Youth and Sports Minister, Cornelia W. Kruah, has announced a major initiative aimed at decentralizing sports development across Liberia, revealing that 15 local footballers — each representing one of the country’s counties —will travel to China to participate in a one-week international amateur tournament.
The players, drawn from the National County Meet All-Star team, are set to compete in the Cun Chao Tournament in May. The initiative is designed to promote sports development, cultural exchange, and youth empowerment.
Minister Kruah made the disclosure on Monday, March 16, 2026, during her assessment and engagement tour in Lofa County. She spoke at the Wologisi Intellectual Forum in Voinjama and later on Radio Life.
According to the Minister, the opportunity follows an invitation from the Chinese Embassy in Liberia for an 18-member amateur team. She noted that 15 of the slots were reserved to ensure equal county representation, highlighting her administration’s commitment to expanding sports opportunities beyond Monrovia.
The selection process was conducted under the supervision of Deputy Minister for Sports, G. Andy Quamie. Minister Kruah added that, in consultation with the Director of Sports, the Ministry is also working to revive county-based sporting programs while introducing new initiatives to identify and nurture grassroots talent nationwide.
Providing further details, Deputy Minister Quamie emphasized that the selection criteria were strictly localized. Each player chosen must have been born, schooled, actively playing, and currently residing in the county they represent.
Highlighting Lofa County’s representative, Quamie named Dennis Gbagbaku as one of the selected players for the international trip.
“Dennis will go to China, play, gain experience, and return,” Quamie said. “You will see him.”
The tournament, which will feature amateur players between the ages of 18 and 30, is expected to strengthen bilateral ties between Liberia and China while providing valuable international exposure for young Liberian athletes.
