Africa-Press – Liberia. The Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) has moved to restore order to the 2025 National County Sports Meet (NCSM), handing down a series of stinging financial penalties and long-term suspensions following a wave of violence that marred the tournament’s preliminary rounds.
The disciplinary actions were unveiled Tuesday during a press conference at the Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex, where Youth and Sports Minister Cllr. Jeror Cole Bangalu condemned the “unsavory” conduct of certain teams and officials.
Minister Bangalu expressed deep disappointment over the chaos reported at venues in Maryland, Gbarpolu, and Monrovia, describing the incidents as a direct affront to the tournament’s core mission of national unity and fair play.
Restoring Integrity
Following a comprehensive probe into the disturbances that occurred during the final fixtures of the preliminary rounds, the Ministry concluded that the acts of violence “challenged the very essence” of the competition.
Invoking Section 24.3 of the 2025 NCSM Rules and Regulations, which mandates strict penalties for brawling within game vicinities, the Ministry announced a “zero-tolerance” stance on hooliganism.
The Penalties
Rivercess County was hit with a US$1,500 fine after its kickball match against Grand Kru County was disrupted by violence. The Ministry identified players Zanibu Swaray (Jersey #15), Janet Zeogbeh (Jersey #12), Edwina Yaryar (Jersey #20), and official Mark Tuopleyee as the primary aggressors in an attack on a match referee.
All four individuals have been slapped with a two-year ban from all kickball activities nationwide.
In Gbarpolu, despite the county hosting a high-profile match between Montserrado and Bong Counties, local organizers failed to maintain order. The Ministry subsequently fined Gbarpolu County US$5,000 for the disruption of that fixture.
Hammer Falls on Lofa
The most severe sanctions were reserved for Lofa County, following what investigators described as a “physical onslaught” against match officials during a kickball encounter involving Lofa be Cape Mount.
Players and staff of Lofa were seen attacking the referee after the match in protest that calls against them wasn’t fair.
Lofa has been ordered to pay a US$5,000 fine, while its entire kickball infrastructure has been effectively dismantled by the bans which include Technical Staff: Seven members, including Head Coach Ezekiel S. Doekpa and Assistant Coach Lewis C. Dennis, have been suspended for five years.
Players: 17 players, including Promise Thomas, Korto D. Boye, and Alane Koffa, have been banned for three years.
Management: The county’s kickball management team is barred from the sport for five years.
“Corrective, Not Just Punitive”
Minister Bangalu emphasized that while the fines are heavy, the goal is to sanitize the sport.
“The beauty of sport lies not only in victory, but in the grace with which it is pursued and accepted,” the Minister said.
He warned that violence in the stadium undermines the moral fabric of Liberian society and will not be tolerated under his watch.
The Ministry has called on all stakeholders athletes, coaches, and the cheering fans to recommit to the ideals of peace and respect as the tournament proceeds to its knockout stages in Monrovia.
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