Big test for
Liberian Refugees Saturday
June
21, 2003
LiberianSoccer.com Beat Reporter Bruce Wiah
In a few hours’ time Liberia will host Guinea at the Accra Sports
Stadium in the 2004 ANC Qualifier.
The Lone Star must win to remain in contention for Tunisia 2004
although the team fate now rests on Liberian refugees in Ghana
CAF shifted the match from Monrovia to Accra because of recent rebel
fighting in the country capital city, Monrovia.
A hurriedly assembled squad comprising mostly Liberian players staying
in Ghana has urged their fans to remain prayerful as they are in the
high spirit to collect the maximum points.
Up to this morning, Frank Seator (Esperance SC-Tunisia), Prince Daye
(Club Africain-Tunisia), Alvin Kieh (Cyprus), Thomas Kojo and James
Lomell (Maritzburg-South Africa) were the only known foreign-based
that have joined the team.
Thomas Kojo is meanwhile dropped from the team, as he couldn’t recover
from malaria that has been bothering him three days now.
The player admitted his inability to the technical staff earlier this
morning.
Greek-based George Gebro who is said to be en route to Accra from
neighboring Abidjan is yet to join the team.
But the news has in way lessened the spirit of the players as their
morals continue to build up.
Called upon at the last moment when all efforts to have the full Lone
Star transported to Accra failed, the refugees are not alone in the
fight.
In a much appealing tone, Tunisian-based striker Frank Seator told his
colleagues that it is an opportunity for them to prove their
potentials.
He noted that the rest of the players may not be ready to honor this
offer, but as players and Liberians, it is never too late to represent
your mother’s land.
“ Liberians around the world today are depending on us and despite the
prevailing conditions, we are representing Liberia and we must not
fail them”, he reminded his colleagues.
Thousands of Liberian refugees in Ghana will throng the Accra Sports
Stadium to cheer the team to victory.
Liberia has played four matches, winning two and losing two much the
same as Guinea, Niger and Ethiopia. Goals separate Guinea and Liberia
at the top and bottom of Group 2 respectively.
Probable Line-up (4-3-3): (GK) Eric Glasgow,
(Defense) Opea Myers, Isaiah Benson, Murphy Nagbe, Tubman Johnson,
(Midfield) Bokolo Chea, James Lomell, Sylvester Treah, (forward) Frank
Seator, Mara Kicmett, Prince Daye
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