to take a comprehensive approach to the so-called RESCUE and ARREST agendas, rather than ignoring the significant contribution that sports provide to the country’s growth.
Sports stakeholders are being urged by SWAL to band together and actively advocate for budget increases in the upcoming year.
