Two Liberian Footballers To Malaysia for Sime Darby
 Make Debut on Monday


          Sengbah Kennedy and Patrick ‘Ronaldinho’ Wleh


By Leroy M. Sonpon, III
leroysonpon@yahoo.com
 (231-886-585875)

Two of Liberian strategic national team players, Patrick Wleh and Sengbah Kennedy have left the country last week and are expected to make their debut in the Malaysian Premier League 2012 on Monday, 9 January 2012.



The duo that does not need any trial owing to their marvelous role at Sime Darby FC-Liberia will be showcasing for Sime Darby FC in Malaysia.

Finishing clinical Wleh is expected to lead the front as a potent striker while Kennedy will help control the middle of the part as defensive or offensive midfielder. Both players are on a one-year loan from LISCR FC, the champions of the Liberian Premier League 2011.

According to report, Sime Darby FC will open its Premier League campaign this year with a home match against the Malaysian national junior team, Harimau Muda B, at the Selayang Municipal Council Stadium.

Sime Darby FC is coached by Ismail Zakaria, formerly the Technical Director of Selangor Football Association, the most successful state football association in Malaysia. He is assisted by two former Malaysian internationals, Abdul Ghani Malik (Assistant Coach) and Shaharuddin Ahmad Mokshinon (Goalkeeper Coach).

Coach Ismail described the presence of Wleh and Kennedy as timely as the team aims for promotion to the Super League in 2013. Sime Darby finished fifth among 14 teams in the 2011 Malaysian Premier.

“Wleh and Kennedy have beefed up the team considerably since their arrivals in Malaysia in November and December 2011, respectively. Wleh has been scoring consistently during friendly matches, while Sengbah has adapted well to the playing condition here in Malaysia,” added Ismail.

Wleh, 21, and Kennedy, 24, are complemented by 23 other local Malaysian players for the 2012 Premier League season. Sime Darby FC retained 10 players from the 2011 season and promoted two of its President Cup’s players to the senior team.

“I want to play my best in the Malaysian football league, and hope to score as many goals as possible. I like playing here in Malaysia, and Sime Darby FC is a good and well managed team,” said Wleh.

Sengbah said he has adapted well to the playing condition in Malaysia, and hoped to contribute to the team’s promotion to the Super League in 2013. “The teams competing in the Premier League are very competitive, and I’m ready to contribute to the success of the Sime Darby FC,” he noted.

Wleh and Kennedy were recruited by Sime Darby FC following stringent assessments by three senior officials who went on a scouting mission to Liberia in September 2011. The Liberian Football Association conducted several friendly games involving the national team and several top clubs in Liberia during the one-week scouting mission.

The Malaysian Premier League will be held from 9 January 2012 to 13 July 2012. In addition, Sime Darby FC will also be competing in FA Cup which will begin on 17 February 2012.

Sime Darby FC is backed by Malaysia’s biggest conglomerate, Sime Darby, which has oil palm operations in Malaysia, Indonesia and Liberia. In addition to oil palm operations, Sime Darby is also involved in property, motors, industrial equipment, energy & utilities and healthcare businesses