By: Julius Konton
The President of the Liberia Football Association, Mustapha Raji, has mounted a robust defense of his administration’s record, outlining sweeping reforms, infrastructure investments, women’s football expansion, and governance modernization during a wide-ranging address at the LFA’s Extraordinary Congress.
Speaking before delegates, club officials, government representatives, and international partners, Raji framed football development as both a national unifier and an economic tool, urging stakeholders to prioritize long-term growth over short-term political disputes.
“Football development is not an overnight process,” Raji said. “It requires innovation, discipline, integrity, and collective responsibility.”
COACH EDUCATION: FROM THREE TO TWENTY-SIX
Raji revealed that when his administration assumed office in 2018, Liberia had only three certified coach educators nationwide. Today, that number has grown to over 26, supported by local stakeholders and international partners.
Yet, he warned the progress remains insufficient for a country of more than five million people, where football is the most popular sport.
Former national team stars, including James Debbah and Kelvin Segbe, have returned to contribute as coach educators an initiative Raji described as essential to sustainability and local capacity building.
HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE LEGACY
Raji credited past LFA leadership for laying the groundwork for today’s reforms, particularly:
Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr., under whose tenure Liberia installed its first artificial turf at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium.
Cllr. Sumo Izetta Wesley, Africa’s first female football association president, who refurbished the ATS and expanded artificial pitches to Kakata.
Musa Hassan Bility, who advanced the vision of a national football center of excellence.
That vision materialized as the George Weah Technical Center, now reinforced under Raji’s leadership with renovations, fencing, a mini-stadium, and the establishment of the Henry N. Browne Academy, aimed at producing elite talent for national and international football.
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL: A STATISTICAL TURNAROUND
Raji highlighted one of his administration’s most visible achievements: the rapid expansion of women’s football.
Women’s teams increased from 8 teams in one league to over 30 clubs nationwide.
New county leagues launched in Bong County and Margibi County, with further expansion planned.
Club subventions rose steadily:
US$3,937 → US$4,200 → US$5,000 → US$6,000 → US$7,500 per club.
Championship prize money jumped from US$1,500 to US$25,000, fully paid.
Funding support from the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company helped stabilize women’s and amateur football financing.
“Today, women’s football in Liberia is admired across the sub-region,” Raji told delegates.
CAF, FIFA, AND INTERNATIONAL ADVOCACY
Raji disclosed ongoing advocacy with the Confederation of African Football to extend US$100,000 participation grants already secured for men’s champions to women’s champions as well.
He credited CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe for advancing reforms across African football.
Liberian men’s champions, including Black Man Warriors and FC Fassell, receive:
US$30,000 domestic prize
US$100,000 CAF allocation
Total: US$130,000 per club
CALL FOR GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIP
Aligning football development with national employment goals under Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Raji urged the government to establish a minimum US$1 million annual football development fund, alongside US$200,000 support per club qualifying for international competitions.
“Football employs thousands of Liberians directly and indirectly,” he noted. “It deserves structured national investment.”
DIGITAL GOVERNANCE AND INTEGRITY REFORMS
To curb fraud and illicit transfers, the LFA has:
Digitized player registration and transfers
Integrated the FIFA Clearing House system
Enforced FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP)
Raji cited past cases where clubs lost tens of thousands of dollars due to weak systems, vowing that such lapses “will not happen again.”
“Integrity is non-negotiable,” he said. “If football must be run by criminals, then I will not be part of it.”
TENSIONS, DEMOCRACY, AND ELECTIONS
With LFA elections scheduled for April 18 in Maryland County, Raji cautioned against politicization, inducement, and misinformation, stressing that football budgets are instruments of development not political weapons.
“When you vote against the football budget, you deny opportunity to a barefoot girl in Grand Kru,” he warned.
Despite recent confrontations, including an attack on the LFA office, Raji reaffirmed his commitment to dialogue, fairness, and equal treatment of all clubs.
A BROADER VISION
Beyond competitions, Raji emphasized:
Rehabilitation programs for prison inmates through coaching education
Youth academies and grassroots development
International placements for Liberian players, with 100% transfer proceeds now retained by clubs.
Eight Liberian youth players are currently competing in Europe through LFA-supported programs.
As Liberia’s football community heads toward a critical electoral moment, Raji’s address underscored a defining message:
“Football unites. Football creates jobs. Football demands integrity.”
Whether stakeholders rally behind that vision may shape the future of Liberian football for decades to come.
