Paynesville City – Finance and Development Planning Minister, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, has declared kickball a uniquely Liberian treasure that must be legally protected and financially supported, urging national institutions to secure the intellectual rights to the sport before it is “stolen from the nation.”
By Jaheim T. Tumu – jaheim.tumu@frontpageafricaonline.com
“We need to get the legal rights, otherwise it will be stolen from us,” Minister Ngafuan told sports leaders and athletes at the Sports Writers Association of Liberia (SWAL) 2nd Annual Awards Ceremony. “Kickball is a Liberian treasure, and we need to protect it.”
The Minister’s remarks came during a wide‑ranging keynote speech that linked sports to national education, healthcare, and unity, while pledging increased budgetary allocation from the government.
He emphasized that sports should not be viewed as a drain on resources or a mere competitor to traditional sectors, but rather as a critical partner in driving national development.
“Sports will compete with other sectors that you all love. Sports is competing with roads, electricity, energy, agriculture, education, and health,” Ngafuan noted. “But sports, in a way, buttresses education and health. Someone strong in sports is likely to be healthy.”
Kickball as Liberia’s Cultural Asset
Ngafuan devoted a significant portion of his address to kickball, describing it as a sport invented and nurtured by Liberian women that is now at risk of being overlooked or appropriated internationally.
“One of the unique things we have in Liberia that we must promote is kickball,” he said. “We all grew up thinking that this was a universal sport. I was really surprised to learn later that it is unique to us.”
He called on the Liberia Tourism Authority (LTA) and other relevant government line agencies to collaborate on securing intellectual property rights for kickball, warning that without robust legal safeguards, the sport could eventually become “an endangered species.”
“I want to thank all the Liberian women of the ages who developed and created this,” Ngafuan added. “Whatever we need to do in terms of resources to promote this, we will find it.”
Sports as a Unifier
The Finance Minister underscored the historical unifying power of sports, recalling emotional moments at the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Sports Complex when Liberia’s national football team, the Lone Star, brought citizens together across deep political and tribal divides.
“I recall being here at the SKD when Lone Star was playing, and I’ve seen the joy that hits everybody when we win. At that point, nobody remembers county, nobody remembers tribe, and nobody remembers political party,” he said.
He recounted sitting near Gate 11 during a high-stakes match against Ghana, where a tough defeat left fans in tears.
“I saw ordinary people, big people, and older people who couldn’t leave the stadium because they were crying. Across political parties, I had to shed tears too. But that’s the power of sports; it’s a unifier,” he recounted.
Increased Support for Sports
Ngafuan pledged that sports funding would continue to see an upward trajectory despite the competing demands resting on the national budget.
“As Minister of Finance, working with my team and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, we are mobilizing resources,” he stated. “Support for sports has increased, and it will continue to increase because through sports, we unite the entire country.”
He went on to praise Youth and Sports Minister Cornelia Kruah-Togba, her team of deputies and advisors, and former Lone Star head coach Thomas Kojo for their passion and technical guidance.
“We will do more from where I sit and from what I see. Many good things are currently in the pipeline,” he promised.
SWAL Awards and Media Accountability
The evening also celebrated excellence in local sports journalism and athletic achievement. Ngafuan congratulated both the winners and nominees, urging them to view their accolades as both an honor and a weighty public responsibility.
“Awards can be like a burden. You are no longer an ordinary person. If you don’t want to work harder and uphold the standards, then reject the award tonight,” he challenged the audience.
He coined the phrase “constructive envy” to motivate those who missed out on awards this year. “Maybe next year you will receive the award. Work and show yourself approved,” he said.
Among the night’s big honorees, Prime FM Sports Editor Michael Solomon was named the SWAL Sports Journalist of the Year. The recognition underscored the growing role of the sports press in shaping national discourse and promoting accountability within local sports governance.
Ngafuan hailed the contributions of sports journalists like Solomon, noting that their reporting helps sustain public interest and institutional transparency.
“These kinds of initiatives breed healthy competition. I congratulate those who are being honored tonight,” the Minister said.
He urged the awardees not to fall into complacency. “Don’t rest on your laurels. Don’t think you have arrived. This award should remind you of the high excellence that SWAL and the wider Liberian community expect from you. When you get awarded, the spotlight shifts to you. If you go to sleep, SWAL and its leadership will be the first to be disappointed.”
Harnessing the Power of Youth
With Liberia’s demographics heavily skewed toward young people, Ngafuan stressed that sports must be intentionally leveraged to provide tangible hope and socioeconomic opportunities.
“About 70 percent of our population is young. We have to invest in sports to give them hope,” he said.
The Minister rejected the long-held societal notion that athletic participation undermines academic focus, sharing his own life experience as an example.
“This notion that if you play sports, you’re going to derail academically is entirely false. Some of us coming up were very active soccer players and still excelled,” he stated.
Reaffirming the government’s long-term commitment to human resource capacity building, Ngafuan concluded: “Our duty, wherever we can find opportunities for training and development, is to ensure we deliver it to our youth.”
