Why Trip To Dana
Cup Failed
-LFA Official Explains
By Julu M. Johnson, Jr.
The participation of Liberia in the 2004
Dana Cup has been officially cancelled. According to an e-mail
addressed to the head of delegation, Abayomie O. Caulcrick on
Friday, July 9, 2004, the Royal Danish Embassy in Accra Ghana,
through Attaché Hanne-Rie Madsen said, "the deadline for applying
for visa to attend Sports Festivals this summer was 24 May 2004."
The copy was of e-mail was made available
by Mr. Caulcrick, who had been seeking visas for the team. He
dispelled reports that the LFA Executive Committee was responsible
for the failure of the trip to Hjorring, Denmark.
"The authority to issue visas for
attending the Dana Cup does not rest with this Embassy. The Embassy
can only receive the applications, documentation, and interview
applicants then we will pass on the applications to Danish
Immigration Service. They have a processing time of 4 to 6 weeks,"
the communication indicated.
Madam Madsen then urged the Liberian
delegation not to waste its limited funds by traveling to Accra on
grounds that the team would not be on time for the tournament.
A total of 20 Under-19 players
including Ezekiel Doekpa, Melvin J. King, John F. Wolobah, Solomon
I. Grimes, Solomon Wesseh, Amadu Cooper, Zayzay J. Kollie and
Alexander R. Robson were selected for the trip to Denmark.
The team also comprised Takpo
Sonkaliey (now playing in Indonesia), Abu. B.Sando, Augustine Ketter,
Frank Nagbe, Jr., Nuzohn Z.M. Kulala and Toe Bryant.
The rest were Johnson Flomo, George
Boe, Toranto Sesay, Victor C. Nyanti, Dorgba G. Manubah and Andrew
B. Williams. Five officials, Abayomie O. Caulcrick, Mohammed L.
Sheriff, another LFA Executive Committee member, Varney Tulay,
president of the Monrovia, G. Nelson Menyeah and Numennie R.
Williams were expected to make the now failed journey to Europe.
The LFA official disclosed that
following the failure of the trip, he has already presented 24
passports and US$1,100.00, collected as visa fees, to the
Secretary-General of the FA, Yanqueh Borsay for onward submission to
the persons concerned.
Unlike reports that the
LFA executive lost the passports in Ghana, Caulcrick said the items
were brought in by a Belleview flight. He said while in Liberia to
make final arrangements, the passports were in the custody of the
sister of former LFA President Edwin Snowe, Patience Snowe.
"The program was not an LFA
program because the FA gathered that the players intended to escape
in Europe. But the FA had to agree later based on our pressure and
because we wanted to see the country represented," he explained.
He, meanwhile, admitted
to claims that the FA ordered the name "Monrovia FC" to be
transformed to that of Jr. Lone Star.
"The team selected me to
go to Ghana because I have been guarding them in the process,"
Caulcrick revealed. "I left on the 23rd of May, 2004, with a ticket
and US$50.00." However, the FA
executive pointed out that upon his arrival in Ghana, his passport
(#0021864), return ticket and US$250.00 in cash were stolen thus
causing him to sleep at the Buduburam Refugee Camp.
Caulcrick said he returned to Monrovia on
May 30, 2004 to acquire a new passport (#0093208).
"I gave a written documentation to the Ghanaian Police about my
stolen passport. Izetta Wesley loaned me some money and I paid
US$30.00 to Ghana Airways for return ticket," he said.
Mr. Caulcrick indicated that at
the time, he was informed by the LFA liaison in Ghana, Anthony
Payne, about the presence of three officials of the LFA, President
Izetta Wesley, Secretary-General Yanqueh Borsay and Executive
Committee member Alexander Jaeploe in Ghana, who were enroute to
Monrovia from Paris, France after attending the 100th anniversary of
the world football
governing body FIFA.
"I faxed the documents to the Danish
Embassy from the hotel room of Mr. Borsay." He added, "Thirty
minutes later, Payne and I went to the Danish Embassy where a lady
there requested the visa fees, birth certificates, bank statement,
photos and an official receipt for the payment of over US$5,600 as
registration to the Dana Cup."
"I then asked for one week to return to
Monrovia to get the items." He disclosed informing Mr. Tulay and
that the then acting LFA Secretary-General Napoleon Jaeploe did a
one-week extension letter. However, Caulcrick said instead of one
week, it took one month to get all the requirements.
"They bought another ticket for me to
carry everything to Ghana. Since Anthony Payne was sick, I asked
Patience Snowe to accompany me."
He said, "when I got there, the lady
at the Embassy said we were not serious because I took four weeks.
After photocopying the documents, she requested that the team appear
in Ghana."
Caulcrick mentioned that both Mr.
Tulay and the LFA were informed about the developments one month
ahead of the tournament, which started on July 19, 2004.
"When I came to Monrovia, it took us
three weeks to get money to purchase air tickets. We decided leaving
on July 19, 2004, but when I wrote the Danish Embassy, the lady said
it was too late."
Subsequently, he admitted being
accused by a parent of one of the players of "eating the money" and
not going to Ghana, after Mr. Borsay unveiled the communication.
With such information, the LFA executive
challenged "anyone" to come out with claims that he is indebted to
the team. At the same time, he accused officials of the team
of collecting US$40.00 from each player including those they did not
intend to carry.
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