The Bukonjadeh Group of Companies signed a L$200,000 sponsorship deal with the D-Rockas Basketball Club over the weekend.
Speaking during the signing ceremony in Rehab, Robertsfield Highway, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bukonjadeh Group of Companies, Elton Johns, stated that the sponsorship of the club is intended to enhance the potential of female basketballers in Liberia.
According to Johns, the sponsorship and the promotion of female basketball clubs will go a long way in developing talented young Liberian women in the game.
He noted that the prestige of basketball in Liberia, particularly female basketball, has dropped very low since the end of the Liberian civil war—when it comes to sponsorship and adequate promotion for the game.
He emphasized that many young people have been affected with drug addiction in various communities, but helping to sponsor and promote female basketball clubs will help discourage them from engaging into bad habits like drug abuse.
Johns acknowledged that this is the first time for Bukonjadeh Group of Companies to sponsor a female basketball club, the D-Rockas Basketball Club, which has occurred in the 2023/2024 Liberia Basketball Association season.
He urged the players of the club to perform well during the season, noting that “their performance could encourage more sponsorship for the club and the game”.
He said now that it is election period in the country, young people should remain peaceful and avoid electoral violence, adding that political leaders and politicians should urge their supporters to be peaceful.
Johns emphasized that supporters of political parties should be civilized in running their campaign than engaging into fight and confusion at rally grounds, which send a bad picture about Liberia around the world.
Meanwhile, the Vice President for Administration of D-Rockas Basketball Club, Abraham A. Dolley, said it is not easy for a basketball club to go through leagues without sponsorship, and the team of D-Rockas Basketball Club appreciates the Bukonjadeh Group of Companies for taking the bold step to provide sponsorship for the club.
Vice President Dolley stated that this will go a long way in developing the talents and potentials of young Liberians in sport, especially female games.
He indicated that the club’s administrators also engage club players about their academic performance at school and behavior at home to ensure that they are mentored well in society.
He underscored that the club also plays a parental role on the basketball court and engages players’ parents about the welfare of their children.
Vice President Dolley assured the Chief Executive Officer of the Bukonjadeh Group of Companies of the club’s commitment to promote the company’s brand on the basketball court during the 2023/2024 season of the first Female Division league of the Liberia Basketball Association.