PHOTO: The Author
By Dr. M. Blonkanjay Jackson
January 19, 2026
Thinking Thoughts
In my daily reflections, I considered the conclusion of the so-called National County Meet and the fake euphoria that marked its closing. In my Thinking Thoughts, the event appeared lopsided and hollow, failing to reflect the true spirit of a “National” gathering. I also reflected on how Counsellor Jeror Bangalu—affable, highly educated, and erudite—risks missing a critical opportunity to troubleshoot and rebrand this solemn traditional institution if he continues with a business-as-usual approach.
My other Brabees, I witnessed firsthand the jubilation that erupted when Nimba County won the 2026 National County Football Trophy. The stadium roared, drums rolled, and celebrations spilled into the streets. Yet beneath the noise and color was a mixed and uneasy aroma. At least seventy-five percent of the players paraded as “Nimba’s heroes” were not sons of Nimba. The contrast was unmistakable. One could clearly see the difference between the restrained, transactional excitement of the recruited players and the deep, emotional jubilation of the genuine Gio, Mano, and Mandingo people of Nimba County. While the players celebrated victory, visibility, and personal advancement, the true sons and daughters of Nimba celebrated something far deeper: the pride, dignity, and identity of their homeland. That moment captured, in a single scene, what the County Meet has become—and what it has lost.
One of the core intents of Liberia’s annual County Meet was to identify, nurture, and showcase youth talent across the nation. In its early years, young people from all counties were brought to Monrovia to compete primarily in track-and-field and football. Over time, additional events such as basketball and kickball were introduced, expanding opportunities for participation and discovery.
Beyond trophies and prizes, the County Meet functioned as a national talent pipeline. Scouts, coaches, and youth program managers used the competition to discover gifted young Liberians and integrate them into structured development programs. Nearly ninety percent of athletes were recruited directly from their counties. They arrived in Monrovia with fierce patriotism, deep county loyalty, and a collective quest to return home as heroes.
At the turn of the century, however, the County Meet began to lose its soul. What was once an authentic celebration of county-based talent gradually morphed into a hollow spectacle. Teams still bear county names, but many no longer represent the communities they claim. Like ships flying the Liberian flag without allegiance to the nation, today’s teams often exist only in name.
This decline has been accelerated by the rise of athletic mercenarism. Many players are no longer selected because they reside in a county or have contributed to its sports culture. Instead, they are recruited, transported, and paid to play for whichever county official, sponsor, or fixer can afford them. These athletes move easily from county to county, season to season, wearing multiple jerseys without loyalty or identity. A youth from Yarkpawolo may represent Sinoe today, while a native of Geevon in Rivercess plays for Lofa against his own people tomorrow. The County Meet has become a marketplace rather than a movement.
This mercenary culture crowds out genuine county youth who possess raw talent but lack money, connections, or political sponsorship. It replaces development with transaction, pride with profit, and patriotism with personal gain. The message to rural youth is stark and demoralizing: talent alone is no longer enough.
Compounding this problem is the conduct of some organizers whose focus appears increasingly fixed on gate-intake revenue rather than youth development. Behind the scenes, priority is placed on crowd-pulling matches, star-studded lineups, and manufactured rivalries designed to guarantee packed stadiums and swollen receipts. In this environment, transparency weakens, accountability erodes, and developmental objectives quietly give way to personal enrichment.
In Liberian parlance, when something is described as kpah-kpah-kpah, it is fake, lopsided, and empty of substance. Sadly, this term now accurately captures the present state of the County Meet: colorful and noisy on the surface, but hollow at its core.
Recommendations: Restoring Sanity and Purpose
To rescue the County Meet from further degeneration, Minister Jeror Cole Bangalu must move beyond rhetoric and take decisive, policy-driven action. First, he should convene a national dialogue on County Meet reform, bringing together the Ministry of Youth and Sports, county sports associations, traditional leaders, youth groups, coaches, former athletes, civil society actors, and the media. This forum should openly interrogate recruitment abuses and produce a binding national policy framework.
Second, clear and enforceable eligibility criteria must be established, anchored in verifiable county residency, schooling history, or long-term community affiliation, and applied uniformly across all counties.
Third, a transparent recruitment and verification mechanism should be instituted, including pre-tournament audits of player rosters by an independent body. Counties found guilty of violations should face meaningful sanctions, including disqualification and financial penalties.
Fourth, financial transparency must be enforced. Gate receipts should be publicly declared, independently audited, and a fixed percentage earmarked for grassroots sports development in the counties rather than private pockets.
Finally, the Ministry should invest in year-round county-based talent development programs, ensuring that the County Meet becomes the climax of sustained local sports training rather than a seasonal buying spree.
Rebranding youth vision begins with restoring integrity. Until mercenary recruitment is curtailed and profiteering confronted through clear policies and national consensus, the County Meet will remain kpah-kpah-kpah—loud in appearance, profitable for a few, but empty in purpose and damaging to Liberia’s youth and national cohesion.
About the author
The Rivercess scholar and founder of the Diversified Educators Empowerment Project (DEEP) and Board Chairman of the Professional Educators Association of Liberia. , Dr. M. Blonkanjay Jackson holds a Master of Education from Harvard University, a Master of Science in Secondary Education (Mathematics) from St. Joseph’s University, and a Doctor of Education degree from Walden University. Dr. Jackson is a Yale University Teachers Initiative Math Fellow and UPENN Physics Fellow. The Rivercess man has lectured on undergraduate and graduate education and statistics courses at several universities, including the University of Liberia, AMEU, and Stela Maris. Dr. Jackson diligently served the government of Liberia for four years and returned to private practice as a Development Specialist and Education Engineer. The Mwalimu-Koh can be reached at 0886 681 315 or 0774912089.