Liberian President George Manneh Weah is expected to do the official kickoff of Liberia’s first-ever mini-wheelchair Basketball tournament organized A.B .Shaifa Kromah alias King Buju in collaboration with the Liberia National wheelchair Basketball Federation.
A.B .Shaifa Kromah is the chief Butler to President George Manneh Weah.
The three -days Wheelchair Basketball Tournament is organized by the King Buju Charity Foundation under the upecies of the leadership, of President George Weah, the disability athletes will showcase their talents to the public as way of preparing themselves to represent Liberia in an International tournament .
The first-ever basketball mini Wheelchair Basketball tournament by the Liberia National Wheelchair Basketball Federation and the King Buju Charity Foundation kicks off in Rehab, Paynesville, Friday October 29.
Named and styled The King Buju Wheelchair Basketball Tour, the attractive event for handicap athletes will feature six teams, including the Rabbi Buju Warriors Wheelchair Basketball team as host, the Rescue Mother – Amb. Nora Finda Bundo -Gbaya WheelChair Basketball team, Monrovia City wheelchair Basketball team, Paynesville City Wheelchair Baskeball team, and the Kingston Shark Wheelchair basketball team of Liberia First lady, Clar Marie Weah.
Decorated as the symbol of promoting disability through sports, the King Buju Wheelchair Basketball Tournament will serve as preparation for the Liberia National U-23 men Wheelchair Basketball team that is expected to compete in International Wheelchair Basketball Federation Africa’s U23 Men World Championship Qualifers to be hosted in Johannesburg South Africa from December 5-11, 2021.
Speaking to Liberia Public Radio ahead of the three-days first annual King Buju Wheelchair Basketball Tournament which kickstart this Friday, October 29-31 at Buju avenue Basketball court in Rehab, Paynesville, the President and founder of the Liberia National WheelChair Basketball Federation (LNWBF) Amb. S Lionel Johnson said the tournament is hosted in honor of H.E. President George Manneh Weah for his recognition and commitment of support to the Liberia National Wheelchair Basketball Federation (LNWBF).
According to S. Lionel Johnson the three day National Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, which will be held under the Theme: Inclusion and Integration of persons with disbilities into National Development through wheelchair Basketball.
There will be selection of players that will for the first time in 74years represents Liberia at the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) Africa’s U23 Men World Championship qualifer.
Also speaking to Journalists, Amb. AB. Shaifa Kromah, alais King Buju, whose name the Tournament will be staged under, said He will continued to engaged keys stakeholders to provide the necessary support and logistics that will ensured the team participate in the upcoming International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) Africa’sU23 Men World Championship qualifer.
“We will work to ensure that the team participate in this prestigious Games, which will give them a memorable experience.”King Buju said.
In chitchat, with some of the players who is preparing to represent Liberia at the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) Africa’s U23 Men World Championship Qualifers, in an exibition game stage in Paynesville, the players expressed happiness to justify their inclusion in the team to represent Liberia at the international tournament.
“We are grateful to the President for given us his attention that we are able to train and represent our country, it will afforded more exposure if the necessary support is given and we will make our country proud, Taplah Chea Captain of the Liberia National men wheelchair Basketball team to reporters.
The players expressed frustration and lack of neccesary support to the Wheelchair Basketball team, Vennessa Y. Dennis captain of the Liberia Female National Wheelchair Basketball team said there are efforts being made by the team seeking support for the wheelchair basketball team, but to no avail, “we lack the support as basketballer because of our disabilities, the people drives us from practices on the SKD gymnasium, saying our wheelchairs will spoil their raw, this is disappointing, we are making sacrifices but no reward .
She added that now, we are seeing greenlight from our President George Weah, we are so much grateful for this opportunity and vowed to make Liberia proud, Dennis urged the nation to come on board and support people living with disability as they seek to make impact in sports.
“we do not get money by playing basketball, but we are not worry about that, “we are playing for passion all we seek is support to make our country proud, Dennis added.
Meanwhile, Liberia is pair in Group A, alongside host nation -South Africa, Rwanda, and Kenya, at least 108 physically challenges athletes will compete in the King Buju Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, comprises of six teams for a spot in the Liberia National Wheelchair men under-23 Basketball team ahead of the “IWBF” World qualifiers.
The Wheelchair Basketball was established in the United States of America in 1946. Since than Liberia has participated or hosted any major competition, thus far and the King Buju Wheelchair Basketball Tournament under the dynamic leadership of His Excellency President Ambassador Dr. George Manneh Weah, will be the Republic of Liberia First Wheelchair Basketball Tournament since the said disabled sports was established on July 18, 2019 in Liberia.
President George Weah, accompanied by First lady Clar Marie Weah and few high members of the cabinents is expected to grace the opening and closing of the three days tournament in Paynesville.
At the same time, there will also be live performance of Liberian top musical artists, like Jonathan Koffa alais Takun J, Daniel George aka “Deng”, Christoph The Change, the musical Eric geso and Minister Johnson Garteh, among others will performed live at the start of the event, DJ Wadach the President DJ will master the ceremony.
