George
Weah's FA Leadership Ambition: Is He Qualified?
By Omari Jackson
George Weah for LFA presidency? While it may sound like a joke to an
average person who knows candidate Weah, it may equally appear a
good thing to any of the thousands of admirers of this great soccer
legend of Liberia.
It is evidently clear that George Weah was a success story on the
field but it must be stated that it is quite a different ball game
when it comes on the administrative field. So with George Weah's
desire to become the president of the Liberia Football Association,
it stands to reason that among some questions that should be asked
are: What are the qualifications that he has achieved as a "manager"
that Mr. Weah thinks can aid him in the new arena? What educational
achievements so far is he banking on to become president for the
national football association?
What experience has he achieved in "management" and in "sports
management" for that matter that he can count on as the backbone to
the presidency?
These questions and others are important because anyone who has
associated with George Weah is aware that as a human, Mr. Weah
lacked the ability to be, meaning that he was prone, in his playing
days, to center around him only players and friends who will only
answer: Yes Sir, to any decision that he made. And this included
whether the decision was damaging or not.
Former players Mass Saar (junior), Thomas Kojo, and to some extent
Kervin Sebwe, all kowtowed to the whims of "mister" Weah and
everything George did or said was the "gospel truth." A case in
point: During Liberia's first participation in the 1996 African Cup
of Nations, in South Africa, the national team, Lone Star,
advertised for the DEODORA sporting company of Italy, and of course
it was through his (Weah's) efforts.
The management of DEODORA gave the contract money to Mr. Weah for
delivery to the authorities in Liberia. Perhaps, this is where Mr.
Weah thinks he has gained some "managerial skills" to run the FA.
George Weah, in South Africa, divided the more than USD20,000.00
among his
close friends, including James Debbah.
Regrettably, the few home-based ( otherwise known as local players)
players who made up the playing team received what it is described
in Liberia as, "pocket change." In fact individuals that George Weah
did not like, because they would not bow to his soaring position
were almost
left out. The unfriendly manner that George Weah "equally shared"
the money among his friends created a rift among the playing body
that the negative effects showed up in Liberia's match against
Gabon. It was therefore no wonder that by their second match, the
glorious Lone Star
of Liberia was on its way to Monrovia.
Sad enough, with the adoration that huge number of Liberians have
for him, Liberian sports officials with the team in South Africa
could only watch in disbelief. Officials present included the former
FA president Willard Russell, the late former youth and sports
minister, Francois Massaquoi and the late technical officer,
Walter Pelham.
Thereafter, Mr. Weah's personal relationships with well-meaning
Liberians have been dead because he has the tendency to judge
situations in what Liberians often called, "they say."
Even until recently, many of his professional colleagues were not on
speaking terms with him. The reason: "Weah heard that somebody said
this or that about this or that person." It is a sad commentary that
a man whom providence placed in a towering position, could turn his
back on
many who were dear and so close to him. So with such an
unapproachable attitude, and a behavior of looking down on those
whom providence has place below him, I am not sure if George Weah is
good enough to lead the football association.
True, administrations are not run by an individual and one may
suggest that with his influence Mr. Weah can prevail on the
government to do its duty. So the question is: has George Weah grown
enough above petty quarrels to remain focus as president of the
Liberia Football Association? Will the hangers-on and
"yes-sir, yes-sir friends" remain focus in the event that he becomes
the president of the Liberia Football Association?
I must admit that I have a great deal of admiration for him. But my
appreciation for him is beyond his "managerial skills." When I
consider how he ran his personally-sponsored club, Junior
Professionals F/C to the ground, and how he abandoned all who
sacrificed for the club, then I
reminded that Mr. Weah's desire for the LFA may be for personal
image building. While that in itself is not bad, he will need people
who, as we say in Liberia, have their heads properly balanced on
their shoulders, to make things work.
Millions may love him, but Weah is aware that his inability to show
some elements of educational and managerial higher standard may
prove his undoing, when he finally becomes the "president" of the
Liberia Football Association. While I wish him well and the best of
luck, I am hoping
that he will consider my criticism as a yardstick and a barrier to
cross.
Note: This is not the Sentiment of this
website. To ensure journalistic integrity , we decided to publish
this commentary.
The writer:Omari Jackson, was a
member of the founders of the Sports Writers Association of Liberia,
where he served as its secretary general, under the late BBC
correspondent, Klon Hinneh. He was the lone journalist from Liberia
for the 1996 African Cup of Nations in South Africa. He now lives in
Atlanta, GA USA and can be reached at:
omarinush@cs.com
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