Former Barrolle
Goalkeeper Writes President Sirleaf
Quite recently in Monrovia, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said the
Liberian Government is determined to invest in the advancement of
soccer to transform it into a business capable of providing employment
for thousands of the country’s citizens. Acknowledging the role soccer
plays in peace-building,
development and reconciliation in Liberia and around the world, the
President encouraged young Liberians at home and abroad to develop the
skills which would allow them to compete at the highest level of the
game.
She made the statement on October 13, 2009 at the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD)
Sports Complex in Paynesville when she ceremoniously lifted the FIFA
World Cup Trophy.
The statement by the Chief patron of sports left soccer pundits
pondering as to starting point of such peace-building, development and
reconciliatory spree.
Former Mighty Barrolle goalkeeper D. Zeogar Wilson, who is currently
residing in the United States of America soliciting supports for the
Rollers, brings the Liberian leader to a point where her dream of
watching Liberia’s Lone Star participate in the 2014 world cup
realized.
Below is Mr. Wilson’s full letter to President Sirleaf.
An Open Statement to Her Excellency
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
By: D. Zeogar Wilson
October 24, 2009
Your Excellency, I must thank you and your administration for all you
have done thus far for our country. It is no secret that the task of
rebuilding Liberia is humongous and there are still challenges you
have to face in this process.
I have followed some of your involvement with respect to the promotion
and development of sports in our beloved country and I do appreciate
your participation; however I am concerned that you have not gone far
enough.
The fundamental problem with the promotion and development of sports
in Liberia is the lack of a comprehensive sports program and a sports
budget like other countries. This problem did not start with you, even
when I served as Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports for
Administration this problem existed. In short, this problem has
existed since 1847, but can be resolved.
Liberia has lost its competitiveness on the soccer scene both on the
national team and the local club levels. If you had followed the trend
of our participation in continental competitions, for example, the
club championship, cup winners cup, WAFU, FIFA, etc. before our civil
crisis in 1989, you will observe that our competitiveness has declined
significantly. Our system of sports development is adequate to the
effect that it does not provide the ability of our local clubs to be
financially viable to sustain themselves. This is a problem that has
to be resolved through a comprehensive sports program.
Now why was Liberia more competitive in continental competitions
before the civil war? There were several factors that led to this. We
had a very competitive league and had very talented players, but most
importantly, our local soccer clubs participated in continental
competitions yearly. But Let me hasten to clarify here that I am not
insinuating that our current league is not competitive or that we
don’t have talented players, but our inability to participate in these
continental competitions has been the primary factor for our national
team and local clubs not being competitive today.
Madam President, during my days as a goalkeeper for Mighty Barrolle
and participating in the national soccer league organized by the
Liberia Football Association, the government of Liberia was
responsible for the transportation and the payment of perdiem to every
team that qualified for a continental competition and because the
government played this very important role, our national team and
local clubs were very competitive because of this continued exposure
of our players. Least we forget that our national team is composed of
local and international players and if the players, both local and
international are not competitive our national team will not be
competitive as well.
I do not know who abolish this policy and the reason behind this
cancellation, but Your Excellency, I believe the government should
resume this process of sponsoring our local clubs to participate in
these continental competitions. It worked in the past and it can still
work today. One would wonder the essence of having a national soccer
league and at the end of the competition our qualified clubs cannot
participate in these continental competitions because of the lack of
funds.
In closing, Your Excellency, I like to kindly request your
administration to revisit this policy so that Liberia can once again
become competitive on the global scene.
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