Ellen Launches Lone Stars Fund Drive

The Chief Patron of sports, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf yesterday launched a fund drive for the senior national soccer team of Liberia , Lone Stars.

Madam Sirleaf said that it is her dream to see the country's flag fly at the 2010 World Cup slated for South Africa and the Nations Cup in Angola .

President Sirleaf disclosed that her government's contribution will be made through the 2008/2009 National Sports budget. “My government will do everything possible to support the nation pride and joy, Lone Stars as they are about to enter the 2010 competitions,” she noted.

Recently, the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) in collaboration with the Liberia Football Association (LFA) recently announced the set up of a Fund Raising Committee to help raise an initial US$3M for Liberia's campaign to the 2010 competitions.

According to the committee chairman Willard Russell, Comium GSM Company has agreed to be the major sponsor of the National Team first qualifier encounter against Gambia on May 30, 2008 at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex. Comiun will pay US$100,000.

Comiun will underwrite the cost of the game, ranging from accommodation of the visiting team, Match Commissioners, Referees, camping and per diem to members of the senior national team.