Monrovia – Disqualified Liberia Football Association (LFA) presidential aspirant Cassell Anthony Kuoh has finally broken his silence over his exclusion from the upcoming LFA elections, declaring that he remains committed to pursuing “all lawful avenues” to challenge the decision while calling for unity within the local football fraternity.
By Christopher C. Walker christopherc.walker@frontpageafricaonline.com
In a statement released on the eve of the LFA Elective Congress, Kuoh expressed respectful disagreement with the decision to bar his candidacy.
He signalled his intent to continue seeking legal and procedural remedies to protect what he described as his “fundamental rights.”
“I remain committed to pursuing all lawful and available remedial processes to ensure that my fundamental rights are protected and not subjected to arbitrary limitation or confined to the timelines of an electoral cycle,” Kuoh stated.
The former presidential hopeful was recently disqualified by the LFA Appeals Committee, which upheld an earlier ruling by the Elections Committee.
The body declared him ineligible to contest the presidency citing a prior criminal conviction in the United States.
The Appeals Committee maintained that provisions within the LFA Statutes prohibit any individual found guilty of a criminal offense from serving on the Executive Committee, which includes the office of the president.
However, in his latest statement, Kuoh suggested that the dispute transcends his personal ambitions, touching instead on broader questions of fairness and governance within Liberian football.
“The principles at stake extend beyond any single election or interpretation by organs of those who fear me,” he declared. “They go to the very core of fairness, legality, and the integrity of our football governance system.”
Despite the setback, Kuoh maintained that he does not view the disqualification as a defeat.
“As someone whose life journey has been defined by perseverance, resilience, and an unwavering belief in purpose, I regard this as yet another test of my resolve and commitment to meaningful change in Liberian football,” he said.
“I have faced challenges before and overcome them. This moment is no different.”
Kuoh also used the platform to thank his family, campaign team, and football stakeholders who have supported him throughout the controversy.
“I stand today more focused, more determined, and even more inspired, buoyed by the overwhelming support and encouragement I continue to receive from across the football community and beyond,” he added.
The statement was issued on Liberia’s Unification Day, a holiday Kuoh referenced as he called for calm and mutual respect among stakeholders amid growing tensions surrounding the electoral process.
“Sports, football in particular, has always served as a powerful force for unity, bringing together individuals, communities, and nations across lines that would otherwise divide us,” he noted.
“I, therefore, call on all stakeholders in Liberian football to remain calm, to remain united, and to continue to engage with one another in a spirit of respect and shared purpose.”
The development comes at a time of increasing uncertainty surrounding the LFA electoral process, which has been bogged down by multiple disputes, petitions, and appeals leading up to the May 15 Congress.
While Kuoh did not specify his next legal move, his statement strongly suggests that further action could be pursued through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), FIFA, or the Liberian judicial system.
FrontPageAfrica has learned that Kuoh and his legal team recently attempted to secure a stay order to halt the elections.
However, sources familiar with the matter indicated the effort was unsuccessful, as the court was reportedly not prepared to hear the appeal before the scheduled congress.
Barring a last-minute legal intervention, the LFA Elective Congress is expected to proceed as planned.
“My commitment to the development, reform, and elevation of Liberian football remains absolute,” Kuoh concluded. “This vision does not begin or end with an election. It is a continuing responsibility. I remain hopeful. I remain resolute. And I remain committed to the cause.”
