( 02/03/2004)Monrovia-        Five Liberian players that were reportedly languishing in jail in the Republic of South Africa have been set free. The players have been seeking greener pasture in South Africa.

       Making the disclosure, a youth soccer promoter and coach, Jean Wleh Bedell said James Koko Lommell, Johnny Blidee, Chacho Nyemah, Patrick Nimely alias Devil and another player, whose name was not mentioned, were released after being accused of allegedly carrying illegal documents.

      Mr. Bedell said he gathered the information through a telephone conversation with another player based in South Africa, Murphy Nagbe who, along with another Liberian, Abraham Karmo alias Base Kellie, plays for Durban Stars.

     According to Bedell, for more than two weeks, the players had been placed behind bars at what he described as "the biggest prison in South Africa".
He narrated that the players fell into trouble when attempting to go to Ghana for vacation.

      Moreover, Bedell said the five players did reach Ghana but were sent back to South Africa, where they got arrested. "Apparently the Ghanaian authorities had communicated with their counterparts in South Africa because the Ghanaian laissez passe attached to the players' passports had expired at the time," Bedell noted.

     He said the players' release was instrumented by the president of Maritzburg City, which James Koko Lommell played for, and the President of Maritzburg FC, Clive Barker, who is the former coach of the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.

     Meanwhile, Mr. Bedell lauded those that advocated for the players' release as well as others who showed concern while the players were in jail. At the same time, Mr. Bedell said following the players' release, James Koko Lomell returned to Maritzburg City to start training amidst huge interest from Premiership side Manning Rangers.

    He said, if the deal goes through, Koko would be the only Liberian playing topflight soccer in South Africa.

    Bedell mentioned that the former Junior Professionals striker William Fanbulleh has been in sparkling form since he joined a first division club three seasons ago.

    As for Chacho Nyemah and Johnny Blidee, Bedell said the duo are training with Mariztburg FC though they are yet to sign for a club since departing Monrovia last year.

     Patrick Nimely alias Devil, formerly of Invincible Eleven, Mighty Barrolle and Monrovia Club Breweries, has been linked to Royal Tigers, also in the first division.