Can
Liberia Survive Against Senegal?
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March 21, 2005
-As Coach Kofi Bruce Names Men Today
-Leave For Dakar Wednesday
The goal of the national soccer team of Liberia - the Lone Star - to
see herself through to the 2006 joint Nations Cup and World Cup seems
a high risk in soccer terms as the national pride engages their
Senegalese counterpart, the Teranga Lions of Senegal.
Many soccer analysts have dubbed the Liberia-Senegal match in Dakar
over the weekend as "David and Goliath battle", while other see it as
Lone Star is like a sheep being led to the slaughter house.
In the corresponding fixture at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex
last year, the Lone Star proved to be a non factor against their more
illustrious opponents as they were hammered 3-0.
The match that led to a stampede and the forceful resignation of the
team Technical Manager Kardala Kromah has gone into history, and many
observers say Lone Star's trip to Senegal is a matter of honoring her
fixture responsibility but that the match itself is a full-blown
conclusion that Senegal is through.
Worst for the Liberian national team is the failure of the technical
staff and the football house to invite senior players to undertake
this task.
Now under new Coach Joseph Sayon, alias Kofi Bruce and assisted by
former LPRC goalkeeper Kasumu Sillah, the Lone Star has invited ten
foreign based players.
Those invited include Francis "Grandpa" Doe and Defender Christ Gbandi
both in the United State of America.
Though, the two players were not part of the 10 men that were invited,
but have informed authorities of his interest in forming part of the
squad against Senegal.
The U.S.A based players who footing their ticket bills and not wanting
refund have already arrived and now part of the team.
This decision to include the two players on the team is highly
questionable. If these players have consented to foot their bills,
this mean that anyone, whether attached or unattached to a club, can
foot the ticket bills and honor a match for the national team; since
of course, there is no money as it is the normal syndrome.
If these players were current or informed, why they were not sent for
by the coach? This indeed is another an eyebrow raising decision which
is likely give way for misfit to come on board in spite of their form,
as some would only want to use the national team to gain fictitious
fame.
Meanwhile the team has been involved in series of local friendly
matches as part of the preparation. In the first friendly match at the
Doris Williams Sports in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County she force First
Division side Bassa Defender to a pulsating 1-1 draw.
The team nipped LPRC-Oilers 1-0. Yesterday, Lone Star came from behind
to score a narrow 2-1 victory over Invincible Eleven (I.E) at the
Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS). James Koko Lomell's 83-munite goal in
which he disorganized the entire defense of the yellow boy was enough
to separate the two sides.
At the same time, the team's Coach, Kofi Bruce is expected to name his
squad today for the Taranga Lions of Senegal. Some home based players
who have been tipped to make up the lineup include Captain Varmah
Kpoto, the resourceful Shelton Barlee, the teenage soccer magician
James Koko Lomell, promising Abu Sando, clinical finisher Isaac Tondo
and eccentric goalkeeper Pascal Karblee.
It is no doubt that the Lone Star faces a huge task against Coach Guy
Stephanie men, and Coach Kofi Bruce with a much favored 4-4-2
formation, has a mountain to climb as the likes of the gangling Papa
Bouba Diop, the adventurous Khalilou Fadiga, nimble footed Henri
Camara and the ruthless El Hadji Diouf will be on display for the
rampaging Teranga lions of Senegal.
The Liberia National Team is second to button in the group with
4points from five matches played so far.
Sports Brief
Inter Agency & Corporations League Gear Up The Inter Agency and
Corporations Football and Kickball is shortly commence at in Monrovia.
Preparation for the commencement of the weeklong competition is said
to be take place at the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
According to a release MYS, the Director of Sports Mr. Navarro Saykie
is expected to meet with all heads of Agency and Corporations
tomorrow.
The Inter Agency and Corporations Tournament is gear toward building
relationship between all government Agency and Corporations.
Referee Konah Complete CAF Mission One of Liberia's International
Referees, Ebenezer Stanley Konah along with Sylvester John and Jallah
Kromah have successfully completed a crucial Confederation of African
Football (CAF) assignment in Nigeria.
The CAF assignment was the 2nd leg, in the 1/16 final round of the 2nd
edition of the Confederation Cup between visiting club Industrial De
Kamsar of Guinea and the host Bendel Insurance of Nigeria.
The Liberian Referee who was the center Referee played with out his
Cameroonian match- Commissioner Atanagana Mibal who failed to show
out.
The match was won by the host side Bendel Insurance by 3-1. The 1st
leg ended 1-1 all in Guinea. The CAF assignment was his second on the
International scene.
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