UPPER NIMBA – Nimba County is poised to get its first-ever turfed soccer facility amid a groundbreaking ceremony over the weekend for an artificial turf project valued at over US$600,000 at the Gompa Sports Stadium.
The Gompa Sports Stadium artificial turf project is FIFA-funded and forms part of the Liberia Football Association (LFA) football development plan aimed at modernizing football facilities across the country.
Under its tailored support styled FIFA Forward Fund, the world governing body for football provides funding for football development projects in the countries of its member associations. The FIFA Forward Fund aims to promote sustainable and responsible football development, focusing on grassroots growth, coaching, refereeing, and women’s football.
FIFA Forward provides 360-degree, tailored-made support for football development in countries of its member associations, based on three principles: building football infrastructure and facilities; developing football programs and competitions; and enhancing football administration and governance.
Funding receive annually by member associations through FIFA Forward is US$100,000, with a maximum of US$750,000, depending on member associations’ needs and FIFA’s assessment.
When completed, the Gompa Sports Stadium playing pitch will be fully turfed, with the facility being equipped with an underground water sprinkler system, lighting fixtures, a standby generator, and a roof over the stadium stands.
At the weekend’s groundbreaking ceremony, LFA Nimba Sub-Committee chairperson, Tomah Sei Floyd, Sr., lauded the local football house for what he called a great opportunity for the people of Nimba County.
He described as being very essential, the refurbishment project of the Gompa Sports Stadium.
He cautioned Nimbains to take the project as their own and work collaboratively toward its completion, rallying community members to serve as security for materials intended for the project that would be taken to Nimba.
Local football house President Mustapha Raji, for his part, asserted that the FA is committed to developing infrastructure and the talents of Liberians across the country.
He noted that with support from FIFA, the FA here will ensure that local talents are improved.
Raji used the occasion to renew his previous call for increased budgetary allocation, pleading with lawmakers to allocate more funding to the national budget to support and develop the talents of young people in the country.
