Five Days to Liberia's First Battle
Coach Bicskei is confident that his side will qualify


Newly crowned captain of the Liberian Lonestar, Snoti Laffor, trained along with some foreign based professionals at the ATS, on Aug. 31, 2010 ahead of Sunday Match with Zimbabwe


By: Leroy M. Sonpon, III

On Sunday, September 5, 2010, the senior national football team of Liberia, under the tactical prowess of Hungarian coach Bertalan Bicskei, is expected to host the Warriors of Zimbabwe at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex (SKD), in Paynesville, outside of Monrovia.

Sunday's match is Liberia debut game in the elimination phase of the 2012 African Cup of Nations, which will be co-host by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in 2012.

Liberia is in Group A alongside Mali, Zimbabwe and Cape Verde. Football pundits believed a win for Liberia on Sunday will put the nation on the road to 2012, while a draw or a loose will is not going to go down well with many Liberian football fans who want to see their country in the finals of the continental cup for the third time.

According to reports, local-based players have been in camp for the past week while foreign-based players are expected to begin arriving in the Country, today, August 30, 2010.

Local-based players in camp at the SKD are goalies Clarence Roberts of IE, Sam Cooper of Mighty Barrolle, Saylee Swen of LPRC, James Gailey of Monrovia Black Star and an unattached foreign-based player and goalie, Sunday Sieh.

Defenders are Emmanuel Wenneh (IE), Michael Jaesue (Mighty Barrolle), James Teah, Teah Dennis and Bill Paytoo (all from LPRC Oilers) and forwarders Marcus McCauley of Monrovia Breweries and Namie Yancy of NPA Anchors.

While the midfielders and forwarders Marcus McCauley of Monrovia Breweries and Namie Yancy of NPA Anchors, Vatalis Sieh (IE), Patrick Wleh and Dweh Allison (both from LISCR FC).

Reports further stated that the Hungarian coach's first choice foreign-based midfielders and strikers who are expected to be in the country are Acting Captain Anthony Laffor (Super Sports of South Africa), Dulee Johnson (Sweden's ALK Sonia), Dioh Williams (Denmark's AGF's Aarhus), Francis 'Grandpa' Doe (Al Ahly of Egypt), Isaac Pupo (Greek side Panionios) and Theo Weeks (Turkey's Ankaragucu).

Others are Perry Kollie (Israel), Steven Mennoh (Indonesia's Persipasi Bekasi) David Gbamie (former Bolton's Romania) Patrick Doeplah (Israel's Hapoel Kfa Saba), Sekou Jabateh Oliseh (Russia's CSKA Moscow) and Amadia Rennie of Swedish club IF Elsfborg.

Most Liberians are confident that Coach Bicskei can qualify Liberia to 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

According to the 2012 African Cup of Nations' qualifier fixture, Liberia will play her second game on Sunday, October 10, 2010 against the Malians in Bamako, Mali and lock horns with Cape Verde on Sunday, March 27, 2011, in Praia, Cape Verde.

On Sunday or Monday June 5 or 6, 2011, Liberia will play at home against Cape Verde and meet Zimbabwe on Sunday, September 4, 2011 in Harare, Zimbabwe and played their final match at home against Mali on Saturday or Sunday October 8 or 9, 2011.

Coach Bicskei's contract says as a motivation, the coach is to earn US$3,000 for all wins at home; US$4,500 for away wins; US$1,000 for home draws; US$2,000 for all away draws; US$50,000 for qualification to CAF Nations Cup finals and US$150,000 for qualification to the World Cup finals.