Flashback: Ex- Nigerian wrestling champion Victor Kodei traines Liberian wrestlers in basic free-style techniques
The president of the Liberia Wrestling Association, (LWA) George Gould says the LWA needs US$10,000 to participate in the 7th edition of the ECOWAS Wrestling Tournament in Dakar, Senegal.
“The US$10,000 is to give per diem to the athletes and officials, and sponsor the remaining three delegates to the tournament,” Mr. Gould said.
He added: “This is one of tournament that can defend our membership with the international body – and the benefits will be logistics, capacity building, amongst others.”
He appealed to President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and other philanthropists to come to their rescue to raise the money for the trip.
The wrestling tournament is part of the ECOWAS program to promote peace, unity and solidarity in the region.
According to the invitation, which was addressed to the “Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs,” the tournament is scheduled from Friday – Sunday, the 9th – 12th of October.
The categories for the Dakar tournament: 66kg or less, from 66kg to 76kg, from 76kg to 86kg, and 100kg to 120kg.
“As part of its program, the ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre (EYSDC), in collaboration with the Comite National de Gestion de la Lutte, Senegal is organizing the 7th ECOWAS African Wrestling Tournament in Dakar,” Dr. Fatimata Dia Sow, Commissioner for Social Affairs and Gender, wrote.
According to the invite, each country would present a delegation of nine persons, and to help member countries, the EYSDC would provide international air transport for six persons - five wrestlers and one coach.
ECOWAS will also provide full boarding, feeding and local transport for all the members of each delegation, not exceeding the nine persons – there will be no per diem.
“Consequently, I would be grateful if you could inform your colleague, Minister in charge of Sports to confirm your team’s participation and forward the list of its composition to the ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre in Ouagadougou….,” the invite said.
Meanwhile, the president of the Liberia Wrestling Association, (LWA) George Gould says the LWA needs US$10,000 to participate in the 7th edition of the ECOWAS African Wrestling Tournament in Dakar, Senegal.
“The US$10,000 is to give per diem to the athletes and officials, and sponsor the remaining three delegates to the tournament,” Mr. Gould said.
“These are some of the tournaments, wherein can defend our membership with the international body – and the benefits would be logistics, capacity building, amongst others.”
He added: “We are appealing to President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and other philanthropists to help us – this is a SOS call.”
The wrestling tournament is part of the ECOWAS program to promote peace, unity and solidarity in the region.
According to the invitation, which was address to the “Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs,” the tournament is scheduled from Friday – Sunday, the 9th – 12th of October 2015.
The categories for the Dakar tournament: 66kg or less, from 66kg to 76kg, from 76kg to 86kg, and 100kg to 120kg.
“As part of its programmed, the ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre (EYSDC), in collaboration with the Comite National de Gestion de la Lutte, Senegal is organizing the 7th ECOWAS African Wrestling Tournament in Dakar,” Dr. Fatimata Dia Sow, Commissioner for Social Affairs and Gender, wrote.
According to the invite, each country would present a delegation of nine persons, and to help member country, but the EYSDC would provide international air transport for six persons - five wrestlers and one coach.
ECOWAS would also provide full boarding, feeding and local transport for all the members of each delegation, not exceeding the nine persons – there will be no per diem.
“Consequently, I would be grateful if you could inform your colleague, Minister in charge of Sports to confirm your team’s participation and forward the list of its composition to the ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre in Ouagadougou….,” the invite said.
Meanwhile Deputy Minister for Sports, Henry B. Yonton, Jr., yesterday via mobile phone interview said the government does not have funds allocated for the wrestlers trip.
“We submitted the US$1m to support all national teams, but it was again removed from the budget,” Min. Yonton said.
He said there is nothing the Ministry of Youth & Sports can do to assist the Liberia Wrestling Association for the Dakar trip.