In 2004 Nations’
Cup Qualifiers:
Liberians Want Lone Star Honor Ethiopia Match
-Appeal To President Taylor
 March
10, 2003
Following media reports
that the Chief Patron of Sports, President Charles Taylor, may not be
in the position to provide funds for the National football team, the
Lone Star to continue its campaign in 2004 Nations’ Cup qualifiers,
Liberians have begun appealing to the Chief Patron for support.
In random interviews conducted by our sports desk over
the weekend, several Liberians appealed to the President Taylor,
urging him to do all that he can in ensuring that Lone Star goes to
Ethiopia for the match.
Most of them shared the same
views concerning the numerous problems President Taylor and Government
is faced with, relative to the ongoing rebel war and United Nations’
imposed sanctions, but they said if the Chief Patron and his
government do provide the funds and the team honors the match, it will
send out a clear picture that indeed Liberia still exist despite
action by certain detractors to discredit the country.
“We know what it entails to fight a war in
the midst of UN imposed sanctions. We know the pinch this government
is facing, but if President Taylor and his government can afford to
provide the funds, Liberians will be happy because the Lone Star is a
positive light for the country,” Peter Jah of Central Monrovia
said.
As for Morris Logan of Point Four, he said
despite the rebel war and sanctions, he is confident that President
Taylor and his government will provide funds for Lone Star to honor
the match. “I know what he did for the Lone Star in the past. I am
very sure that President Taylor will ensure that the team plays the
match,” he added.
For her part, Martha Giddings of Camp
Johnson Road also appealed to President Taylor to do all that he can
possibly do for Lone Star to play the match. “I feel sorry for the
President because he has lots of problems to solve in the midst of
sanctions and ongoing war, but he has always made Liberians happy by
sponsoring the Lone Star. He knows the Lone Star brings joy to
Liberians, this is why he always supported the team to make his people
happy,” she noted.
All of the fans spoke against the rebel war and
the UN imposed sanctions, which have continued to impede the progress
of sports in Liberia. Most of them said had there not be any rebel war
going on and the UN sanction imposed, President Taylor and his
government would have done a lot for sports, particularly the Lone
Star.
They are therefore appealing to President Taylor
to do all that he can to help the Lone Star honor the
match in Ethiopia.
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