Africa-Press – Liberia. First Division club FC Bea Mountain has formally announced that none of its contracted players will be allowed to participate in the upcoming 2025/2026 National County Sports Meet, marking a dramatic pre-tournament twist.
The club has also informed the County Meet Steering Committee requesting the immediate cancellation of any reported deal between Grand Cape Mount County and star forward Ralph Weah, stating the player is strictly unavailable for county duty.
The decision has triggered widespread public reaction and creates a significant rift between club interests and regional expectations.
At the center of the controversy, Bea Mountain head coach Cooper Sannah defended the club’s stance in an exclusive interview with FrontPage Africa.
Coach Sannah: Protecting the Club’s Season
Speaking from the club’s headquarters in Kinjor, Coach Sannah was firm and unapologetic, stating that the club’s title ambitions are the driving force.
“We took this decision because I want to have a better starting second phase,” Sannah explained.
“We cannot risk fatigue and injuries at this point. That’s the whole truth.”
The coach admitted that the team’s slow start earlier this season added urgency to their approach.
Bea Mountain currently sits fourth on the league table and views the second phase as decisive for their title challenge.
“We started slow, but we’ve climbed into fourth place. We are improving. So injuries right now would set us back. This team has to be ready for the second phase,” he said.
The Ralph Weah Saga: Reports Dismissed as False
Social media reports suggesting star striker Ralph Weah had agreed to play for Grand Cape Mount, were instantly dismissed by Sannah.
“No, not true. Ralph did not agree to anything. No player of Bea Mountain is playing in this year’s County Meet. People spreading that are misleading the public,” Sannah maintained.
FrontPage Africa has confirmed the club has officially requested the Steering Committee to invalidate any alleged agreement, arguing that no contract was signed with their consent, making it legally unenforceable.
The Growing Rift: Club Priorities vs. County Pride
The National County Sports Meet holds immense cultural, political, and regional significance, with counties heavily relying on First Division players to boost their squads.
However, the rise of professional and competitive club football in Liberia has created new tensions between club investment and county expectations.
A senior football administrator, speaking anonymously to FPA, summed up the conflict:
“The County Meet is tradition. But clubs now invest heavily in players. They don’t want to lose them for free in December.”
Club’s Position is Final
Coach Sannah stressed that the club management is under pressure to deliver results this season, stating: “People expect us to compete for the league. I cannot tell the management that player got injured outside club duty.”
He concluded with a decisive statement: “Our position is final. No Bea Mountain player will play in the County Meet. The focus is the league.”
The club’s decision is being viewed as one of the strongest stances taken by a Liberian club in recent memory, clearly prioritizing professional league aspirations over traditional county representation.
The outcome could set a precedent for future club-county relations.
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