By: Staff Writer
In continuation of his empowerment drive across different sporting sectors in the Country, Liberia’s Ambassador at large for youth and sports development, Alioune Kebe put smiles on the faces of the Liberia Oldtimers National Sports Association with a meaningful donation to members of LONA.
The donation is in fulfillment of a commitment made to that sporting body following series of discussions.
Amb. Kebe presenting the original twenty Footballs to LONA stressed that it is another way in which his office can help in improving the sector by touching other key categories within the sector, like Oldtimers.
According to him, his gesture is just a start for LONA as he hopes to continue the collaboration and to see how best to make future interventions in other strategic areas within LONA.
Amb. Kebe who also thanked Chief Patron of Sports, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for affording him the opportunity to serve in said key role at the same time appreciated Youth and Sports Minister Cllr. Jeror Cole Bangalu for his support and collaboration to the process.
Receiving the Footballs for onward presentation to LONA as sector Minister with smile beaming over his face as a sound of gratitude for the gesture, Minister J. Cole Bangalu thanked Amb. Kebe for always thinking about ways and means to help support the sector including empowering the direct beneficieries, the athletes.
“Thank you Amb. Kebe but I am not surprised because I know what you have been doing for the young people and those within the sector “, he re-emphasized.
His statement was re-echoed by the Vice President of the Liberia Oldtimers National Sports Association Paul Romeo David who termed Amb. Kebe’s gesture as timely and significant to the LONA.
“Thank you Amb. Kebe for the donation and for fulfilling your promise to us and this will go a long way for us”, he added
Mr. David using the ocassion to pay tribute to the Minister of Youth and Sports stated that he is certain that under the watchful eyes of Minister Bangalu, the LONA will never be the same again.
“Oldtimer Football is for all, once you played the game before, you will eventually get old and will still want to keep fitness by using the LONA league and other Oldtimer activities to exercise”, he noted.
According to him, since LONA’s establishment in 1992, no government has supported it except the current government under the watchful sectoral leadership of Minister J. Cole Bangalu with their inclusion into the national budget, something he hailed Minister Bangalu and his team for such intervention.
Meanwhile, As part of the leadership ongoing initiatives, LONA’s Vice President disclosed plans for the construction of a gym for its members for additional fitness and exercising purposes.
He explained that with their budget, they have plans in the making to purchase a land to begin the construction of the project soon.
