Monrovia – In a major boost for the future of Liberian sports, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has announced a sweeping football development initiative to be launched by FC BEA Mountain, signaling a shift toward a professional, technology-driven approach to youth athletics.
By Christopher C. Walker, [email protected]
FC BEA Mountain, a Liberia Football Association First Division club, is owned by Bea Mountain Mining Corporation (BMMC), which operates in Kinjor, Grand Cape Mount County.
The ambitious project, unveiled during President Boakai’s State of the Nation Address to the National Legislature, aims to transform how Liberia identifies, trains, and prepares young football talent for national and international competition.
President Boakai disclosed that the Government of Liberia, in partnership with BMMC, will establish football academies in Bong, Cape Mount, and Montserrado counties, creating structured pathways for young players to progress to the national teams while professionalizing the country’s sports sector.
“Mr. Speaker, Honorable Members of the Legislature, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, sports unite people and foster discipline, teamwork, and national pride,” President Boakai said. “To support this, the Government and Bea Mountain Mining Corporation are launching football academies in Bong and Montserrado counties, creating direct routes to national teams and encouraging professionalism and growth in Liberia’s sports sector.”
Grassroots Foundation: From Streets to Schools
Branded under the theme “Friendship, Unity, and Fair Play,” the initiative targets boys between the ages of 5 and 19, seeking to bridge the long-standing gap between informal street football and elite professional standards.
The foundation of the program begins with Football Schools for children aged 5 to 15. The pilot phase is set to kick off at the BYC Field in central Monrovia, with plans to expand to additional facilities nationwide.
To ensure accessibility, FC BEA Mountain announced that all registered participants will receive official training kits free of charge.
“The goal is to transition young Liberians into a disciplined, curriculum-based system guided by FIFA training frameworks,” club officials said.
Elite Training and Closing the ‘Goalkeeper Gap’
For advanced prospects, the club will establish a high-performance academy for the Under-14 to Under-19 categories. This tier will feature daily training sessions, personalized nutrition plans, and continuous performance monitoring.
A standout feature of the project is the creation of a dedicated Goalkeeper Academy, aimed at addressing Liberia’s long-standing challenge of producing elite goalkeepers. The specialized wing will offer modern, position-specific coaching that has largely been absent in the domestic league.
Innovation Through AI and Genetic Science
In a first for domestic football in West Africa, FC BEA Mountain will introduce advanced sports science into player development.
Academy and first-team players will undergo genetic testing at Marmara University in Turkey, with results used to tailor training loads, prevent injuries, and optimize recovery protocols.
The club also plans to deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) camera systems to record every training session and match. The footage will be processed and uploaded to a proprietary FC BEA Mountain app, allowing coaches and international scouts to monitor player development through real-time analytics.
Beyond Football: Tackling Social Challenges
Recognizing the social risks confronting Liberian youth, the academy will integrate the national “No to Drugs” campaign into its curriculum.
In partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, post-training educational sessions will be held to steer young athletes away from substance abuse, which has become an increasing concern in urban communities.
Infrastructure and Global Ambitions
The club’s long-term roadmap includes international exposure for players through participation in European youth tournaments and the launch of the FC BEA Mountain Cup, envisioned as a premier continental youth competition.
To support these ambitions, plans are underway to construct a state-of-the-art facility on Lynch Street, featuring a 70-room hotel for players and visiting teams, health and rehabilitation center with sauna and cryogenic facilities, three specialized pitches (11-a-side, 8-a-side, and 5-a-side)
The Road Ahead
While Liberia has historically struggled with inconsistent investment in sports, President Boakai’s endorsement of the FC BEA Mountain blueprint signals a new era of corporate-government collaboration.
“Our long-term objective is to develop Liberia’s top talents, compete in the CAF Champions League, and eventually represent Africa at the FIFA Club World Cup,” the club said.
As the “Gold Diggers” move beyond the pitch into classrooms, laboratories, and data-driven training environments, the success of this initiative could become a defining model for sports development across the Mano River Union.
