Oilers Set New
Record
"Once sensational and always sensational" LPRC Oilers have set a new
record in the Liberian top flight. The 'Gold and Black' out fit have
kept a very clean sheet in the last 450 minutes in the ongoing LFA
overcrowded premiership, a feat that has never been achieved by any
club in the close to nine years history of the Liberian top flight.
In five matches against Jasmine Rangers, Black Star, Gedi & Sons,
Devereux and watanga FC, the oil boys with the motto "keeping the
wheels of industry turning", are the team with the most stingy
defense.
A water tight one that is posing grave problems for opposing defenders.
Under the tutelage of ex-international Gabriel Johns, who is
assisted by ex-international goaltender Lucretius Togba, former
Oilers danger man George "Jimmy Ledlo" Doe, once imperious winger
Jarwee Brown and former international goali Steve Lumeh, the Oilers
who are in pole position in the league have a strong technical
staff.
They as well have a solid all round squad and are no doubt the most
experienced team in the 18 teams premiership of the local scene.
With Captain Shelton Barlee who has won 17 caps for the senior
national team the Lone Star, the Oilers can brag of a myriad of of
stars. Resourceful holding midfielder Robert Klaybalay Teah, who has
won 14 caps for country sice making his debut against South Africa
Bafana Bafana in the Lone Star 2-1 loss at the First National Bank (FNB)
Stadium in the qualifiers of the 2002 African Nations cup is one
major reason teams are finding it difficult to find the back of the
net against Oilers.
In Saylee Swen, they have a save pair of hands. The towering gloves man
who won 18 caps for country is fresh from India where he ended as
best goalkeeper in the University league. They are not in any way
short of talents as the pacey Johnny Blidi formerly of Accra Hearts
of Oak (ten caps for country), crafty left foot Jacob Toe, more then
eight seasons on the local scene, John "Kalusha Flomo", more than
nine seasons on the local scene, the once lethal Isaac Tondo (once
Lone Star goal machine- with 21 caps for country), Patrice Loko
another local scene heavy weight are some of the highly tried and
trusted guys on the team.
There is however a blend of experience and youthful exuberance as a
certain Bill Payto who had stints in South Africa, Maldova and Ghana
leading the pack. Other notable youngsters include Ernest Karneh, a
gangling striker turned adventurous wing back, the workaholic
Emmanuel Jackson, alias Michael Ballack due to his grit in the
middle third are some of the formidable young forces on the squad.
Sice wining their first crown in 1990, the Oilers have never looked
back, and are on record of being the only Liberian club to reach the
quarterfinals of any Confederation of African Football (CAF)
organized competition.
It can be recollected, the team in 1988, ousted Cameroonian club
Panthere on a 2-2 goal aggregate, thanks to the away goal rule,
eliminated Ivorian outfit Stade de Bangou on a 4-3 goal aggregate
before their fairy tale run ended aginst Kenyan side Gor Mahaia that
were led by the then ferocious hit-man Peter Dawo.
As far as CAF may be concerned, the Oilers are the embodiment of
Liberian football, and they are at the moment the envy of the local
scene. With a variety of formations where the positive minded 3-4-3
is paramount, the Oilers are quite aware that experienced alone will
not just keep them at the summit in getting the ultimate price at
the podium come the end of the season, they must show character,
hunger, desire and they must always be in current form. Indeed what
matters most in the beautiful game now is current form. Experience
is good, but current form is better.
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