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Lone Star, Where
Are You?
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By Julu M. Johnson, Jr.
E-mail:markjuliano13@yahoo.com
Cell#06499157
Everyone is gearing up for the 2010 edition of the famous African Cup
of Nations in Angola , the biggest football festival on the Dark
Continent . The Liberian football populace will without doubt be among
those expected to view the event as it will feature the best
footballers from Africa who are making names in the big leagues of
Europe in persons of the legendary Samuel Eto’o Fils, Didier Drogba,
Michael Essien, Emmanuel Adebayor and Mohamed Lamine Sissoko.
Although the country gained independence in 1847, the national
football team of Liberia , Lone Star, has qualified for the finals
only two times, this happened in South Africa 1996 and Mali 2002.
Those were the days of the golden generation of Liberian football when
George Oppong Weah, James Salinsa Debbah, Joe Thunder Nagbe and Kelvin
Sebwe were at their best. Since the demise of the famous “Weah
Eleven,” Liberia has been struggling to reach a third African Nations
Cup finals, least to speak about making use of the presence of a new
breed of footballers. Meanwhile, under a German head coach Antoine
Tony Hey, the Lone Star did not even make the final group stage when
paired against Senegal ’s Lions of Teranga, Algeria ’s Desert Foxes
and the Scorpions of Gambia. Liberia lost all three matches away and
drew the rest at home. Algeria topped the group and eventually went on
to qualify for the African Nations Cup and outclassed Egypt to reach
the World Cup finals. Hey left the Lone Star job in shame to take over
the Harambee Stars of Kenya, who also failed at the end of the day to
reach at least the Nations Cup finals.
Former winners of the African Nations Cup such as the Atlas Lions of
Morocco, Simbas of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the
Bafana Bafana of South Africa (host of the 2010 FIFA World Cup) did
not even make the journey to Angola . This leaves stars like Maraoune
Chamakh ( Girondins Bordeaux , France ) and Steven Peinaar ( Everton ,
England ) among those expected to view the tournament via television.
With countries that are far ahead of the Lone Star, in terms of
football development, missing this year’s soccer jamboree, there is no
reason for Liberians to weep that much over the absence of the
national team from the Nations Cup finals in Angola . Indeed, the Lone
Star is not home alone. Others are in the same boat with them.
Notwithstanding, all eyes are set to see the Lone Star qualify for the
next edition of the African Nations Cup in Libya in 2012.
Qualifying for the 2012 finals and even beyond cannot be achieved on a
silver platter. The challenge is therefore at the doors of football
authorities, specifically the Ministry of Youth and Sports and Liberia
Football Association (LFA). Etmonia David Tarpeh, the honorable Sports
Minister, and Sombo Izetta Wesley, the football Iron Lady, must
combine forces, act together and put nothing else above the interest
of the Lone Star. The two should put aside their usual bickering just
to ensure that the red, white and blue colors are flown in Libya and
at subsequent not limited to the Nations Cup.
Poor Lone Star, for too long this team has struggled in the
wilderness, not knowing the day it will rise and shine again.
President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf did her best in seeing to it that her
country’s team gets at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, yet, her hopes were
dashed. She, too, needs to get involved actively instead of leaving
the task with trusted lieutenants, who normally puts national interest
below personal benefits. Football entertains and is something that
requires too much action rather than talking or making speeches. It
took money to transform Chelsea and Manchester City from little known
into successful clubs with the best of stars. Consequently, money and
effort must be put into place if the desired results can be achieved
at the end of the day. Then, indeed, victory for the Lone Star will be
a welcomed undertaking, not for a certain group of people but all
Liberians at large.
After the hosting of the 2010 edition, the qualifiers for the 2012
Nations Cup finals will start right away. Other countries that did not
reach Angola have begun picking up the broken pieces by means of early
preparations. As for the case of the Lone Star of Liberia, there is
nothing. What is the team waiting for? Well, only heaven knows.
Let’s not forget and be reminded that over the years the Lone Star has
been something special for the country, not for just for entertainment
through football and sports in general. This is to say that whenever
the team plays, Liberians usually abandon their political, tribal,
cultural, religious and personal differences and group together for a
day as Liberians to cheer the nation’s pride and joy through singing,
dancing and merrymaking. Notably, during the heydays of the civil war,
fighters and supporters of the various warring factions would put down
their guns and head for Monrovia to watch the Lone Star in action. For
this, the national team has always been regarded as the only unifying
force for a country that suffered a decade and more years of bloody
conflict. Moreover, qualifying for the African Nations Cup will do a
whole lot for the country. With most of our players plying their trade
in substandard leagues, appearing at this event will sell the new
generation of players to a larger extent that big and rich clubs will
come knocking at their doors in demand of their wonderful talents to
have them contracted.
Now as we stand, where is the Lone Star in terms of sustaining the
post-war unification on the football pitch? There is not even a
program befitting for the task ahead. Liberians are known for wanting
quick solutions out of short range plan. This attitude has continued
unabated but must change in order for the Lone Star to go somewhere.
One thing that can be said is that all is not lost. There is still a
boost for the Lone Star. A national budget for sports is in place
coupled with a new breed of young talents, comprising Anthony Laffor,
Dulee Johnson, Dioh Williams, Francis Grandpa Doe, Zah Krangar and
Theo Weeks. Hence, it is now the time to jumpstart the campaign for
the next Nations Cup finals and even the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil
. The Lone Star, forever! May it flow over land, sea and air. Desert
it no never, uphold it now and forever. Hoping to see the Lone Star at
the next Nations Cup, I remain. Happy New Year and good luck 16 teams
in Angola
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