House Speaker Alex Tyler and Vice President Joseph Boakai
The 2013 football finalist of the Intra-Governmental Tournament, the National Legislature, dubbed LEG would not participate in the 2016 tournament, the Daily Observer has reliable learnt.
Up to yesterday, the Daily Observer gathered that the Legislature is yet to pay their participatory or registration fee of US$500 and therefore was not included in the revised fixture.
The Chairman of the LEG Sports Association, Mr. Varney Gbessae, told the Daily Observer yesterday that they are still engaging the Chairman on the House’s Committee on Youth and Sports, Lester Paye and Senator George M. Weah, the Chairman on the Senate’s Committee on Youth and
Sports.
Mr. Gbessae said they are also hoping on the President of the Liberian Senate, Vice President Joseph Boakai, including President Pro Tempore Armah Jallah as well as House’s Speaker Alex Tyler for support for the Legislature to participate in the tournament.
The LEG Sports Chairman indicated that they have submitted a budget of US$5,000 which includes registration, players’ transportation, refreshment, jerseys among others.
“We are still hopeful that we will participate even though up to now there is no sign of encouragement of our participation,” Mr. Gbessae said.
Since the tournament began in 2008, the Legislature made her debut in 2013, and performed impressively by reaching the grand finals. Finance Ministry whipped the Legislature 1-0 to grab the football title, and Youth and Sports whacked LEG in the kickball category.
In the 2014 edition, both teams were thrown out in the preliminary rounds.
Meanwhile many of the staff members of the Legislature have called on Sen. Weah, former football icon – 1995 FIFA World Best and three times African Best Player and Legend to use his ingenuity to ensure that the institution participates.
The former Chairman of the Legislature Sports Association, Isaac G. Redd, who is also Director of the House’s Press
and Public Affairs, said the absence of the Legislature in the tourney under the chairmanship of Sen. Weah, Africa’s proudest player, would be a dishonor.
Mr. Redd further said the dishonor would also affect former Youth and Sports Minister, Commany Wesseh, who is now Senator for River Gee, as well as the Rep. Lester Paye, including Reps. Edwin Snowe and Adolph Lawrence, former President and Vice President of the Liberia Football Association (LFA) including Sen. Francis Paye, Rep. Zoe Pennoh, amongst others.
Meanwhile, at the Willis Knuckles Sports Stadium (alias Alpha Field) yesterday, Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) whipped the Ministry of Post and Telecommunication (MOPT) 10-4 points, while NASSCORP flogged the LBS/MICAT 11-2 points in the kickball.
In football, MCC defeated MOPT 2-0, and defending football champion, LBS/MICAT bowed 1-0 to NASSCORP.