Chairman Willard Russell, C'ttee member George Weah and C'ttee member Gary Allsopp

The Ministry of Youth and Sports has named a 25-member fund-raising committee with a mandate to generate US$3m for the Lone Star Football Team.

Youth and Sports minister Etmonia D. Tarpeh told journalists in Monrovia Thursday that the money was needed to adequately prepare the team and ensure its successful participation in the 2010 African Nations Cup and the World Cup.

The committee, known as Support Lone Star to 2010 Committee, is headed by General Services Agency director Willard Russell.

Its members include Senate Standing Committee on Youth and Sports chairman Cllr. Joseph Nagbe, House Standing Committee on Youth & Sports chairman Kai Farley,

Representative Edwin Snowe, Lands, Mines & Energy minister Dr. Eugene Shannon, La Point Hotel proprietress Inez Cooper, Emmanuel Shaw of Lone Star Cell Corporation, Crystal Hotel owner Sam Gibson, Lebanese Business Community president Tony Hage, deputy Defense minister Dionysius D. Sebwe, National Investment Commission chairman Richard Tolbert, Liberia National Olympic Committee president Phillipbert Brown, businessman Benoni Ure, and Transglobal president Willis Knuckles.

Others are former Sports Ambassador George Weah, Broadway Consolidated general manager Gary Allsop, Comium president Monie Captan, Atlantic Insurance Company president Clemenceu Urey, Golden Key Enterprises executive vice president Nowai Gorlorwulu-Gbilia, Liberia Business Community president Sam Mitchell, the president of the Liberian Bankers Association, Liberia Football Association president Izetta Wesley, director general of the Cabinet Medina Wesseh, Mr. Paul Mulbah of Paynesville, Indian Business Community president Jeety and Renaissance Communications chief executive officer Musa Bility.

Minister Tarpeh called on Chairman Russell to co-opt other individuals interested in forming part of the committee.

At the same time, the ministry has opened an account, number10610017022025, at ECO Bank and called on citizens and friends of Liberia to contribute to it for the national team’s preparation.

“The account is not for only those who have huge money. We want your five Liberian dollars as well,” said Minister Tarpeh.

She promised every amount contributed will be properly used accounted for.

“It is important to ensure that people’s contributions are accounted for,” the minister noted.”

“The names of people who contribute to the account and the amounts deposited will be published in the papers. So you can rest assured your dollars and cents will be used for the right purpose.”