Liberia: Kickball Federation Keeps Marriage Rule for President

22 June 2026
The Liberian Investigator (Monrovia)
By Edwin Dolo

BUCHANAN — Delegates to the Liberia Kickball Federation's sixth Congress have voted to keep a contested clause in the federation's constitution that bars unmarried people from contesting for president, requiring any candidate, male or female, to be married.

The marital-status requirement was one of five proposed constitutional amendments brought before Congress in Buchanan. Delegates rejected the change by a vote of 43 to 1, leaving the provision intact.

"In as much as the sport is played by women, anybody wanting to head the federation must be married, whether male or female," one delegate said in defense of the clause.

Delegates also voted to retain a separate provision requiring presidential candidates to hold at least a bachelor's degree, turning aside repeated calls to drop the educational requirement.

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Congress did approve other amendments, granting the federation president authority to appoint a female vice president for finance and gender affairs and a vice president for international affairs.

In elections held during the Congress, Ambassador Emmanuel Surprise Whea was chosen president of the federation. Phelim Baeh of Ecclesia was elected vice president for administration, defeating Victor Geeplay of Shooting Star Kickball Club 48 to 21. Emmanuel G. Mark was elected vice president for operations unopposed.

Abu Fofana Jr. ran unopposed for secretary-general, while James D. Waka edged Mengistu Kullie 35 to 34 for assistant secretary-general. Janet D. Blamah was elected treasurer unopposed.

The federation said the outcomes reflect a renewed commitment to strengthening governance, administration, transparency, accountability and the development of kickball in Liberia. Ahead of the Congress, executive committee members, stakeholders and club presidents were invited to submit petitions, recommendations and proposals for the constitutional review.

Kickball is Liberia's second-most popular sport and is played predominantly by women. It was introduced in 1964 by American Peace Corps volunteer Cherry Jackson, who set out to teach girls baseball but found they excelled at kicking rather than hitting, giving rise to a new game that Liberian girls embraced as their own.

The sport has since become a pathway to education, with schools offering scholarships to talented players, and the founding of the national kickball league in 1994 strengthened its competitive structure and nationwide following.

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