| Big Dream -Lawmaker Introduces Bill For Liberia To Host African Cup Of Nations |
| Published on June 29, 2011 | Email To Friend Print Version
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By: Roland Perry
A bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives for the West African State of Liberia to host the 2020 African Cup of Nations final in Monrovia.
Liberia currently lies at the bottom of Group A with four points from four matches played in the qualifying rounds of the 2012 African Cup of Nations.
The country got its first win in international competitions in four years on June 5th 2011 when it defeated Cape Verde Island 1-0 at the SKD Sport Complex in Paynesville.
Since the competition was introduced in 1957, Liberia has qualified for it twice and has never reached the final stages.
The West African state which produced the World, African and European Best Footballer in 1994 and 1995 – George Oppong Manneh Weah, now a politician—has played five games, won one, drawn two, lost two, scored five goals and conceived seven.
Despite its stumpy performance in the prestigious African contest, a member of the Liberian Legislature is sponsoring a bill for his country to host the festivities.
In his communication the Plenary of the House of Representatives, the sponsor of the bill, Lofa County Representatives Eugene Fallah Kparka said, the bill, when passed into law, will afford Liberia to bid for the hosting of the 2020 African Cup of Nations final.
He argued that the passage of the bill will also enhance the country's capacity to generate revenues for the successful hosting of the prestigious football tournament.
Following the reading of the communication, it was moved and seconded that the bill be sent to the committee on Youth and Sport and report be made to the Plenary in three weeks.
Some members of the public have described the bill as being in the right direction. They said, if the right processes are put into place, the country will be successful in hosting the tournament.
Others believed that it is not timely and that the House should not pass such a bill. They said, following prolonged period of civil unrests in Liberia, there are more important things needed to be done other than hosting the African Cup of Nations.
They named the lack of adequate football stadiums, hotels, electricity, water, roads and transportation as some basic facilities that the country lacks in hosting the tournament.
But supporters of the bill said nine years to the competition—if Liberia succeeds in hosting it—are just enough to restore these needed facilities and infrastructures, as the country has been branded as one of the fastest growing post conflict nations.
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