Gbandi
gets chance of lifetime
-invited to play for Liberia in qualifier
By GLENN DAVIS
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
-- Tennis: It's a long way from the soccer fields of Bear Creek Park
to Monrovia, Liberia.
When 10-year-old Chris Gbandi arrived in the United States in 1989, it
was a carefully calculated plan by his parents to move him out of the
war-torn country.
Two years earlier his parents had arrived in the United States, while
Chris and his siblings remained in Liberia with relatives and friends.
After playing youth soccer in Houston and leading the University of
Connecticut to a national championship while winning the Hermann Award
as the nation's top college soccer player, Gbandi was chosen No. 1 in
the 2001 superdraft despite a severe knee injury.
Gbandi missed the 2002 season, returning to action in 2003, then
having surgery to a damaged ankle at season's end. This year Gbandi
appeared in 23 games, starting 20 times at left back.
Recently Liberia has come calling for Gbandi to play in international
matches, including World Cup qualifiers.
After turning down numerous requests, Gbandi finally said yes and
played in an Oct. 10 World Cup qualifier against Senegal in Monrovia.
"I finally decided to seize the opportunity to play against the
world-class players of Senegal," said Gbandi, who holds dual
citizenship for Liberia and the United States. "I thought about it
long and hard. I thought my country had been through a lot with the
war. The Liberians were very receptive to my decision."
With 40,000 delirious fans cheering on, Liberia took on star-studded
Senegal, whose squad qualified to the last World Cup and included
names such as Henri Camara of Celtic and Papa Dioup of Fulham.
Senegal came away with a 3-0 win, with two goals by Camara.
The experience will be one Gbandi never forgets.
"Prior to the game everyone was singing. The country pretty much
stopped, with fans lined up on the road," said Gbandi, who started 20
games for the Dallas Burn.
So how did Gbandi feel under such difficult circumstances?
"You go into the game trying to see how you fit in," he said. "It is
another level, and it forces you up or you will get embarrassed. I
came out of there with a lot of confidence, which I hope to build on."
After initially teasing Gbandi about his lack of a Liberian accent,
his teammates warmed to him after his performance.
In attendance were many of Gbandi's relatives whom he caught up with
later that night after the match.
Gbandi even gave his relatives his $1,000 game fee.
"The whole experience reminded me how fortunate my situation is. Over
there people are starving, looking for a place to sleep. The trip made
me realize I am lucky," he said. "I am fortunate my parents made the
decision to get me out of there."
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