Bedell Cautions LFA


Liberia's foremost analyst Wleh Bedell says if the Liberia Football Association (LFA) is truly keen on the development of the country's football which is still miles behind most parts of the continent, then it must be intrepid in terms of its work and avoid the aspect of being selective as everyone, be it an administrator, tactician, player, medic, referee ect. must be seen equal and treated with the same respect.

The former Sports Writers Association of Liberia (SWAL) executive and football consultant in a communication send to various news outlets round the continent made particular reference on the decision of the Musa Bility led administration to stage a memorial match for the death of the mother of the man with the nicknamed "Liberia's most celebrated player". The match took place on Sunday, July 3, at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS) between friends of Debbah and the Lone Star U-23 which was stiffened by the country's most profile player at the moment Sekou Jabateh Oliseh.

Commented Bedell:The LFA's decision to hold a memorial match for such purpose of Debbah's mother's death is laudable as the former number 10 sacrificed a lot for this country and is still seen as a model whose prodigious qualities as a bursting forward captivated many by evidence of being the national team's all time goal scorer. But, there is a serious concern, something which i think the LFA was erroneous on.

When Patrick Doeplah died on March 22, after leaving his base in Israel to come to Liberia to honor the U-23 Olympic qualifier against the Baby Elephants of the Ivory Coast, connoisseurs were certainly in a melancholic mood, and since the death of the former Hapoel Kfar Saba lethal final third prodigy, there has been three international matches at the SKD ( Nigeria and Ivory Coast in the U-23 category and then Cape Verde on the senior level), the LFA failed to even observed a moment of silence as is done normally in various parts of the world. To make matter worse, and the Bility led FA failed to stage a memorial match in honor of the 20 year old as if they have been disinterested, but they managed to rally in a roller-coaster fashion to stage a memorial match for Debbah's mother, something that involves a major talking point, and as well has the tendency to bring about negative sentiments as far as the growth and development of our game is concerned.

The Doeplah's death is inarguably unprecedented in the history of Liberian football, and for the fact that the LFA did not even organize a training camp for oversea based players to lodge when they return from their respective bases, certainly made the case of Junior boy as the lad was fondly known more disheartening, as vulnerability came to the fore where he had to give the ghost at the home of his fiancee, something the LFA can be partly blamed for.

Thus, to therefore allow such issue to just go in oblivion will be relatively unfair, and for the FA not to stage a memorial match for the former Gardnersville FC, Roots FC, Mighty Barrolle and LISCR offense oriented fullback turned scampering winger is highly unbelievable. The match when held would have meant a lot positively. It could have shown some sign of respect, and even signalled to other stars that the FA cared greatly for its players and that there was one big family still holding together, even proceeds generated from such melee would have being given to the bereaved family.

Let me hasten to add here that i have nothing personal against Debbah and i even have no right or cause to do or think so, as i was one of those who send him a condolence message on his Facebook page for the death of his mother watchen Debbah, but the action of the LFA to seemingly downpaly some salient issues as far as giving Patrick a befitting farewell that would have being climaxed by a memorial match preferably at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS) leaves a lot to be desired. Also, let it be quickly indicated that this should not be misconstrued as a comparison between the two 'Ds' (Debbah and Doeplah) as the latter is not match to the former in terms of achievement and so many things, but in the case of whatsoever trouble or tragedy, the LFA should treat everyone as equals, and we must model from other countries.

There will be no way the French Football Federation (FFF) will take a problem or tragedy of Yazid Zinedine Zidane more than that of Andre Pierre Gignac, the Brazilian Football Federation will in no way take a problem or trouble of Edson Arantes Dos Nascimento (King Pele) more than that of Neymar da Silva Santos Junior, the Argentinian FA will not take any problem of Lionel Jorge Andre Messi more than that of Gustavo Bou, the Portuguese FA will not take any problem of Christaino Ronaldo Dos Santos Aviero more than that of Nuno Andre Coelho.
Also, the Nigeria Football Association will not in any way take a problem of Paul Godwin lesser than that of Nwanko 'Papilo' Kanu, the Ghanaian FA will in no way take any problem affecting Kweku Charles Bismark Taylor Asampong lesser than that of Abedi Pele Ayew, the Togolese FA will not take any problem of Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor more important or grave than that of Kodjo Dadzie, and one can go on and on.

Thus, the LFA must treat everyone equally, and there is a need for the football house to make amends if there must be a committment to drive the game forward. Let it be clearly stated that no one is more Liberian or Lone Star than the other and the trouble of even a Fourth Division player must be treated or dealt with in the same manner as that of a Premier player or even a professional star.