IPNEWS-Monrovia: President on Friday, April 15, 2022 dedicated the newly constructed INVINCIBLE SPORTS PARK, located in Sinkor directly beneath the runway of the James Spriggs Payne Airfield.

The Park constructed with funds being made available by President George Weah, Maritime Authority, NASSCORP and NPA.

The idea that birthed the construction of the Invincible Park did not only bring about the first modern recreational park in the country but also provided a life-changing opportunity to hundreds of residents near the James Payne Spriggs Airport who had squatted in the area for decades, living deplorably in makeshift structures. Now, they can boast of modern housing units to be owned by them free of charge.

President George Weah took the decision to construct the Invincible Park in February 2021 to honor the Invincible Eleven, the local football club that catapulted his football career.

The Invincible Sports Park was initiated to replace the famous Invincible Eleven Majesty Sports club known as I.E. Practice ground, near the James Payne Spriggs Field, Airfield Sinkor, as a way of developing the nation through sports.

His decision, however, came under heavy criticism due to its proximity to the airport. The airport has been out of commercial use.

Prior to the construction of the park, the open field served as a ground for open defecation. It was desecrated with feces. The dissertation of the area made surrounding communities prone to criminal activities.

Now the area has changed structurally with the dedication of the Invincible Sports Park. The Invincible Park President Weah’s flagship program for sports development in the country.

President Weah also broke ground for the construction of a similar park in the PHP Community. He says it is his vision to ensure that every community gets a sports park.

The new Invincible Park in the heart of Sinkor, Monrovia. Another is going up in PHP in Central Monrovia. The plan is to have one in each county. George Weah is certainly going down as the infrastructure president, the Ministry of Information disclosed.

The official opening of the park has attracted several international football legends to Liberia who graced with opening with a football match between African Football Legends versus Liberia Football Legends.

Also, former PSG coach during the time of the legendary George Weah, Luiz Fernandez, came to Liberia as well as a delegation from FIFA and Qatar.

The African soccer legends gracing the opening of the Invincible Park include:

Samuel Eto’o, Kwame Ayew & wife, Didier Drogba, Sekou Coulibaly, Alian Guamini, Yousouf Fofana, Rocky Russell, Emmanuel Adebayor, German Smith, Andre Wauyh, Khalilou Fadiga, Cisse Bakare, JJ Okocha and Kalusha Bwalya.

Youssouf Fofana of Cote d’Ivoire – Weah’s teammate at AS Monaco

Kalusha Bwalya of Zambia – former African Footballer of the year 1988

JJ Okocha of Nigeria – former BBC African Footballer of the Year

LFA President Mustapha Raji – at the dedication ceremony

 

Composite photos show different facilities at the INVINCIBLE SPORTS PARK

Photo Courtesy: MICAT

See Full Text of President Weah’s Speech at the Dedicatory Ceremony:

APRIL 15, 2022

Her Excellency Madam Clar Marie Decontee Weah,

First Lady of the Republic of Liberia;

Her Excellency Chief Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor;

Vice President of the Republic of Liberia;

The Speaker, President Pro-Tempore, and Members of the 54th Legislature, here present;

The Dean and Members of the Cabinet;

Other Officials of Government, here present;

The Doyen and Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps;

Presidents, Chairpersons, and Members of Youth and Student Groups;

Presidents and Chairpersons of Women’s Organizations;

Members of the Business Community, especially Market Women and Men;

Yana Boys and Girls; Bus and Taxi drivers; Keh-Keh and Pen-Pen riders; and Wheelbarrow operators;

Disadvantaged and Physically Challenged Citizens;

Heads and Members of Religious Institutions, Prelates, and Members of the Clergy;

Members of the Fourth Estate;

Distinguished Guests;

Fellow Liberians;

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Today is a special day for me, because it has brought me yet another opportunity to realize my dreams and aspirations for the happiness and well-being of our citizens.

Since I was entrusted to lead the development of this country in 2018, I have dedicated all my efforts to ensure that we have enjoyed unbroken peace.  Because, as I have often said, without peace there can be no development.

This government has achieved a lot in terms of development, and many significant projects have now been completed, or are nearing completion.  Let me assure you that the projects which we have embarked upon that are not yet completed, WILL BE COMPLETED!

Today we are here to open a sports park that no one expected.  Again this is an opportunity for me as President to continue to show the love that I have for Liberia and the Liberian people. I am a patriot by nature, and will always remain patriotic.

In the days of my youth, I played soccer on this very spot that we are standing on today.   As I look across the street, I can see the Ellen Mills Scarborough Junior High School, where I obtained my Junior High School certificate.  This was our soccer field.  I can also see the Bench Old Timers Field on the other side of the airfield…right over there.

I broke my first record in the high school league right here on this field by defeating the famous Wells Hairston High School when I played for the Muslim Congress High School.

Later, as I grew up, I had the honor to play for Invincible Eleven, one of the leading soccer clubs in Liberia, known popularly as I.E. Majestic Sports Association, and this was our practice ground.

So you can see that I know this area very well. I used to live here, right across from the Airfield.  Although this piece of land was undeveloped, it was used for recreational purposes for many decades by the general public in Monrovia.

Since this is one of the first places in Monrovia where I used to practice soccer in my youthful days, it can be given the credit for producing the first and only Liberian and the first and only African to have won the FIFA World’s Best Footballer title, and the European Ballon d’Ór.

You will also recall that this area has played another important and very meaningful role in our Nation’s history, when it served for many years as the site where hundreds of Liberian women, wearing white, prayed for peace to return to our land.  They were here as Prayer Warriors for our Nation, in the heat and in the rain, laying on the ground and sitting in the sand, with no shelter from the elements.

And as we all now know, they were very successful.  Their prayers were heard by the Almighty God, and their efforts were rewarded with a lasting and sustainable peace that we have enjoyed for almost two decades now.

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

During the years since I became President of this country, as I have driven past this site in the course of carrying out my official duties, I have often wondered WHY, after all these many years since my youth, no government has seen it fit to improve this space, in order for it to provide our people the simple pleasures of recreation and relaxation in the open air.

And so I decided that I would do something about it.   I feel a strong sense of obligation to this community because of what this place has contributed to my success in the world of soccer.  The transformation of this space into a modern sports and recreational facility for the public is not only pleasing to me, but is a realization of my childhood dream to GIVE BACK to my people and my country.

I therefore want you to know that I have developed this public park as a promise kept, to improve our urban and civic spaces.  In this regard, I wish to express my thanks and appreciation to the National Port Authority, the Liberia Maritime Authority, and the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation for their generous contributions to this project, in fulfilment of their respective corporate social responsibilities.

DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

Giving back is a blessing, because I came from an humble family. My poor praying grandmother had very little to cater for all the grandchildren and other extended family members living with her. My only source for sponsorship was sports. My school fees were paid from sports scholarships. My rent was paid by some of the people attending this program today. Today, you have also heard some other stories of a similar nature told by the former team president and team manager and others who were senior executives during our time at the Invincible Eleven Football Club.  They were the foundation that prepared me for the legendary career I had in football.

All of you know my story by now:  From the slums of Gibraltar in Monrovia, to “The River of Prawn” of Cameroon, and then on to the glamorous Royal Kingdom of Monaco. It took perseverance, respect and discipline to do better, and improve my game.

I am surrounded with people that planted seeds for me, people that took me under their arms as a little brother. One of the friendly people who helped me get started in those early days, is here today.  He is Youssouf Fofana of La Cote d’Ivoire.  Youssouf was always kind enough to give me a ride to the “Mountain of Alaturbe” which was the field for our soccer practice.  Youssouf, levez-vous, síl vous plait!  Afin que vous puizziez etre reconnu, mon ami et mon frere, Faliku Fofana!!  Please stand and be recognized.  Ladies and Gentlemen, please give him a big round of applause!

I would also now pause and say a personal word of thanks and appreciation to my dear darling wife, Her Excellency Ambassador Clar Marie Decontee Weah.  Thank you Clar, for always being there for me, and for always encouraging me to be positive, no matter what.    I love you!

DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

As the announcement was made last year that we were going to embark upon this development, many were concerned that it was located too close to the runway of the local airport, the James Spriggs Payne Airport.  Little did they know that, before doing so, formal approval had been granted by the Liberian Civil Aviation Authority to locate this facility here, in accordance with all international regulations, provided that all heights and elevations would comply with the requirements of the aviation regulator.  As you can see for yourself, the Park has been situated a safe distance from the runway, as determined by the LCAA, and there are no buildings erected here which exceed the stipulated height.

Nevertheless, this interaction with the Liberian Civil Aviation Authority has drawn our attention to the inadequacies and shortcomings of the James Spriggs Payne Airport, and have given us a renewed interest in its rehabilitation and enhancement.

We have therefore directed the LCAA and the Management of the airport to draw up plans and to develop a feasibility study for the upgrading of this facility, including the extension of the runway in the direction of the swamp, in order to enable international jet traffic to operate from Spriggs, and the construction of a new access road for both passengers and cargo.

DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

When we arrived on the site to commence the construction works for the Park, we were saddened and concerned to see the plight of the residents living around its periphery, many of them in makeshift shacks and dilapidated houses.  In all good conscience, I could not rehabilitate and develop a brand new park in the face of these citizens while they continued to live in such unfortunate circumstances.

Therefore, the Government of Liberia was instructed, through its relevant agencies, to relocate the residents into temporary shelters, while their existing homes were demolished to make way for new housing units.   Today, I am pleased to inform you that a comprehensive housing project, consisting of fifty (50) new 2-bedroom housing units, is being built around the perimeter of this Sports Park.  Thirty (30) of these houses have now been completed, and the remaining forty (20) units should be completed within the next 60 days.

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

I come from sports!   I am today the 24th President of Africa’s First Independent Republic because of characteristics which have been embedded in me from sports.  And what are these character traits to which I am referring?  They are Perseverance, Respect, Discipline, and Teamwork. These are core values from sports that must be drilled into our young people for them to succeed in whatever they choose to do in life. For this reason, the concept of sport as a national development tool is one that I hold very dear to my heart.

In February 2018, during my first Official Visit to France, the French President, His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Macron, who shares my views that sports can be used as a tool for national development, launched the “Sports for Development Initiative”.

From the very outset, this initiative has been given priority under my Presidential Delivery Unit, headed by the hard-working Minister of State without Portfolio, Hon. Trokon Kpui. Today, I am pleased to unveil yet another project, consistent with our Pro-Poor Agenda: The Invincible Sports Park.

Trokon, let me first of all thank the Almighty God for your Mother:  “NEE, CECELIA, NEZOAO!!!   As for you yourself, Trokon, I would like to thank you for your hard work in making this dream a reality.  Ladies and Gentlemen:  Please give a standing ovation to Trokon Kpui for a fabulous job that has been beautifully and professionally executed!

I would also like to thank our dynamic Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Finda Bundoo and her able hospitality team, for always making sure that the puzzle is complete.

And now, a special salute to the Engineering Battalion of our Men and Women in Arms, for a great work done.

I would also like to salute all our contractors, the construction workers, and all other persons who have worked so hard to build this project, and to complete it in record time.

DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

Today we are here to open a sports park that nobody ever expected could be built in this place and in this record time.  However, even as we celebrate the opening, I want you to know that, in order to operate this Sports Park efficiently and in a sustainable manner, there are rules and regulations which have to be strictly observed.

First of all, the park needs to be kept clean.  Absolutely no alcohol or drugs will be sold or allowed at the park because children will be in the park as well.  Closed circuit security cameras are installed to enable us to enforce this ban, and there will be constant surveillance to ensure that this Sports Park is drug-free, and alcohol-free.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

This park needs to be a harmonious place. As you heard in the theme song…

“Welcome to Invincible Park where all the wonders are happening,

 Be Encouraged, Be Inspired, Work Hard, Make Friends, No Trouble in this Invincible Park.

 We come here for training, friendship, fitness and not palava.

 Let’s embrace DIVERSITY, UNITY and PEACE.

 Invincible Park is where the wonders are!”

FELLOW LIBERIANS, SPECIAL GUESTS, DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

As a mark of recognition for the numerous contributions that the following individuals have made to sports in Liberia in a very special way, I hereby name the various sectors of the park in honor of the following persons:

1. Children Training Soccer Field:

Is now named the The Thelma Bernard Training Field;

2. Children Playground:

Is now named the The Clar Marie Weah Children Playground;

3. The Official Fifa Standard Field:

Is now named The Alhaji G.V. Kromah Soccer Field;

4. The Youth Training Field:

Is now named The Willis Knuckles Youth Training Field;

5. Basketball Courts:

Is now named The Solomon C. George Basket Ball Courts;

6. The VIP Lounge:

Is now named The Alexander Trokon Kpui VIP Lounge;

7. The Housing Estate:

Is now named The Samuel Burnette Housing Estate;

8. The Volleyball Court:

Is now named The Otis Nyanneh Volleyball Court;

9. The Lawn Tennis Courts: Is now named The Togba Nah Tipoteh Lawn Tennis Courts.

Let me now say “CONGRATULATIONS” to all of the honorees!

AND NOW, DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

An interviewer once asked me “Mr. President, what statement does this Sports Park make?  And my response was to spell S.T.O.P.

So for those who will pass by this place that have eyes to see and choose not to see, that’s their business.

I now have the honor to declare the INVINCIBLE SPORTS PARK, which is now a VISIBLE reality, open to all!!!

I thank you.