Mighty Barrolle, as soon as Liberia’s most iconic soccer membership and a pillar of unity, now suffers from monetary instability, possession uncertainty, and, in the end, relegation from Liberia’s prime division. On the coronary heart of this disaster lies a critically unresolved query that has continued for a few years: Who actually owns Mighty Barrolle? Not even the Liberia Soccer Affiliation (LFA) has a definitive reply.
By Musa Dukuly (PhD), contributing author
The motivation behind this commentary is to not let an establishment that when introduced unity, pleasure, and pleasure to a complete nation perish in silence. As a lifelong Mighty Barrolle fan, this text builds on a 2013 commentary titled Redeem Mighty Barrolle or Lose Prime Unification Heritage, the place I clearly acknowledged that the technique used to assist the membership, centered on advert hoc fundraising and emotional appeals, was neither financially sustainable nor aligned with sound administration rules. Regrettably, the suggestions for fairness possession had been ignored, and the membership’s situation has since deteriorated. Nonetheless, redemption is feasible by way of the introduction of sustainable monetary programs rooted in fairness funding.
A Disaster of Id
Mighty Barrolle is greater than a soccer membership. It’s a nationwide image, one which has traditionally united Liberians throughout tribes and areas. But as we speak, it’s managed and not using a sturdy authorized framework, and not using a workable enterprise mannequin, and with no formalized monetary foresight. Its once-vibrant youth system is nonexistence, and its fan base is disillusioned.
The time is now for individuals of Grand Bassa to take step one in assuming possession of Mighty Barrolle. The membership should be seen not solely as a supply of pleasure but in addition as an asset worthy of funding and an emblem of Grand Bassa’s enduring legacy.
This isn’t unprecedented. In Kenya, the Luo tribe mobilizes round Gor Mahia. In Ghana, the Ashanti Kingdom underpins Asante Kotoko. Within the Democratic Republic of Congo, TP Mazembe’s energy lies in Katanga’s enterprise elite. Egypt’s Al Ahly operates as a nationwide belief with broad-based group buy-in, whereas Kano Pillars in Nigeria have discovered steadiness by way of partial state assist and personal funding. Therefore, the individuals of Grand Bassa should rise, together with city chiefs, clan chiefs, paramount chiefs, district commissioners, the superintendent, and parliamentarians, to guard their heritage, Mighty Barrolle, from imminent extinction. Emotional assist is not any substitute for possession, and wistfulness is not any alternative for the capital wanted to make Mighty Barrolle as soon as once more the chief of soccer in Liberia.
Construction and Monetary Weak point
Barrolle has endured monetary weaknesses for a few years. And not using a clearly outlined possession construction, Mighty Barrolle stays weak to absence definitive possession, an absence of accountability, and continued monetary instability. The absence of dependable income streams means the membership can’t spend money on important areas resembling youth growth, infrastructure, or aggressive salaries to draw and retain expertise. Furthermore, the membership has suffered from hesitancy amongst potential traders as a result of lack of readability and possession construction. This should change with a renewed emphasis on establishing fairness possession of Mighty Barrolle.
The Means Ahead
To redeem Mighty Barrolle, the membership should be integrated as a authorized shareholding entity by formalizing its possession by way of fairness funding. It will restore authorized identification, promote accountability, and entice critical traders.
With the right market worth calibrated and authorized by the LFA, I suggest that shares of Mighty Barrolle be categorized into three tiers:
• Gold Shareholders: $10 per share (minimal 10, most 100 shares)
• Silver Shareholders: $5 per share (minimal 10, most 100 shares)
• Bronze Shareholders: $1 per share (minimal 10, most 100 shares) The preliminary fundraising targets can be $200,000 in Yr 1, $150,000 in Yr 2, and $200,000 in Yr 3. With simply 1,000 dedicated Gold Shareholders every proudly owning 10 shares, the membership may increase $100,000 in its first part alone.
This mannequin is sensible, given Mighty Barrolle’s large fan base, significantly throughout the Bassa group.
On this new mannequin, the Board of Administrators will embrace fairness shareholders. The Board should be separate from skilled administration, which ought to function in adherence to a strategic plan and an annual funds submitted to the Board for approval. At year-end, administration should current a efficiency report back to the Board and publish it for transparency.
Fairness shares ought to be provided to: Bassolians (together with city chiefs, clan chiefs, district commissioners, superintendents, members of the Home, and management buildings inside Grand Bassa County), Liberians within the diaspora, former gamers, membership alumni, native companies, philanthropic traders, followers, and civil society organizations. These teams ought to function board members and fairness holders to make sure native governance, cultural guardianship, and accountability.
The success of golf equipment like Gor Mahia, Asante Kotoko, TP Mazembe, Al Ahly, and Kano Pillars gives a roadmap. These golf equipment mix passionate group possession, sturdy governance, and diversified income streams to take care of competitiveness and monetary well being.
The Position of the Liberia Soccer Affiliation (LFA)
The Liberia Soccer Affiliation should play a stronger position by establishing a Monetary Market Unit to frequently worth golf equipment, doc fairness possession, and assess monetary sustainability. This unit ought to register all share certificates and deal with any disputes associated to fairness participation and dividend distribution. By institutionalizing monetary oversight, the LFA can enhance investor confidence and entice new capital into Liberian soccer.
Revitalization Technique
It’s time to maneuver from disaster to answer by way of definitive possession of Mighty Barrolle. Revitalizing the membership calls for collective funding. Political leaders, conventional authorities, enterprise figures, former gamers, followers, and civil society should rally behind this trigger. Formalizing Barrolle’s possession requires authorized steps to drive cultural revival {and professional} requirements. With out these reforms, the membership dangers fading into irrelevance.
The revival of Mighty Barrolle is not only about soccer, it’s about restoring a nationwide image by way of construction, capital, and dedicated governance. If we succeed with revitalization of Mighty Barrolle, different legacy golf equipment like Invincible Eleven (IE) can comply with. Let this be the turning level.
