President Sirleaf Meets U-20 Female National Team
…Gives US$1,000.00 as Token Of Appreciation
Wednesday, 19th April 2006
By D. Webster Cassell
The Chief Patron of Sports in Liberia, President Sirleaf, yesterday,
met with the Lone Star U-20 female team at the Executive Mansion to
show her appreciation of the team’s recent performances.
Speaking to the team in a joyful mood, the President expressed her
warmest thanks and commendations for the remarkable pride and success
the team brought to the country for the first time in recent years.
President Sirleaf said that she was much pleased when the Lone Star
U-20 female team defeated their Algerian counterpart in Algiers,
especially, a famous country in the competition, and that has been
well recognized in the African soccer.
She pledged the sum of One Thousand United States’ Dollars
(US$1000.00) for the team as token of her appreciation, to be shared
among members of the team. She also assured the team that her
government will meet with the LFA and the Ministry of Youths and
Sports to give more support to their efforts.
She pointed out that it was because of the team’s cooperative spirit
which they demonstrated in Algeria; the zeal they developed for the
game; and, the skills they exhibited that led to their victory.
“Receiving you here is just a small way of showing appreciation to
you, for you to know that the government of Liberia appreciates your
efforts and splendid achievements,” said President Ellen Sirleaf.
The Chief Patron of Sports noted that they recognized the numerous
sacrifices the team has made to bring victory to the country, adding,
“our sports program is still in the infant stage, because it doesn’t
have the level of support it requires to enable it train properly and,
to provide you with the necessary supports so that you can concentrate
on the success of the game.”
“We will support the development of sports in this country, as it is
an important part of the development of human being, but now we are
trying our best to do better because we are still in the situation of
adjusting the new government,” the Chief Patron of Sports stated.
Eminent personalities at the meeting included President of the LFA,
Cllr. S. Izetta Wesley; the Vice President for Operation, Adolph
Lawrence; Liberia International Coordinator on Youths and Sports,
Steve Davies; and, the Chairman for Women Football, David Kortie,
among others.
Meanwhile, there are indications that the U-20 female national team
will be encountering the South African U-20 female team instead of
their Nigerian counterparts as earlier thought.
The match is expected to be on April 30, 2006 at the Antoinette Tubman
Stadium, following the withdrawal of the Algerian U-20 female team
from the competition earlier last week.
|
|
