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As September Approaches:
Will Monrovia Partake in '2004 Nations' Cup Qualifiers -Following the
Withdrawal From U-17 & U-20 Competitions?
July 16, 2002
Posted to the web July 16, 2002
Siebo D. Williams
Monrovia
In two months the national football team, the Lone Star, is expected to
return to international competition as the qualifying rounds for the '2004
Nations Cup finals begin across the continent. Liberia is in a group that
comprises Guinea, Ethiopia and two other countries with only one team
qualifying for the finals.
Reports reaching our Sports Desk have it that other countries have begun
preparation for the qualifiers. In South Africa for example, coach Jomo Sono
was asked to stay on despite handling in his letter of resignation after
leading Bafana Bafana to the World Cup finals in Korea and Japan.
In Liberia on the other hand, the search for a coach is still ongoing. But
there are other factors that still need to be addressed before Liberia begin
her campaign for the '2004 African Nations Cup finals.
Since the disbandment of the Lone Star by the Ministry of Youth and Sports
and the Liberia Football Association (LFA) in Bamako, a report is yet to be
made public as to what really happened in Mali administratively and
technically. Why did the Lone Star perform so poorly? Was the team il-prepared
before the tournament? Was it due to the lack of proper incentives and
benefits that caused the players to lose concentration and perform poorly?
Or was it technical blunder that robbed Liberia of advancing to the next
round and onward in the tournament?
These are some of the questions still lingering on the minds of soccer-crazy
Liberians who were disappointed in Lone Star's performance in Mali. These
questions must be answered before Liberia begin another venture in
international competition. If we cannot correct our past mistakes, there is
no way that we can make progress without repeating those same mistakes.
Another factor that seem to be a stumbling block for Liberia is the lack of
funds, which the Minister of Youth and Sports, Max Dennis emphasized in his
letter to LFA's General Secretary to inform CAF that Liberia was not in the
position to participate in the U-17 competition.
Prior to the withdrawal of Liberia from the U-17 competition, the country
also withdrew form the U-20 competition as well citing the same lack of
funds. In his exact words, Minister Dennis said "In noting the associated
cost of the tournament, and guided by the prudence of ministerial
expenditure at a time when the priority of Government is to protect the
sovereignty of Liberia, it is the resolve of the Ministry of Youth and
Sports to maintain and prepare the various LONE STAR teams within the
confines of the country, until such time when the coffers of the Government
are supportive of the engagement of tournaments that require high financial
outlays."
Our fear then is that, it has not been long since Liberia withdrew from the
two youth competitions due to lack of funds and the senior competition is
right around the corner. Will funds be available for the senior Lone Star to
partake in the qualifiers? It is better for it be made known now then wait
in the last minute after the team shall have been assembled.
The withdrawal of Liberia from two youth competitions does not pave a way
for the building a future national team. Who are the players who will
feature on the national team in the future when they are not being given the
needed exposure at the U-17 and U-20 levels?
The present political situation in Liberia has a toll on the development of
the sports in Liberia. It is prudent enough to read between the lines before
committing the country. If the signs on the wall is not clear financially,
let it be known now.
But we still believe that water can be taken out of rocks for the U-23 and
senior national team to participate in their separate engagements set for
September simultaneously. The present government is capable of generating
funds needed. We also believe that ways can be found for a foreign coach to
be hired, who will be charged with the responsibility to draw up programs
for the various national teams.
Again Liberia must begin to emulate the examples of other African countries
that have made significant impacts in international competitions if she is
to make inroads on the continent.
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