Jimmy Not Coming For Zimbabwe Contest



By Wleh Bedell

Cogent report reaching Liberiansoccer.com says international defender Jimmy Dixon will not be available for the epic away clash to the Warriors of Zimbabwe on match day five of the 2012 African Nations Cup qualifier.

The 29 year old towering center back who was one of eleven oversea based players sent for by the Liberia Football Association (LFA) for the seemingly impossible task with the Southern African side will be out of the fray due to injury by evidence of a communication sent to the local football house by his Turkish club Manisaspor.

A copy of the letter which is in the possession liberiansoccer.com says " we wish to inform you that our player (Jimmy Dixon) will not be available for the match with Zimbabwe". The letter which was written by the club's general manager Oner Karalar further indicates that the calm but intelligent rearguard was undergoing a ten day break due to injury, and it was noticed recently that when he was allowed to train with the rest of the team, there was still a problem which makes him unfit and needs time to recover.

It was however mentioned that the club await a respond from the local football house. But, the Jimmy Dixon issue brings to the fore a major talking point as FIFA regulation states that players injured on club duties are to report to their respective national teams when called upon as they would be examined by their national teams' doctors as a means of authenticating the matter.

Whether the LFA will pursue such issue remains to be seen as a ticket would just be used on an injured player, and will not want to be in the shoes of the likes of Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Cameroun, Ivory Coast etc. that insist on injured players coming back to their national teams to verify claims of injuries.

One major question now remains who replaces the experienced defender who was a member of the Lone Star during the 2002 African Nations Cup finals in Mali. The former Malmo FF man was expected to form a partnership with local lad Teah Dennis, Jr. for the tussle next weekend, and it seems he will be replaced by the Bosnian based defender cum midfielder Patrick Gerdhardt who is as well part of the party to Harare. A partnership with Dennis would however be worrisome in terms of experienced as the Lone Star has a mountain to climb in the mouthwatering test.

Jimmy last played for the Lone Star in the 1-2 away loss to the Eagles of Mali on match day two of the ongoing qualifiers, and has so far played just two games for the red, white and blue outfit.