By Ledgerhood Rennie BBC Sport, Monrovia

Wesley said Liberian football needs a new start

The Liberian championship will start on 7 March after ten months of inactivity caused by the country's civil war.

Eight clubs will compete for the national title and subsequently represent Liberia in next year's continental competitions.

Matches are to be played on the artificial turf at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia.

Players and officials of the various clubs are enthusiastic about the start of the new season.

'We have been preparing for start of the league for the last three months and are happy it will finally get under way this weekend," said coach Thomas Apoamah of defending champions LPRC Oilers.

They begin their title defence with the league's opening match against Shoes FC on Sunday.

New FA president Izetta Sombo Wesley admitted that the conditions for football in the country are far from ideal but it was important they start the championship.

"We do know that the decentralization aspect of the league cannot go ahead right now, as the warring factions are yet to relinquish control of these areas to the UN peacekeepers.

"But we will do so as soon as it is possible," Wesley said.

The enthusiasm of football fans for league action in the country has grown following the announcement of its resumption.