Africa-Press – Liberia. The Ministry of Youth and Sports is facing strong criticism following its decision to exclude Track and Field from the upcoming 2025/2026 National County Sports Meet.
Local sports enthusiast Moses Z. Jackson described the exclusion as a “major setback” for athlete development of the Liberia Athletics Federation (LAF), arguing the Ministry prioritizes football and kickball while neglecting other essential disciplines.
Ministry Accused of Neglecting Other Codes
Speaking to FrontPage Africa, Jackson stressed that Track and Field is a globally respected sport critical for youth talent development.
“The Ministry of Youth and Sports should always advocate for sports development in every sector, yet they continue to anchor only football and kickball,” Jackson asserted.
“These two sports have never been absent from the County Meet, but track and field is repeatedly sidelined.”
Jackson contended that the Ministry’s mandate includes providing equal opportunities for skill development across all sporting disciplines, noting that both basketball and track and field have been excluded from previous County Meets despite growing youth participation.
Local Exclusion vs. International Success
Jackson also highlighted a contradiction in the Ministry’s actions:
“Officials at the Ministry know very well that athletes of the Liberia Athletics Federation have represented this country across Africa and the world. They applaud these athletes when they go abroad, but deny them the opportunity to showcase those skills at home in major competitions like the County Meet.”
He argued that removing Track and Field from the County Meet deprives young Liberian athletes of one of the nation’s most accessible platforms for exposure and competition.
Jackson urged the Liberia Athletics Federation (LAF) to immediately engage the Ministry to address the issue.
“The LAF needs to meet with the Ministry quickly so they can work together to restore track and field to the County Meet. This is important for youth development and for preparing Liberia for future international competitions.”
Ministry and LAF Silent
FrontPage Africa attempted to contact officials of the Liberia Athletics Federation for their response to Jackson’s statement and the Ministry’s decision.
However, repeated attempts to reach the Secretary-General and the Competitions Director were unsuccessful.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports has not yet issued a formal public statement clarifying the reasons for the exclusion of Track and Field from the 2025/2026 County Meet schedule.
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