Following Caf's US$1,500 Fine & 3-Yrs Ban:
LPRC Oilers Suffer Double Blows
January 7, 2002
Siebo D. Williams
Monrovia
As AFABA/LBF Imposes US$5,000 Fine
A fortnight ago, the Confederation of African
Football re-enforced a 3-years suspension and fined LPRC Oilers
football team US$1,500 for its failure to participate in the 2000 CAF
Champions' League.
LPRC Oilers football team had qualified to
represent Liberia in the CAF Champions' League, but failed to register
as the deadline expired. Just as CAF prepared to release the fixture,
it informed the LFA that LPRC Oilers' 3-years suspension was still in
force and that the club was not eligible to compete in international
competition until after ban and fine is paid.
That decision means that players of Oilers football
team can only test their skills on the local level.
While the Oilers Sports Association is still
trying to adjust to the CAF's decision, another blow has hit them
again, this time from the African Basketball governing body, AFABA and
the Liberia Basketball Federation (LBF).
According to LBF Acting Secretary General Ijaz Mason,
LPRC Oilers basketball team has been fined US$5,000 by AFABA and LBF
for its failure to honor its international obligation or encounters in
Cape Verde in 2002.
AFABA and LBF say LPRC Oilers have to pay the US$5,000
fine before it can play in any international competition.
In 2002, the LBF had to pay her dues to AFABA to enable
LPRC Oilers basketball team participate in the Men's African Club
Championship held in Cape Verde. But Oilers failed to go for reasons
best known to the management.
The last time LPRC Oilers football and basketball teams
participated in international competitions was during the tenure of
Hon. Lewis G. Brown as Managing Director.
The football team played in Benin and Guinea
respectively, while the basketball team traveled to Morocco to honor
her AFABA matches. Since Hon. Brown left the company, both teams have
yet to play international matches despite being a promotional arm of
the company.
Sports fans are wondering why should players of
LPRC Oilers continue to struggle and win championships and not be
provided the opportunity to test their strength internationally.
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