Blay Nominated For LFA Secretary-General


          Former soccer star Washington Blay
By Julu M. Johnson, Jr.

There are reports that former soccer star Washington Blay has been nominated for the post of Secretary-General of the Liberia Football Association (LFA) by Cllr. Sombo Izetta Wesley.

Sources indicated that Blay, popularly known as Defense Minister, is among two other persons that have been nominated for the post. The others are John Rufus Ballah and George Williams.

The Executive Committee of the LFA is expected to meet on Thursday to vote on the three names but there are strong signs that Blay would be preferred.

Blay has acquired a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree from the University of Liberia (UL).

He has a certificate in Intermediate Course for Football Administration from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and another one from the Coca-Cola-sponsored Futuro II Course for Football Administration from the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA).

Currently President of the Former Lone Star Players Association, Blay served as Assistant Minister for Sports.He has captained both Mighty Barrolle and the national soccer team, the Lone Star.

Blay was instrumental in the campaign that led to the success of LFA President Wesley in the March 18, 2006 elections.

Blay’s nomination could be attributed to recent call by the Youth for Soccer Development (YSD) for his appointment to the post.

In a press release issued, the group argued that Blay possesses the requisite credentials to lay the current arguments to rest.

The Youth for Soccer Development made it clear that Blay has played the game at the highest level and that he got training in the technical and administrative aspects of football that put him in a better position for the job.

The group believes that Blay can ably replace Yanqueh S. Borsay because he has the necessary academic qualifications to be favored for the post.

According to the group, it is now time that the game moves forward in the country rather than allowing the delay in the appointment of a Secretary-General to suppress the growth of football.

For many weeks now, LFA President Wesley and a group of eight Executive Committee Members have been at each others’ throat as far as naming a new Secretary-General is concerned.