Trouble
In U-20 Female Team Camp
March 9, 2006
Trouble is said to be brewing with in the National U-20 Female Team
Camp as the Players of the team are yet to receive the US$25 pardiem
promised by sports authorities in the country.
Some of the players, who spoke to The Analyst Sports Desk on Wednesday
March 8, expressed disappointment over the delay to pay the US$25
promised pardiem by their authorities since the match with their
Guinea counterpart at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS).
Left-winger Miatta Johnson said it was hard to believe that
authorities are yet to brief them as regarding the pardiem.
According to her such delay was discouraging for a new team like the
National Female U-20 and has the propensity of killing the spirit of
the game in the country at this crucial time in our country's history.
"It just too early to begin this way, and how do we expect to see the
country's game to move forward? I cannot get over the way they are
treating us," she said.
"From the way things are beginning now, I may not be encourage to even
be part of the team again as they prepared to meet their Algerian
counterpart in their second leg matches in Algiers", she pointed out.
"I thought sports authorities should be concerned about promoting the
female game when in fact female soccer will, for the first, be seen on
the international scene since the game was introduced in 1986," she
concluded.
Also speaking on the delay by sport authorities was right winger
Patricia William who described the delay as "a complete erosion of
confidence." Player Williams said it was just hard to believe that
authorities were failing to live up to their words.
"How will we be encouraged to play again? Their move it just a clear
indication that we may not even continue this prestigious
Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) Female U-20 competition," she
said.
For her part, midfielder Famata Boimah said she was now convinced that
those in positions of authority in the sports house are not interested
in sports development in the country.
"I will rather remain focused to seek higher education then playing
football in the country," she concluded.
Though Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) and Liberia Football
Association (LFA) are yet to comment on the issue, but the Chairman on
Female Soccer at the local football house Moses Zayee said he was also
disappointed over the delay.
In a brief chat, Mr. Zayee said he was holding any comments on the
issue until he meets top officials today, March 9.
At the same time, reports say players of the team are said to be
planning a boycott action beginning today Thursday, March 9 ahead of
the training session at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS).
The players pending action is believed to be in protest of the delay
of the US$25 promised by football authorities.
The players move is coming at the time when they are preparing for the
next stage of the CAF Female Competition.
It is yet to be known as to whether CAF has awarded the points to
Liberia Female U-20 following the failure of the Guinean counterpart
to show out for the last match.
But the Gambian Match Commissioner earlier stated that the decision as
to who sails through to the next stage of the competition will be
determined by CAF.
Meanwhile, the public is calling the Lone Star Mobilization Committee
to release its report as to what has been generated from the recent
fundraising drive for the Female Team.
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