Liberia FA gives
players, officials $100.00 to share
June
22, 2003
LiberianSoccer.com Beat Reporter Bruce Wiah
The 2004 African Nations Cup qualifier match between
Liberia and Guinea played at the Accra Sport Stadium has come and
gone, but what did the players get is out of the question.
A refugee-dominant Liberian team went down 2-1 to a full-blooded
Guinean team in a well-fought match that had only pride to defend.
.
Their determination to stand for Liberia in a short notice showed the
players respect for their country that has been reduced to nothing.
But over 18 players including Frank Seator and Prince Daye from
Tunisia, Alvin Kieh from Cyprus, Thomas Kojo and James Lomell from
South Africa, have $300.00 as match offer to share.
An expensive ridicule for a team that received $5,000 per player less
than two years ago when everyone thought the Liberian football was
never going to wither.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf watching Liberia play for the first time in more
25 years pursed out $200.00 to the team and thanked them for the
match.
Frank Seator without any complain of getting a refund for making it to
the game, gave $100.00 for drugs prior to the game. The team was
without drugs and a doctor until Friday night.
Seator spoke of neglect for the Lone Star, and appealed to the proper
authority to help strengthen their effort. He wonders why would the
Lone Star be treated so lowly.
He however expressed doubt of qualifying for Tunisia where he now
plays, but was again hopeful of a brighter Lone Star when the dust is
settled.
He told Journalists after the match that many things burdened them the
bigger guys and there weren’t anything more that they could do except
for what they did.
Prince Daye that captained the team was like a real hero switching
from his usual left side of attack to a midfielder, defender, and of
course a striker.
Having him in this role was quite unusual for the lone goal scorer,
but he played extremely well and had the Guineans to the turf.
Like Seator, Prince admitted burden but was in sympathy with his
colleagues who despite the difficulties as refugees agreed to honor
Liberia.
Prince who is speculated of a return to France to don for Paris
Saint-Germane re-confirmed his loyalty to the team in these trying
times.
The same team excluding the over-age players will move to Kumasi on
Monday to play the U-23 team of Ghana, the Black Meteors, while the
return leg comes on Sunday in Accra.
FIFA rescheduled the 2004 Olympic qualifier match for these two venues
due to insecurity in Monrovia. In fact, the Ghana FA had made an
appeal for the game to be re-located ahead of FIFA mandate.
Liberia has never qualified this premium event, but with the team
being taken over by refugees qualifying has become almost unexpected.
|
|
