Liberia Youth and Sports Minister, D. Zeogar Wilson says the government of Liberia will ensure the Liberia Amputees National football team and the Deaf national football team get overwhelming support to properly conduct their activities.
Liberia’s Deaf National Football team finished 2nd in the West Africa Deaf Football Union tournament held in The Gambia, while the Amputees football team finished 2nd as well in the just ended Amputees African Nations Cup held in Tanzania.
The MYS Minister described the performances of both teams on the International scene as welcoming and promising and noted that they will provide every necessary supports as government to keep the two teams in good form for future competitions.
Minister Wilson made the remarks on Wednesday, December 8, 2021, in Paynesville when the Amputees Football team and the Deaf National team of Liberia officially presented their awards to the government.
“I know how challenging it was financially to get both teams in their respective competition at the time. You all when as far as creating avenues to ensure your participation by engaging the President. Yes, I received a call from Chief of Protocol, Nora Finda Boundoo on your behalf which we work things out through the Finance Ministry for participation. Things happened that way because you were not captured in the last budget, but you are fully captured in the 2022 budget. I can safely say that besides financing your international competitions, the government is prepared to also finance your local activities to keep you all in good form for future competitions because you are going to represent the country, he added”.
“As a strong advocate of people with physical disabilities, I can assure you as Minister of Youth and Sports to always play my part in a positive direction. I don’t see your disabilities, I see you as a person who can do things like me,” Minister Wilson noted.
Also remarking, the President of Liberia Amputees Football and Sports Association, Cooper George, said the amputees’ national team is prepared to continue putting the country on the world map in terms of amputees’ football.
According to him, the amputees’ national football team of Liberia has overwhelmingly performed in every competition they have participated in.
“Mr. Minister, I hereby present to you the 2nd place trophy we won in the just ended Amputees African Nations Cup in Tanzania. We whipped the Gambia 4:0 in our first match; we also beat Cameroon 3:1 during the group stage to progress to the quarter-finals staged. During the quarter-finals, we beat Morocco 2:1 and also beat Tournament hosts Tanzania 1:0 in the semifinals to book the grand final slot, but we lost to Ghana 3:2 in the grand finale. Mr. Minister, here again, is the top goal scorer of the just ended Tournament, Matthew Joe. Matthew Joe scored nine (9) goals in five matches. Matthew comes forward with your Golden Boot”, Cooper said.
The Amputees Lone Star team has made a brand in every competition they have participated in. We did not just finish 2nd in the just ended competition, but we also qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Turkey. The team has won three Amputee African Nations Cups, lost two finals, and finished 3rd place as well. The team has been to Russia, Argentina, and Turkey participating in World Cup, he narrated.
Reported by Sports Director: Sylvester Tamba
Email: stamba498@gmail.com
Phone number: +231776687195
Whatsapp number: +231776687195
