Angola Friendly Not for Unattached Players


By Staff Reporter

Football pundit and analyst Wleh Bedell is sending out a strong warning to the national team authorities not to include what he termed as unattached cum misfit oldtimers for the pending two crunch friendlies against Angola and Ethiopia

Bedell who did not watch the friendly with Gambia as he was in Lofa amongst a host of journalists covering the Independence celebration said "People (the technical staff and the LFA) should not hide behind experience to call on players who are unattached, out of form and are old-timers, but in the name of accommodation are often being forced into the team at the expense of young and promising youngsters".

Speaking to this paper, Bedell hinted that he has great respect for the ex-internationals, but they must however realize that they had their time and the game is based on current form and not just someone sitting and wrongly relying on experience. "These test matches must be used to work on the team's tactics for the weighty group fixture with Zimbabwe in September and as well used to identify some new talents that would be needed in some positions as a means of augmenting the team from a tactical standpoint", the CAF certificated Coach warned.

The country's foremost analyst Bedell, also indicated that to use former players who are not active at the moment is an indication that there is no seriousness and focus in the Liberian game and that the Lone Star could end as what he called eleven journey men if these ex-stars are not forgotten about for more committed, hungry, determine and in-form youngsters. Noted Bedell: "If these ex-stars believe they can still make it in active football, then they will have to get attached to clubs at home or abroad where they will be evaluated by the technical crew, taking into account their form, aggression, workethic, individual contribution to the team as well as the minutes play to be selected on the national team"

Regarded as a mentor to many players, Bedell also noted that a player's experience counts or is taken into consideration when he is firstly attached to a club and is playing, not when he is unattached, inactive, but just rely on mere help as a means of getting some per diems in the name of experience.

He then noted that he will be meticulously watching as it relates to the kind of players to be called for the matches as current form must be taken seriously. Added Bedell: "Current form in the world over is a major tool for selection. While it is true that some players may not be regular or just reduced to bench warmers in their respective teams but are no doubt preferred by their national teams, current form remains paramount and must not be overlooked"

The highly respected connoisseur also revealed that while it is true that where one plays matters, what one plays matters most and the plethora of Indonesian based players already intown must be invited by the technical crew to enable them justify for the games, and people should start operating on biasness if the Lone Star must move forward.

"I will be eagerly watching as to the players to be sent for. Technology has made the world simple. I will inform the sporting populace as to the rating of these players on their respective clubs, their playing time and minutes played in during the season, if they are strikers, the number of goals scored and if possible the number of assists provided", Bedell highlighted.

He warned those doing the selection not to forget about juxtaposing players at various positions and must as well tell the sporting populace the criteria used for players selection. "If a local player can do the work, let him be respected ahead of a foreign based player", the consultant of football intoned.

Continuing Bedell hinted that the technical crew that often has problems of interference by some football officials must stop being stereotype in their selection and while it is true that not not every player can play for the national team, there are so many promising players whose great form are often being overlooked as there are just one set of players irrespective of form that are being called upon. "I have nothing personal against anyone, but to just focus on a particular group of players in spite of poor form must be looked at critically if the Lone Star must go forward", Bedell then named some promising players like Abel Quioh, Melvin Kicmett, Alex Karmo, Ben Martins, Patrick Granue, Weaka Wesseh, Yao Ablode, John Tarkpoh Sonkailey, James Koko Lomell, Boikai Foday etc. as some players who need to be invited as well and that the Lone Star must not be seen as a team for just few players.