he
Samuel Kayon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville has been
turned over to the Liberian government by the People’s
Republic of China through its embassy in Monrovia.
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The
Sport Complex was officially turned over to the Liberian
government on Saturday by the out-going Chinese
Ambassador, Lin Songtian. The opening ceremony was
marked by appropriate activities befitting the ceremony
as part of the July 26 Independence Day gift for the
government and people of Liberia.
The occasion was graced by President Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf, officials of the Liberian government including
senior cabinet ministers and representatives of Liberia
Football Association. Several sport enthusiasts and
officials of the Chinese embassy near Monrovia also
gathered to witness the colorful program marked by
beautiful presentation of speeches, cultural
performance, dance and display of fireworks amongst
others.
At the
presentation ceremony, President Sirleaf cut the robin
and toured the sports complex to view renovated
facilities.
The
SKD Complex was extensively damaged by the fratricidal
civil conflict of Liberia, but the People’s Republic of
China which constructed the complex in the 80s has
undertaken to rehabilitate the complex to its pre-war
status.
Accordingly, every infrastructure including the
electronic scoreboard and the bathrooms as well as the
wrecked ceiling amongst others, has been modernized to
its prewar status.
Built
in 1986 during former President Doe’s regime, the
complex which was left in ruin by war-mongers after the
fourteen-year civil crises in the country was occupied
during the war period by displaced people for years,
thus leaving it seriously vandalized.
Amongst damages done to the complex are destruction of
its electronic scoreboard, bathroom, stadium seats as
well as playing page which were rendered most affected
of the Complex’s facilities.
However, through the goodwill of the People’s Republic
of China, the stadium has been given a facelift showing
its beauty, modernity and readiness to host
international matches.
According to our reporter who visited the stadium
yesterday, the damaged facilities have been made very
fresh and new ones, including the scoreboard, the light
poles, the VIP and around VIP lounges, stadium wing,
around the field as well as bathrooms and dressing room.
No name change in store
 |
| President Sirleaf and
Chinese Ambassador Lin Songtian cut ribbon to
the SKD facility. |
Offices are also ready for normal activities as they are
being fully air-conditioned while the new pipes were
seen with running water. Meanwhile, “The Name of SKD
Sport Complex will not change.” The Ambassador of the
People Republic of China, Lin Songtian has debunked
speculations of plan to rename the Samuel Kanyon Doe
Sports Complex, saying that he has never discussed the
change of the sport complex’s name with the Ellen
Johnson-Sirleaf administration.
Before
this clarification by Ambassador Lin, speculations
abound that the Sirleaf administration was aimed at
changing the name of the sports complex vindictively,
considering the humiliation she suffered during the Doe
Government. Madam Sirleaf, as an opposition figure of
the Liberia Action Party (LAP), was charged felonious
offense by the Samuel Doe regime, humiliated in military
correctional facility at the Barclay Training Center and
later pardoned by President Doe.
Besides, there were other speculations that the Chinese
sought to change the name of the Sport complex because
the Doe regime broke diplomatic relationship with the
People’s Republic of China for the Republic of China
on Taiwan’s representation of the Chinese world in
Liberia diplomatically.
 |
| A view of the
newly-renovated soccer pitch at the SKD Sports
Complex. |
Meanwhile, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf last
Saturday cautioned Liberians against theft of the
equipment at the newly refurbished Samuel Kanyon Doe
Stadium infrastructures. President Sirleaf observed that
there were some people who were fond of stealing some
equipment from SKD Sports facility.
She
spoke to journalists at ceremonies marking the official
hand over of the stadium by the Government of the
people’s republic of China to the Government and people
of Liberia.
The
President warned legal action against anyone caught in
willful destruction of the infrastructure or stealing of
anything from the stadium.
Unifying instrument
Madam
Sirleaf said the turning over of the sports stadium
serves as a landmark in nurturing the Sino-Liberian
ties, expressing to sports as a unifying instrument. The
President said she expects all Liberians to unit in the
development of Liberia.
Against this backdrop, President Sirleaf similarly
cautioned Liberians against baseless statements and
rumors, which she said would not help with progress in
the country.
Madam
Sirleaf expressed the hope that with Liberians together,
sport will develop the spirit of unity. Accordingly, she
added that the stadium was not reconstructed only for
soccer, but also for other sports including track &
field, weight-lifting, etc.
She
said than praised Chinese Ambassador Lin Songtain, who
she said is going with a legacy left back in Liberia. He
assured the Chinese envoy that Liberians would miss him,
and called on him to make Liberia his second home..
Madam
Sirleaf also recounted how Chinese President Hu Jin Tao,
through the instrumentality of Ambassador Lin Songtain,
visited Liberia, besides project that are being in place
in Liberia by the Chinese through the ambassador, which
include the Liberia Broadcaster System (LBS).
Meanwhile the outgoing Chinese Ambassador, Lin Songtain,
said Liberia owes lot to China for what they have done.
He
said that his presence in Liberia brought in
instrumented many Chinese contributions through
cordiality between his office and that of the Liberian
President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
