The Sports Writers Association of Liberia (SWAL) hosted its first-ever “SWAL Awards” ceremony, recognizing 42 outstanding sports journalists, athletes, sports administrators, and national stakeholders for their dedicated contributions to Liberian sports over the years.
The ceremony, which was held on Friday, May 23, 2025 at the SKD conference house, was attended by a broad spectrum of individuals from the sports community.
The awards spanned five major sporting disciplines: Football, Basketball, Chess, Athletics, and Kickball, and were presented across various categories to acknowledge excellence and hard work.
Key Award Recipients Include:
Best Sports Journalist of the Year: T. Kla Wesley Jr. (Wesley Sports)
Best Photojournalist: T. Kla Wesley Jr. (Wesley Sports)
Best Broadcast Media: ELBC Radio 99.9FM
Best Print Media: Inquirer Newspaper
Best New Media/Online Journalist: Stephen Rigtheous Howard (DreamBig Media)
Best Sports Commentator: Nathaniel Tokpah (KMTV Liberia)
Emerging Journalist of the Year: Fatumata J. Barry (Kear FM)
Football:
Most Valuable Player – Male: Nicholas Andrews (Heaven Eleven FC)
Most Valuable Player – Female: Jessica Quachie (Determine Girls FC)
Basketball:
Most Valuable Player – Male: Omar Samba (MIGHTY BARROLLE)
Most Valuable Player – Female: Wellay T. Baar (Commissioners)
Chess:
Best Chess Player – Male: Bobby Ballah
Best Chess Player – Female: Georgina Sackie
Kickball:
Most Valuable Kickball Player: Patience Sackie (Vision Sisters)
International Awards:
International Footballer of the Year: Murphy Oscar Dorley (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic)
International Athletic Star of the Year: Joseph Fahnbulleh
Administration & Leadership:
Best Performing Federation/Association of the Year: Liberia Football Association (LFA)
Best Club President – Male: Cassell A. Kuoh (FC Fassell)
Best Club President – Female: Grace Weah (Master Queen) (Determine Girls FC)
Sports Patron of the Year: Momo Cyrus (CEO, Wologisi FC)
Fan of the Year: Elijah Fahn
Coaching Excellence:
Best Coach of the Year – Basketball: Fadel Asaad (Mighty Barrolle Sports Association)
Best Coach of the Year – Football: Ivan Minnaert (FC Fassell)
Veteran Awards: SWAL also paid tribute to a distinguished group of veterans for their enduring contributions, including Cyrus W. Badio, Hassan Kiawu, Omari Jackson, Jimmy Burgess Carter, Sr., Akosa Ike, Mozart Dennis, Ledgerhood J. Rennie, Lenn Eugene Nagbe, Malcolm Wleemongar Joseph, Ernest McCay, Momolu V. O. Sirleaf, and Rodney Sieh.
Certificates of Appreciation were presented to Judge Joseph Kollie, Sekou Hussein Dukuly, Emmanuel Surprise Whea, Mahwein Kouty, Atty. Jeror Cole Bangalu, Clarence Jackson, Dr. Luke Bawu, and Mr. Lyee K. Bility.
The SWAL leadership emphasized that the awards aim to foster excellence in sports and enhance competition among both sports journalists and athletes.
The association extended its gratitude to all businesses and corporations for their support in the initiative, which seeks to revitalize the country’s sporting sector. SWAL believes that robust support for such programs will significantly contribute to sports development and promotion at all levels, fostering competition and excellence.
SWAL, as the umbrella organization for over 150 sports journalists across Liberia’s 15 political subdivisions, remains committed to promoting sports development through quality reporting.
