Weah Sets
Condition For Lone Star's Return
By Julu M. Johnson, Jr.
The great George Oppong Weah has cited several reasons
behind his reluctance about the national soccer team, Lone Star.
The team's 0-0 draw with the Hawks of Togo in the 2006 Nations Cup
and World Cup qualifiers in Monrovia created a huge demand for Weah
to return to the Lone Star.
Notwithstanding, while addressing a press conference at the UNICEF
headquarters in Monrovia on Wednesday, July 28, Weah called for the
creation of a budget for sports that would help run the various
national teams, be it soccer, basketball, volleyball and track and
field.
The UNICEF Good will Ambassador also said, "I will only return if
players of the national team are paid $200 to $300 every month."
Weah indicated that he would not return in the absence of the
basic needs for the national team.
"Lone Star needs to be promoted the way it is supposed to be,"
Weah noted.
He shifted blames on the Liberian Government for not supporting
the national team. "Without sponsor, nothing can happen."
He added, "Liberia had the possibility of winning the 2002 Nations
Cup in Mali, but there was no government's support."
According to Weah, he felt the need to quit in order to giving way
to others. The former Lone Star skipper and technical director even
though stressed the need to rally around the team. But he said, "I
resigned because I am aged."
Weah, meanwhile, said, "I don't want to come back to be stoned
and booed like Debbah."
"That's a shame to stone man like Debbah. If things were not good
with Debbah, he should not have to be stoned."
He then promised to still contribute to the Lone Star, mainly with
advices and material support, but told Liberians to praise the
national team players at all times because of their works.
Weah believes the only way out for the Lone Star and Liberian
soccer in general is "for people that know to go there."
The former World Footballer of the Year has persistently vowed to
contest the LFA elections possibly against the incumbent head
Counsellor Sombo Izetta Wesley.
But Weah warned his likely rival, "Izetta should go practice law.
She does not know sports administration."
He blamed the FA president and her colleagues for the decline of
the game.
"We have vast talents here. I dominated foreign leagues because we
had good league," he mentioned.
Weah returned to Liberia last week after receiving the Arthur Ashe
Courage award in the United States.
He described the award as the greatest title ever won by him.
|
Please Click our Sponsors
Links to support the site
|
