The Liberia National Teqball Federation is looking to build on a successful 2021 ©Getty Images

The President of the Liberia National Teqball Federation (LNTF) Musa Shannon is looking to build on his organisation's achievements in 2021 by improving engagement this year, as the sport begins to grow in the Western African nation.

Speaking to Front Page Africa in Monrovia, Shannon thanked the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Liberia National Olympic Committee (LNOC), the Inter High School Sports Association and the Sports Writers Association of Liberia for helping teqball grow in the country, but also noted not all went to plan due to circumstances out of his control.

"We definitely did not achieve everything we planned to have accomplished in 2021, but LNTF in collaboration with the International Federation of Teqball (FITEQ) are setting very ambitious goals for 2022 for the growth and development of teqball in Liberia," said Shannon to Front Page Africa.

"Thank you for all the support and assistance provided throughout 2021 and together we will strive towards the global vision of teqball."

The LNTF was established in 2020 and was the 13th nation in Africa to launch an organisation, which was approved by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, as well as LNOC, making it a recognised body by FITEQ.

Following this ratification, LNTF launched its "You-Can-Be-A-TEQER" campaign to increase participation through social media and local media campaigns and then rolled out phase two, where the body gave tables to recognised clubs and sports institutions.

With support from FITEQ, the LNTF then held its first technical workshop, which Shannon attributed to helping create visibility for teqball.

"The educative initiative was also meant to promote the ongoing visibility campaign initiated by the federation," added Shannon.

"Participants at the one-day technical workshop were drawn from various club teams in addition to representatives from the ISSA, SWAL, LNOC, Paralympians and former national [football] team players respectively."

Ghana and Sierra Leone National Federation Presidents paid a visit to Liberia in 2021 too, with both nations strengthening ties with them.

Shannon said distributing additional teqball tables in and outside the capital Monrovia, introducing the sport in high schools through ISSA, organising local and international exhibition tournaments, and a registration drive for referees, players and coaches are all aims for the LNTF in 2022.