Former Liberian Football Star Stephen Nyanti Pledges Long-Term Support to Ambassadors FC-Liberia

After watching the women’s second-division side secure a 6-0 victory over Stages Queens, Nyanti promises sustained backing for the club and calls for increased investment in women’s football.

MONROVIA — Former Liberian football star and striker Stephen Nyanti has pledged long-term support to Ambassadors FC-Liberia, a club competing in the Liberia Football Association (LFA) Women’s Second Division, describing his involvement as a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening the team and advancing women’s football in Liberia.

Nyanti, husband of Foreign Affairs Minister and Dean of Cabinet Sara Beysolow Nyanti, made the commitment after watching Ambassadors FC-Liberia record a commanding 6-0 victory over Stages Queens in their ongoing league campaign.

Speaking to reporters after the match, Nyanti disclosed that he attended the fixture following an invitation from his longtime friend, William Tenisio Tarpeh, head of the club’s association, who encouraged him to become involved in supporting the team’s development.

He said the visit allowed him to observe the club’s operations, interact with the players and management, and identify areas where his experience and resources could contribute to its growth.

“I played football before, I love the game, and I follow football closely,” Nyanti said. “I was asked by my friend, Mr. William Tenisio Tarpeh, to come on board and assist. So, I came to watch, interact, and identify key areas where I can be helpful to the association.”

Nyanti emphasized that his commitment would not be limited to a one-time contribution, assuring the club that he intends to remain involved in its development for the long term.

He pledged to support Ambassadors FC-Liberia for as long as the club continues to operate, while also expressing his commitment to the broader development of Liberian football.

Calls for Greater Investment in Women’s Football

Beyond his commitment to the club, Nyanti used the occasion to highlight what he described as the persistent funding imbalance between men’s and women’s sports in Liberia.

He appealed to football administrators, corporate institutions and other stakeholders to increase investment in women’s football, particularly at the grassroots level, where young female players often face limited financial and institutional support.

“My message is an appeal because women’s soccer is still widely overlooked and underfunded,” he said. “All of us who follow the game must come together to elevate women’s football. If we give 100 percent to men’s football, we should at least strive to give 75 percent to the women’s game.”

According to Nyanti, developing women’s football requires more than occasional financial contributions. It also demands sustained investment in mentorship, training opportunities, structured development programs and other support systems that can help young female players build careers in the sport.

He noted that adequate support at the grassroots level could provide young girls with opportunities to develop their talents, maintain discipline and pursue productive careers through football.

His appeal comes amid longstanding concerns about the limited resources available to women’s football compared with the attention and investment generally directed toward men’s competitions.

Urges Players to Maintain Discipline

While congratulating Ambassadors FC-Liberia for its emphatic 6-0 victory over Stages Queens, Nyanti cautioned the players against becoming complacent, stressing that continued improvement and discipline would be essential to their long-term success.

He encouraged the squad to remain committed to training, respect the guidance of their technical team and maintain professional standards both on and off the pitch.

Nyanti observed that although the team had delivered an impressive performance, there were still technical and tactical areas requiring improvement.

He said he would work alongside Tarpeh to mobilize resources and provide the necessary off-field support to strengthen the club’s operations and improve the players’ development opportunities.

The former striker stressed that discipline remains fundamental to sustaining a career in football, particularly for young athletes seeking to progress to higher levels of competition.

Promises Continued Involvement

Nyanti concluded by assuring the players and club management that his involvement would be visible despite his demanding professional schedule.

“I am a very busy person, but you will see me quite often,” he assured the team. “I love football, I played football, and I remain committed to seeing these young women succeed.”

His pledge has the potential to provide additional support for Ambassadors FC-Liberia as the club seeks to strengthen its competitive standing and create more opportunities for female footballers.

For the club, the commitment represents an opportunity to attract greater attention and resources to women’s football, while Nyanti’s appeal places renewed emphasis on the need for stakeholders to move beyond verbal support and invest meaningfully in the development of female athletes in Liberia.