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Bility-The
Petrol Dollar Seeking Football Crown
Mr. Musa Bility
By Julu M. Johnson, Jr.
The name Musa Bility rings a bell in the country, so the news spread
like wildfire when it was announced that he is a likely contestant
for the position of President of the Liberia Football Association
(LFA). A very accomplished man indeed, Mr. Bility runs a petroleum
company, Media Empire and heads the Mandingo Caucus. He still wants
to add to his numerous portfolios he carries by heading the LFA, one
of the most challenging entities to run in the country.
Following wide media speculations about the desire of Mr. Bility to
vie for the football presidency in 2010 at the LFA elections, the
latter summoned football gurus comprising clubs, Executive Committee
Members, Sub-Committees and Sub-Associations at his luxurious
residence located at the remote part of Duport Road on a Sunday
afternoon.
At that occasion, Mr. Bility made numerous promises, saying exactly
what his audience wanted to hear; by vowing that clubs would
participate in the national league without registering with the LFA
and that they would not buy jerseys and boots.
“There is a disconnection between the LFA and those who own it. I
therefore intend to connect the LFA and its owners,” Bility vowed.
He continued: “We will ensure easy communication. We will have two
good Vice Presidents, hardworking Secretary-General and independent
Executive Committee members.
“Not only the President, but the Vice Presidents will have to do
their own jobs, otherwise the clubs will have to be informed
immediately. The Secretariat will have to manage the LFA.
“It is about one’s viability as a person before even thinking about
vying for the LFA Presidency.
“Being an Ellen (Johnson-Sirleaf) supporter does not make me a UP
(Unity Party) man. My best friends are Lewis Browne, Edwin Snowe and
others from different parties.
“If I am not able to get somebody to support me, then it means I am
not able to head the LFA. I am working on a platform that some
credible people in football are reviewing.”
He vowed to seek and provide sponsorship for a league that relies
mainly on gate intakes.
Meanwhile, the celebrated female soccer godfather David Kortie
admired the look of Mr. Bility’s residence so much that he was quick
to pronounce that the petroleum dealer was already President of the
LFA. Mr. Kortie added that with Mr. Bility as President, guests of
the LFA like those from FIFA would not have to lodge in hotels but
rather at the latter’s residence. Kortie’s assertion may have caused
laughter but it appeared childish for him to favor somebody for the
LFA’s prestigious post on the basis of the person living in a
luxurious palace. His praises for Mr. Bility continue with him
stating that the LFA leadership was not for “hungry people”.
The utterances by Mr. Kortie did not surprise those that appeared at
the ceremony. Kortie was suspended last year as Executive Committee
Member for terming the LFA leadership as being corrupt without
providing evidence. No wonder why he was using the occasion to vend
out his frustration.
It has become a common thing in the Liberian political setting that
when people with good financial powers are vying for positions, they
would get all the praises, followings and assurances on the way to
elections. Hence, it is not a new thing that Mr. Kortie was giving
what many people considered as flatteries to Mr. Bility.
The name “5-1-9” Kortie calls himself is a living example of how he
applied trickeries and deceits during the last LFA elections to find
his way through.
As for the man at the center of attraction, Mr. Bility appears to
have all that it takes to win the LFA presidency, considering his
huge wealth and political patronage. Mr. Bility owns the Media
Empire called the Renaissance Communications Incorporated (RCI).
This conglomerate runs the Real TV, Truth FM and Renaissance
newspaper.
While serving as Chairman of the National Mandingos Caucus of
Liberia, Mr. Bility was instrumental in rallying massive support
amongst his kinsmen for the success of Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
in the 2005 Presidential Elections. This has made Bility a close
ally to the President of Liberia, who firstly rewarded his campaign
efforts with the lucrative and influential position of Chairman of
the Board of Directors of the National Port Authority (NPA). He was
later switched to the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) in
similar capacity.
Mr. Bility is the head of the Alpha Old-timers club, a team formed
for those having recreation through soccer.
With the aforementioned occupations of the man said to be LFA’s next
President, Mr. Bility obviously has the money and influence enough
to run a lucrative campaign and amass followers, but his ability to
shift football upon winning appears debatable.
There are doubts about his ability to be a good LFA President due to
his remoteness from the soccer arena. Many arguments are there to
back this view.
For instance, there is a Liberian adage that says: “if your house
doesn’t sell you, the street won’t buy you.” This is to say that
since Mr. Bility took over as President of the premier league side
Watanga, not much has been heard or seen of the team as it relates
to transforming the club into one of the best considering the
owner’s well-to-do status. Watanga’s activities on the field are
still dismal, while materially the club is at a low grade.
This raises the question as to whether he would really be in the
position to supply Liberian clubs with the materials being promised
after winning the elections.
Moreover, those that survived the last elections and still awaiting
the pending events fear that Mr. Bility would be dumped by gravy
seekers that have led other candidates to similar feats. These are
the same figures that have fought since the last elections but
failed in their numerous battles to remove Cllr. Wesley. Today, they
are now blowing horns, beating drums and singing songs of praises
for the ever popular business tycoon.
They were yesterday backing Siaka A. Sheriff because he had enough
money while serving as Comptroller of the LPRC. Yet, they could not
help the innocent man from falling to Cllr. Wesley during the last
elections in Kakata, Margibi County. Most of them are still in the
vanguard of ‘changing the LFA’ and form part of the Bility
bandwagon.
The decision by Mr. Bility to form such an unholy alliance creates
reservations about his sincerity of bringing the changes he aims at.
His neutrality in the football feud has also been brought into
question. Some observers think Mr. Bility should blend his team of
supporters in a way that they will reflect the involvement of all
the rival parties in order to convince the football public that he
would be the LFA President of all groups, instead of being for those
who are on his side. Failure to do so if Mr. Bility takes over will
mean more problems rather than problems solving.
At the same time, Mr. Bility has the uphill task of convincing his
critics about his ability to lead the football governing body of
Liberia. Despite expressing his interest for the LFA leadership
post, his active involvement in the game in whatsoever manner or
form is not convincing.
Few years ago, Andy Quamie (apparently for financial reasons)
conferred the title of President of Watanga FC on Mr. Bility’s
shoulders. However, it appears that Mr. Bility only wears the crown
as Mr. Quamie remains actively involved with the running of Watanga
FC under the pretext of being Senior Vice President. If Mr. Bility
has realistically been playing his role as President of Watanga,
there is no argument that the club would have been one of the best
outfits both on and off the pitch, considering the strong financial
backing of its boss. Additionally, many would have used Mr. Bility’s
achievements at Watanga to market him during the forthcoming
campaign.
But, as we look at things, one can conclude that Mr. Bility simply
took over Watanga to gain not only overnight popularity and sympathy
but also as a springboard to be qualified as candidate to vie for
the LFA presidency. It can be recalled that when some Premier League
clubs decided to remove their representatives last year from the LFA
Executive Committee, though still fresh on the job at the time, Mr.
Bility was the one put forward by the same clique now backing him
for the 2010 elections. They did not succeed in this quest,
notwithstanding.
The oil tycoon has been quick to distance himself from the
membership of the ruling Unity Party (UP), a group he supported
highly during the 2005 elections. Yet, there is a school of thought
that believes Mr. Bility’s ambition is an extension of the ruling
party’s quest of dominating key aspects of the Liberian society,
particularly the young people.
There is another version that has it that Mr. Bility’s ambition is
geared towards avenging the defeat of his pal Siaka A. Sheriff at
the hands of Cllr. Wesley. Take a look at the list of those backing
Mr. Bility and you will definitely agree, with the likes of Adolph
Lawrence, Andy Quamie, Moustapha Raji, Rodney Wilson, and Henry
Yonton are all spearheading the Bility crusade.
The Question: In case Bility wins, who steers the ship of affairs
with him at the LFA? The answer: He will still be busy with his
numerous duties at Srimex, RCI, Water and Sewer Corporation and the
National Mandingoes Caucus.
Undoubtedly, the running of the LFA would be left with those who are
perceived to be the brains behind the confusion that is plaguing the
LFA today. Consequently, the change that all football lovers are
yearning for would remain a dream. The game is in a very terrible
state such that it needs a quick redeemer. Let it be kept at the
back of his mind that being President of the LFA does not imply that
he will only be head of those that are blowing horn for him now.
There may be those who have their hidden agendas but are looking for
means and people through whom they can achieve their selfish
objectives. These are people Mr. Bility should fear seriously.
Another group comprises people who always sound trumpets for people
seeking power just for money making purpose. It is no secret that
Mr. Bility has enough money, one good reason why more and more
persons are boarding his bandwagon. It was seen in the cases of
defeated candidates in previous LFA elections and presently similar
events are gradually unfolding as the elections draws nearer.
In sounding the last caveat, let it be made known that instead of
calling for change for the sake of removing one common enemy in LFA
President Wesley, what should matter most is a change that should be
geared towards improving or developing Liberian football. Candidly,
Izetta Wesley’s presence at the helm of LFA is arguably not the
reason why football has died to the extent that no attention is
being paid to such a wonder game in Liberia.
One major problem in Liberian football is the failure to
institutionalize clubs and the game in general. For example, Andy
Quamie founded Watanga because he was in good position yesterday.
Later, he could not afford to run the club because the position went
away. So, he then turned the club over to Mr. Bility because the
latter is wealthy now. What happens if Mr. Bility is not in the
position to get money to run Watanga? That’s anybody’s guess. This
is to say that Liberian clubs are run from the pockets of privileged
individuals from time in memorial.
This is why only the likes of Mighty Barrolle, Invincible Eleven
(IE), LPRC Oilers, NPA Anchors, Black Stars, Young Survivors and St.
Joseph Warriors happen to be the only surviving clubs from post-war
Liberia. There also needs to be a huge sponsorship for local
football because the gate intakes that clubs often rely on have
failed to take them anywhere.
Business entities like LPRC and NPA need to amass profits by virtue of
operating teams at both football and basketball levels. It is a pity
that no club has been able to boast of making a dime in profit
annually. If change must be sought, these are some cardinal issues
that need to be advocated for, other than having the belief that by
only moving a poor woman like Izetta Wesley will bring about
everything Liberian football needs.
Edwin Snowe was there. He was the President’s son-in-law, yet the
game ran in the same fashion as it is presently. The truth is that
no one individual’s ascendancy or removal can turn things around. A
system is what should be the prayers and dream of all those who want
Liberia to be on level terms with successful African soccer nations
like Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia, Nigeria and Ghana.
Let Musa Bility get there and see if problems would not persist.
Probably, the clubs and stakeholders believe that he will be there
to buy buses, boots, and jerseys and as well settle salaries and per
diems for every player or team on any day.
Mr. Bility may be promising these things now because he is not up
there yet, let the clubs not be fooled in that he has a whole lot of
responsibilities to cater to, not only football. They have forgotten
that Mr. Bility is a businessman; he will not put his money where
profits will not come from at the end of the day.
Are they saying that Mr. Bility will sacrifice all of his successful
entities in the name of putting the football of Liberia at the same
level with the outside world? This is a sad mistake the clubs could
be making if these are the reasons behind their big support for Mr.
Bility.
The challenge is theirs to go back to the drawing board and point
out why they need a new LFA leadership. Don’t vote an individual on
the basis that he has enough money to throw about but rather vote a
better LFA come 2010. Liberian clubs and football stakeholders, the
ball is in your court.
About The Author: Julu M. Johnson, Jr. is an award winning
Liberian sports journalist. He served as Sports Editor of The News,
Poll Watch and Monrovia Guardian newspapers. He became
Secretary-General of the Sports Writers Association of Liberia of
Liberia (SWAL) and was voted the Sports Journalist of the Year 2007
by the Press Union of Liberia (PUL). He can be reached through
email: markjuliano13@yahoo.com or mobile phone # 00231-5718103.
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