Five More Days
for Liberia-Senegal Battle:
Clubless striker Frank Seator has been invited to strengthen the
national Team
March 22, 2005
Wleh Bedell
Foreign Based Players' Arrival Uncertain -
Government Says No Money - As "Clubless" Seator On Board
As the Nation's pride and joy the Lone Star prepares for the Herculean
task of engaging the deadly Teranga Lions of Senegal in the joint 2006
Nations Cup and World Cup qualifiers, it looks uncertain as to whether
many of the foreign based players being sent for will turn up for the
crunch duel in Dakar.
According to reports, some players might not honor the National Team's
invitation on grounds that faxes were not sent on time to inform their
respective clubs, while others are demanding that tickets be sent to
their respective bases.
The local football house claims it has sent faxes on time inviting
foreign based players and informing their clubs about their national
engagement.
Prominent on the list of the soccer imbroglio are the Swedish based
B.K. Hacken duo of defense ace Jimmy Dixon and technically gifted
striker Dioh Williams who are reportedly in Cyprus on a training tour
with their club as they prepare for the ensuing Swedish Premiership,
the "Allsvenskan" which begins in a fortnight time.
It is not yet clear as to whether the duo would turn up for the
Senegal battle as it is believed that faxes for their release were not
sent on time, and could serve as an impediment for their release.
Also, the highly experience sleek midfielder Kelvin Sebwe and the
workaholic Oliver Markor are said to be requesting for the tickets to
be sent to their bases in Greece to honor such epic clash.
Indonesia-based defender, the hard working Fallah Johnson of premier
club Persita Tangarang might not be available for the match due to
club engagement.
His club is said to be having a torrid time in the Liga Bank Mandiri
as they currently have four points from four matches; and to make
matter worse, they were beaten by Persija 2-0, a club that has fellow
Liberians, the stalwart defense lynchpin Murphy Nagbe, sharpshooter
Henry Gobah and the sublimely gifted Zah Krangar in their fore.
Goalkeeper Louis Crayton based in Switzerland is also said to be busy
with his club and may not form part of the Lone Star line up.
Players who much is not known of with respect to honoring the match
include former Invincible Eleven danger man Bob Zeo of Ghanaian
emerging giant Kpondi Hearts of Lion, the diminutive John Menyongar
based in the U.S.A., Jomah Ballah based in Indonesia and George Gebro
based in Greece.
Already in the country are the Asanti Gold Fields towering midfielder
Anthony Lanford and the player who has volunteered to foot his own
ticket bill Francis Grandpa Doe from the U.S.A.
At the same time the clubless striker Frank Seator has been invited to
strengthen the national Team in her preparation for the mammoth task
against Senegal.
Player Seator who has been in the country more than a month, was
dropped by his Malaysian Club Perak for a below par performance.
Though the player claims he is nursing injury, he was seen training
with the team yesterday at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS). His
physical condition looks poor, his pace unsatisfactory and his goal
scoring instinct still unconvincing.
With less than five days to the match, the coming of Frank Seator
involves a lot of talking point, and if he is selected by Coach Kofi
Bruce, it would be a highly questionable decision since of course the
club less Striker ostracized himself from the team's training while in
the country.
The Lone Star is expected to feature a predominantly home based squad
against their more illustrious Senegalese opponent.
Soccer pundits say Lone Star stands no chance against the 2002 world
Cup quarter finalists.
Under the captaincy of defender Varmah Kpoto who has not been engaged
in any competitive match due to an injury he sustained in last
September against rival Club Invincible Eleven while featuring for
Mighty Barrolle in a league match, the Lone Star has a tough task.
And, whether Kpoto who is a bit match rusty will be up to the task
against the rampaging Senegalese side is something which remains to be
seen.
His probable defense partner Shelton Barlee is injured. After
colliding with an opponent in the Lone Star 2-1 triumph of I.E in a
friendly on Sunday.
Though the nature of the injury is not known, and can only be declared
fit or unfit by the doctor. But, if he is unfit for the trip, the
LISCR defense Marshall George Weah look as favorite to win his shirt.
Other rising stars expected to form part of the Lone Star line up
include the little magician James Koko Lomell, formerly of South
African first division side Maritzburg City, last season's top scorer
Abu Sando who just returned from Switzerland after a successful trial,
the net buster Isaac Tondo, leading goalkeeper Pascal Karblee and
Young Solomon Grimes.
The Lone Star certainly has a mountain to climb. And, only the heavens
know what will be the fate of the team after the match in Dakar on
Saturday.
The National Soccer Team, the Lone Star, is second from bottom in her
group with four points out of five matches played so far.
Meanwhile the government says it's unable to sent for foreign based
players for the country remaining matches in the joint Nations Cup and
World Cup qualifiers competitions.
According to the government it is facing with financial constrains and
as such the services of foreign players were impossible added that its
remaining matches will be played by the home based players.
The government further said that this will help to expose the home
based players. Earlier the Government agrees to sent for 10 foreign
based players for Lone Star pended match with the Teranga Loins of
Senegal.
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