Africa-Press – Liberia. Ben Davies, President of Bea Mountain Football Club, has challenged Liberians to view football as a primary engine for national development rather than mere entertainment, asserting that the sport possesses a unique capacity to catalyze economic growth and social transformation.
Speaking to FrontPage Africa during the second day of a talent identification drive for the newly established Bea Mountain Football School, Davies lamented that the developmental potential of the “beautiful game” remains largely untapped in Liberia.
“People have not seen how vital football is when it comes to development,” Davies said. “Kids have been hungry for this kind of opportunity to harness their abilities and get to the stage where they want to be.”
A Holistic Vision
Davies emphasized that the club’s vision for the academy extends beyond the pitch. By integrating rigorous athletic training with formal education, the program aims to mitigate the risks associated with the relatively short lifespan of a professional sporting career.
“We are going to make sure they are schooled and not only play football, because football is a shorter career,” Davies noted. “We need to prepare them for life after football.”
The initiative seeks to instill discipline in the youth, shaping them into responsible citizens while simultaneously creating a revenue-generating industry that could provide infrastructure upgrades across the country.
Infrastructure and Continental Ambitions
To back these words with action, Davies disclosed that the club is currently spearheading the construction of a modern football facility in Montserrado County’s District #17. The complex will include dedicated housing for players a move Davies says underscores the club’s commitment to professionalizing the local game.
The President also set a high bar for the club’s performance, revealing a strategic three-year plan to break into continental competitions organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
“This is a long-term strategic plan to make football a unifier and an industry in Liberia,” Davies explained. “We want to draw attention from across West Africa and put Liberia on the map of African football.”
Talent Hunt and Regional Goals
The academy currently targets prospects between the ages of 10 and 19. In an effort to ensure the process remains inclusive and merit-based, registration is currently free for children aged 8 to 14.
The club expects to evaluate over 1,000 young players during this cycle, selecting the most promising “raw talents” to feed into both Bea Mountain FC and, eventually, the national team, the Lone Star.
Davies maintained that this initiative is designed to span decades, with plans to eventually expand the model to neighboring countries, ultimately positioning Liberia as the headquarters for a regional football group.
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