Football Decline Blamed On LFA
By Julu M. Johnson, Jr.
( 4/07/2004 Monrovia)-The president of the
premier league club Shoes FC has joined the long list of persons that
have been blasting the Liberia Football Association (LFA) of late for
the downward trend soccer has taken in Liberia.
The LFA have often come under attack for the
failure of clubs to participate in international competitions, low
attendance at matches as well as the absence of sponsors.
"My major concern is what are we doing to improve
soccer in Liberia?" Shoes FC president Freddy Sorbor enquired on
Monday.
"Go to Ghana and look at the third division league. In fact,
Eisaiah Benson, who was invited for the Lone Star, played left-back
for Shoes FC which was a non-division team in Ghana.
Mr. Sorbor said the LFA needs to look for sponsors that would
promote the game of soccer in the country. "It is their
responsibility. Other countries give their clubs money to play."
Mr. Sorbor cried: "since the league began, there has never
been an advert on the radio." He then threw a challenge at other heads
of clubs to come out and speak against the poor level of soccer in the
country because the youths depend on them.
Not stopping there, Mr. Sorbor warned soccer referees
against the act of biasness.
According to him, Liberian referees are always not invited to
officiate at major tournaments such as the African Cup of Nations and
the World Cup finals due to their poor performance on the local scene.
However, Mr. Sorbor vowed that he won't engage
himself in the act of "buying matches."
"I rather spend my money on my club to improve it rather than buy a
game." The Shoes FC boss, who disclosed planning to invite two teams
from abroad, accused LFA Secretary-General Yanqueh Borsay of refusing
to sign the letter of authorization.
He quoted Mr. Borsay as saying, "not all kinds of
people are allowed to use the field."
"Only because I made the donation for the Lone Star to the Youth and
Sports Ministry and not the LFA, that's why they are angry with me."
He added: "but in the past, when I gave to the LFA,
they didn't show any appreciation."
He made it clear that the right people are not in the right places, as
the case of the LFA.
Mr. Sorbor went on to suggest the likes of Karn United
owner Samuel Karn as one person who is capable of making the
difference at the LFA. "These people are making sacrifices and spend
for their clubs."
He disclosed that nine of his players were hired
by the LFA to play for the Lone Star against Guinea but were given
50,000 cedis, which he estimated to be around US$2.00.
"After they said there was no money to pay my players, it was later
discovered that officials deposited money acquired from the match into
their personal accounts."
Having hailed George Weah's decision to head the LFA,
Mr. Sorbor said both the president and secretary-general of the LFA
must be changed if Liberian soccer should have a new look.
On his club, Mr. Sorbor said he brought Shoes FC from
abroad because he found it difficult making it a division team in
Ghana.
As the club is now placed under the LFA, he said
Shoes FC would make a difference.
After apologizing for what he described as "poor performance" in a 0-0
draw in game one against the LPRC Oilers, Mr. Sorbor promised to go to
Ghana and return with most of his players. When this is done, he said
Shoes FC is capable of defeating Invincible Eleven (IE), Mighty
Barrolle and LPRC Oilers.
Meanwhile, the Shoes FC boss has commended Youth and
Sports Minister Wheatonia Dixon-Barnes for organizing the County Meet.
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