FIFA World Cup Trophy In Liberia

 Liberia, Africa's oldest republic which is on record of producing the continent's greatest footballer in the legendary George Oppong Manneh Weah and the continent's first female president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has the most glamorous of trophies, the FIFA world cup trophy in its fold, courtesy of  FIFA's initiative to do a trophy tour in all 54 African nations since such a prodigious tournament, the World Cup will be hosted by South Africa, the first time in the continent's history.

With the trophy being brought into the country late Monday evening, and a mirthful program slated for today, Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at the Samuel Kayon Doe  (SKD) Sports complex in Paynesville at 12: Noon, there is already an aura of ecstasy as many are certainly jocund for such a unique development.

The world cup itself is a gold trophy awarded to the winners of the most fascinating football competition, the World Cup. Since its inception in 1930, two trophies have represented it. They include the Jules Rimet trophy from 1930-1970 and the FIFA World Cup Trophy from 1974 to present.

The Jules Rimet trophy which was originally named victory, was later renamed in honor of former FIFA Jules Rimet after he vetoed in 1929 for the holding of the World cup in 1930.  It was made of gold plated sterling silver and lapis lazuli and depicted Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. The Selecao of Brazil won the trophy outright in 1970 prompting the commissioning of a replacement. The trophy was however stolen in 1983 and was never recovered.

Its replacement trophy, the World Cup Trophy was first used at the Germany 1974 World Cup which the hosts eventually won.  This current trophy which is now in Liberia is made of 18 carat gold with a malachite base. It depicts two human figures holding up the earth.

Fifty three submissions were received from sculptures in seven countries after a replacement trophy was commissioned by FIFA for the 1974 World Cup.

Italian Sculpture Silvio Gazzaniga was awarded the commission. The trophy stands 36.5 centimeters (14.4) inches tall and is made of 5kg (11lbs) of 18 carat (75%) solid gold with a base (13 centimeters in diameter).

The trophy is produced by Bertoni, Milano and weighs 6.175kg in total and depicts two human figures holding the earth. Silvio Gazzaniga described the trophy thus, "the lines spring out from the base, rising in spirals, stretching out to receive the world. From the remarkable dynamic tensions of the compact body of the sculpture rise the figures of two athletes at the stirring moment of victory".

The trophy has the visible engravement "FIFA World Cup" in outpouring letters at its base. The name of the country which wins each tournament is engraved in the bottom side of the trophy and therefore ids not visible when the trophy is standing upright. The test states the year in figures and the name of the winning nation as an example- "2006 Italy"

On July 14, 2006, it was reported that the World Cup Trophy appeared to have being broken after being in Italy's hands for only a few days. Italian Captain Fabio Cannavaro was photographed holding a piece of green malachite that had broken off the base, which was subsequently glued into place.

Now that the Trophy is in Liberia, it is high time we organize our football program properly in order to be a formidable force on the continent and the world as a whole. The coming of the World Cup Trophy must serve as an impetus in making us effectively putting forth constructive ideas that would drive our country's game forward.

We need to retrospect in finding out where we have been wrong which continuously place us in a state of mediocrity. As we all yearn to play the usual spectator role in the 2010 World Cup since the Lone Star has once more failed to reach such epic competition, we must see the coming of the World Cup Trophy to Liberia as  the beginning of handwork and innovation which would lead us to stardom.