“Kelvin said he is justifying on his new team so he won’t be available for the match,”

       One of the Liberia’s youthful midfielders, Bill Neewray, alias “Sekou Bamba”, has been selected by the technical staff of the Lone Star to replace midfield maestro, Kelvin Sebwe, for the 2004 African Nations’ Cup qualifiers against Ethiopia.

         According to reports from the Liberian Football House, Bill Neewray, who was one of the midfielders placed on the reserved list was chosen by coach Kromah following reports that Kelvin Sebwe, who was among the selected 11 foreign-based players will not be available for the match.

        The report said Kelvin has just switched clubs following the completion of his one-year deal with his United Arabs Emirates club. “Kelvin said he is justifying on his new team so he won’t be available for the match,” an official at the FA said.

       When LFA Chief Scribe Yanqueh S. Borsay was contacted, he confirmed the replacement of Kelvin Sebwe by Bill Neewray. He said as Chief Scribe of the LFA, his duty is to send faxes to players who are invited by the technical staff and he does not select players for Lone Star games.

         Meanwhile, player Neewray in a telephone chat with our correspondent yesterday from his base in Switzerland said, he is pleased to be invited to serve his motherland. “I will serve to my utmost best in Ethiopia. With God being on our side, we (players of Lone Star) will put smiles on the faces of Liberians,” he said.

        Bill Neewray first got his call on the Lone Star during the 2002 Nations’ and World Cup qualifiers. He did not play any of the matches, but dressed for the last game against Sierra Leone in Freetown.

       He made his first debut for the Lone Star against Guinea in Conakry in the 2004 Nations’ Cup qualifiers. In that match he was misplaced by the technical staff when he was featured on the left side of midfield instead of inside right (# 8) position.

     But football fans back home see Neewray’s selection as no mistake as he is capable of handling the position in the absence of Kelvin.

      A fortnight ago, Neewray  inspired his team BEX FC to a 2-2 draw in the Swiss league where he plies his professional football trade.

     Bill Neewray, who plays inside right position for his team engineered the much-needed equalizer to save his team a point in a league match involving another Swiss team.    Playing as though the result of the match depended on their lives, BEX FC players took the game to their opponents. The opposing team too was equally prepared for the match, evidenced by the two goals it scored.

     With time ticking on the clock, Bill Neewray started a promising buildup in midfield with good distribution, something which resulted to him giving a defense-splitting pass to Alain Bare, a former player of French club Olympique Lyon to score the much needed equalizer.

      The jubilation that greeted the goal almost caused the stadium to collapse, as players of BEX FC celebrated by carrying Bill Neewray shoulder high.   At the end of the match, BEX FC climbed to third place just three points behind the league leaders. Meanwhile, player Neewray giave God the praise who made it possible for him to exhibit such a fine performance in the match. “I am grateful to God who continues to give me the strength to perform for my club,” he added.

      Quizzed whether he would be available for the Lone Star, Ethiopia match, he said once he is invited by the technical staff, he will be willing to come and contribute his quota to his country. “It is my duty to serve my country when called upon. I will make myself available to fly my country’s flag in Ethiopia when selected,” he said.

Bill Neewray was one of the few Liberian players taken to Switzerland by Jonathan Sogbie. Others who benefitted from Jonathan Sogbie are Janjay Innis, Josephus Yenay, Louis Crayton and Alex Browne. Crayton, Innis and Neewray are still playing in Switzerland, while Josephus Yenay is reportedly plying his trade in Germany. Alex Brown is said to be in Ghana.