Africa-Press – Liberia. Former Youth and Sports Minister D. Zeogar Wilson recently admitted that the George Weah administration, in which he served, fell short in improving sports in Liberia.
Speaking on Intel Sports Midweek show from his based in the United states, the former national team goalkeeper and Minister said they failed Liberian by not creating the foundation for sports.
“As a government with people from the sporting background, we should have laid the foundation for other governments to follow, but we did not,” Wilson said.
He acknowledged that while the CDC government had competing priorities, the Ministry of Youth and Sports should have received more preference to help set the pace for sports development.
He stressed that their failure to do so shouldn’t justify other governments not investing in the country’s crucial sporting sector.
Despite this, Wilson pointed to some accomplishments, including the refurbishment of the Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex to meet CAF and FIFA standards, which allowed the country to host international matches after a previous ban.
He also cited the regular participation of national teams in international competitions as a sign of progress.
Wilson noted that the lack of support and investment has been a long-standing challenge, one that existed before the Weah administration and continues to plague the current government.
“I can’t sit here and criticize this government from the sports side because the same problem we faced is the same problem they are facing,” he said.
Recommendations for Moving Forward
Wilson welcomed a proposed bill by Senator Jonathan Boye-Charles Sogbie to establish a Sports Authority, calling it one of the best ways to develop the sector. This aligns with a similar advocacy campaign Wilson initiated during his tenure, where he proposed a special tax on cigarettes and alcoholic beverages to create a dedicated fund for sports development.
He further recommended that the government establish a committee to track waste, fraud, and abuse. The money recovered from these efforts, he explained, could be used to support the proposed Sports Authority.
“For example, if we raise $5 or $10 million annually, that money will be put in the budget to exclusively support sports,” he said.
Wilson added that during their time in office, Deputy Minister Bryant Mcgill, who was then a director, also developed proposals for sports development. Wilson believes the Sports Authority initiative would be a “win-win” for the country if it is enacted into law.
A Call to Action
Wilson urged President Boakai to give serious attention to sports development as a key component of national growth. He also encouraged the government to leverage the expertise and contacts of the President of the Liberia Football Association (LFA), Mustapha Raji.
“Raji has good contacts, he has good plans and programs, and we need to rally around him and his team to achieve one goal as a country,” Wilson stated.
He expressed his support for Raji, stating that while he may have faced some issues, his passion for developing football in Liberia is “unquenched.” Wilson noted that former LFA presidents Edwin Snowe and Musa Bility have also commended Raji for his work.
The former sports minister emphasized the need to build the foundation of young, talented players to ensure the national team’s future success.
He believes that a strong, well-structured youth program, coupled with a focus on developing local talent, will allow Liberia to compete globally in the future.
“The way out is real support and investment,” he concluded.
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