{"id":46746,"date":"2023-11-07T11:08:26","date_gmt":"2023-11-07T11:08:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/liberia\/all-news\/liberia-lba-inducts-new-corps-of-officers-into-office"},"modified":"2023-11-07T11:15:51","modified_gmt":"2023-11-07T11:15:51","slug":"liberia-lba-inducts-new-corps-of-officers-into-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/liberia\/all-news\/liberia-lba-inducts-new-corps-of-officers-into-office","title":{"rendered":"Liberia: LBA Inducts New Corps of Officers Into Office"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Liberia. <\/strong><\/span>The newly elected officers of the Liberia Basketball Association (LBA) have been inducted into office headed by Abraham Samukai as president to lead the association for the next four years.The induction ceremony was held Friday November 3, 2023 at the open-air Sports Commission on Broad Street where the Ministry of Youth and Sports pledged its unflinching support to the new leadership.<\/p>\n

The induction of Samukai and his officials now brings to an end the four years of leadership crisis at the LBA following the 2019 election in which the incumbent president Rufus Anderson and his team got disqualified but the Federation of international Basketball Associations said they did not recognize Samukia as president while the Liberia National Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Youth and Sports said the only recognize Samukai and not Anderson as president.<\/p>\n

The situation led to Liberia banned from all basketball activities for the past four years but following negations with all parties involved the LBA conducted its election in which Samukai was elected as president on October 31, 2023 defeating Jacob Kabakole 26- 25 votes.<\/p>\n

Serving as induction officer, Deputy Minister of Sports G. Andy Quamie urged the LBA\u2019s new leadership to reach out to the outgoing team and ensure that they reconcile basketball stakeholders.<\/p>\n

Deputy minister Quamie encouraged the new LBA\u2019s leaders to try and take the sport to the next level.<\/p>\n

According to Minister Quamie he received a call from Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA) Zone #3 President Sam Amadu on Thursday Nov 2, 2023, congratulating Liberia for a successful election.<\/p>\n

He added that the FIBA president disclosed he was informed by Mamadou Diabate from Burkina Faso who represented FIFBA at the election that the election went on free, fair and transparent.<\/p>\n

Speaking before he inducted the LBA leadership Minister Quamie said Mr. Amadu promised that the ban on Liberian basketball will be lifted soon.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn Yesterday evening I received a copy of an email from Mr. Kabakole that there were irregularities in the election and he was sending a complained for a rerun or recount, but I said the best person to write was the election commission and he wrote them and I also got a communication from Mr. Anderson that he was setting up a committee to investigate that matter, but in my mind it\u2019s not in my power because FIBA has spoken for which we waited for four years because they were not part of our election and has said the election was free, Fair and Transparent that they will lifting the ban on Liberia. If the committee will be setup it does not stop these people from taking their offices while we go through that process but in my view I believed the election was free, fair and Transparent,\u2019\u201d Andy Quamie told the gathering.<\/p>\n

He urged past and present leaders to put away their differences and work as one team, adding that reconciliation and unity is the best way to develop Basketball in Liberia.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor Four years you know the story, reach out bring stakeholders together for the best interest of basketball and all Liberian who love the sports, open your doors don\u2019t close door on people because of the side they took during the election process. The peace of the sports that all young people love is in your hand and the rest of the executive committee if you are welling you will reach out, the club and everyone needs you to make sure that basketball develop.\u201d Andy Quamie said.<\/p>\n

He reaffirmed government\u2019s fullest commitment and readiness to work with the new team at the LBA.For his part, the newly inducted President of the Liberia Basketball Association, Abraham Samukai, immediately stressed the need for a constitutional reform at the local basketball house.<\/p>\n

President Samukai insisted that the LB\u2019s constitution needs an urgent work and as such, he wants to ensure that such legal instrument is properly structured as a sign of immediate reform.<\/p>\n

The LBA\u2019s President named a Constitutional Reform committee which according to him has been charged with the responsibility to produce a new constitution for the LBA.<\/p>\n

This, he said, will help in championing the needed reform at the local basketball house and that it will serve as an institutional guide.<\/p>\n

Moving forward, President Samukai re-echoed his leadership readiness to transform Liberia\u2019s basketball programs.<\/p>\n

He promised to reach out to the outgoing Rufus Anderson and defeated candidates so as to ensure that the reform work is done in consultation with them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe like to thank the LNOC. MYS and all those who took their time to make sure that this thing resolved, we are happy at this time we all have seen it right to let basketball win, I will like to ask my officials for us to appoint my Jacob Kabakole on the Executive committee and I will make sure the will endorse that because he is a stakeholder, he\u2019s a basketball team owner, even Rufus Anderson will come on board,\u201d Samukia said.<\/p>\n

He said, there will be an icon committee setup to investigate referees\u2019 integrity on the ways games are handle at the Sports Commission.<\/p>\n

He said all major games will be recorded, to serve as evidence in case there are issues with games.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will make show that under my watch the law will be respected.\u201d<\/p>\n

Samukai also stressed that there will be no favor or discrimination in the game, saying games will be play according to basketball regulation.<\/p>\n

He urged player to desist from attacking referees because if they are caught they will be punishing, as such players will be ban for misconduct.<\/p>\n

Samukai asserted that players caught in the act of throwing stones on coaches and fans will face the law.<\/p>\n

He explains that last season all the former players watch the games free but said is time that former players give back to the sports even though his Administration recognized their contribution to basketball but feel is time for them to be supportive of the game.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2019We recognize what they have done for society. But equally so they should give back to the institution.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Also speaking during the induction ceremony the president of Liberia National Olympic Philipbert Browne said he is happy that basketball has a recognize leadership by FIBA after four years.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have been down this road for four years now and I see the level of qualified people that have come to Basketball and I know that you guys will take basketball to another level,\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we were here basketball was making money and this was the most unfortunate thing for me to see basketball coming from a high standard to drop but I think we can bring basketball back to what it used to be,\u201d The LNOC president said.<\/p>\n

He however urged Samukai and team to try and seek sponsorship to help basketball club\u2019s owners because running a team is very expensive but if clubs can be able to received financial support from the LBA it will help them keep their teams in the league and for the national league to be very completive.<\/p>\n

The Olympic Committee will be there for you, we will fight with you people and will give your all the support, the technical support if you want to send your referees, your match commissioners for international trainings it\u2019s something we have done over the years for sports we can do it for Basketball, \u201cPhilipbert Browne said<\/p>\n

Those inducted were, Abraham Samukai, President, Vice President of Administration\u2013 Yanqueh Borsay, Vice President of Operations\u2013Bruce Quaye, Treasure\u2014Malcolm Joseph, and \u2013, Chaplain\u2014Specket Neufville,<\/p>\n

Madam Sussie Hayes was appointed Financial Secretary while Calvin Diggs was appointed General Secretary.<\/p>\n

Others appointed by Samukia included Administrative Secretary\u2014Alice Ann Caesar, Chair on Training and Development\u2014Edwin Siafa Fahnbulleh, Chair on Marketing\u2014Emmanuel Potter, Chair on Grievance\u2014Desiree Williams (Lady D).<\/p>\n\r\n