The Monrovia Football Academy recently took part in its first ever International Youth Football Tournament (2017 Tournoi des Talents des Lagunes). It was a new dawn for the academy players and coaches as they got to experience first-hand what it is like to compete beyond the borders of Liberia. The team traveled to Ivory Coast and faced off against academy teams from Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
Comprised of 9-12-year-olds, the Monrovia academy faced strong oppositions in Ivoire Académie of Ivory Coast, MT Soccer Foundation of Sierra Leone, and Racing Club d’Abidjan’s U-15 as they suffered heavy defeats in all their games, conceding 23 goals and scoring one.
Despite the defeats, it was a learning experience that the players and coaches took it as an experience to learn from.
Ansumana Keita, a Liberian grassroots football tactician said, “Although the academy lost all of its games, it is not important. The most important thing is their participation and experience gained from that tournament. This is a boost for youth football development in Liberia. Our youthful players need to be actively involved in such tournaments locally and internationally.”
Established in 2015, Monrovia Football Academy has players from all walks of life. The inspiration for those that are from slum areas is that Liberian football Legend and the 1995 Ballon d’Or winner George Weah, hails from the slum area of New Kru Town.
The Monrovia Football Academy has set the bar for other academies in Liberia. The experience and exposure to competitions internationally and domestically can only strengthen the club and in the long run, build a stronger foundation for football talent in the country.
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