FOOTBALL ON THE BRAINS IN LIBERIA!
 
Commentary:   By Bruce Wiah LONESTARSOCCER.COM BEAT REPORTER BRUCE WIAH

Football Must Work on the Brains in Liberia

The enthusiasms of one's childhood are often settled by circumstances rather than by an inherent urge in any definite direction. One boy is brought up along the sea and becomes an ardent fisherman; another who is much more in contact with an individual who has an avowed passion for kicking a football is influenced accordingly.

In other circumstances the environment of an individual's own homeland and the interests of his parents, curiously enough, have a contrary effect upon him, and he feels antagonism for the very things which his father or mother hopes he's learning to cherish. These, however, are exactly what are obtaining in Liberia today, a land ravaged by senseless crisis; the economy dwindled; hopes dashed and people perennially rendered destitute.

Considering how much football is piercing the obstinate hearts of most Liberians; reuniting families and enemies as well; ushering renewed hopes and aspirations, every young boy is dreaming of becoming the next George Weah. Not even the former fighters and the young women too are thinking of being brushed aside.

Frankly, not many people had contrived of being a football player before the crisis simply because a football player was tagged 'bete noir?. The desire to become either business tycoons, engineers, doctors, lawyers or the like, dominated the optimum ambitions of most Liberians.

But having realized how George Weah and colleagues have squeezed sordid gains just from playing football and how the unavoidable passions of the game are breaking barriers that once appeared insurmountable, not even the unremitting news of continuous wars have prevented the Liberian youth from kicking the leather around. The farmers and university students as well are reverting to football as a means to an end.

Interestingly though, dreaming of being a rewarded football player is one thing and actualizing such dream is yet another. According to Theodore Roosevelt: ?In life as in football game, the principle to follow is to hit the line hard'. George Weah and colleagues actually hit the line hard and their determination and persistence need not be over-emphasized. However, did these football players achieve the success that enjoy today all by themselves? Actually not! For they had been reared in solid and highly competitive leagues and their intuitions were well developed.

With the growing increase for the love of football, will today?s dreamers really reap the glories of Weah and co? These questions sparkle the search as to what entity is solely responsible for providing the motivational imperatives, directions and opportunities so far as achieving the success that men like Weah and other Liberian pros reaped. Unarguably, the Liberia Football Association (LFA) is chiefly charged with such responsibilities but one can reasonably adjudicate that not much had been done since its inception in 1936.

Admittedly too, before the crisis, some innovative individuals had revolutionized Liberian football, but others stepping in their stead to keep the torch illumined, according to my perception, have been the causes of the bottlenecks.

When Sir Willis D. Knuckles organized the fourth and third division leagues for the grass-rooters at the community or sub-committee levels, he didn't envisage that a fourth division club would one day buy a first division's position. What Sir Knuckles envisioned was that such club would be developed to a much formidable side having climbed the rungs.

Of course, former FA president Cletus Wotorson didn't dream that following a national league the clubs would stay away from CAF Competitions or the league wouldn't resume the next year, enervating the players. He rather held the leagues incessantly and ensured that the clubs participated in CAF Competitions. Under his term, the clubs were indemnified, the recruitment of quality coaches and budding talents were stressed; public and business sponsorships were sought and the players weren't enervated.

Today, what we have gives a sharp contrast to what have been mentioned supra. Watching IE and Barrolle playing drives you into deep sleep for the clubs are completely disorganized and the leagues devoid of tastes and standards. The titles aren't fiercely contested and most importantly, the leagues are staged occasionally and the players aren't properly catered for.

Howbeit, with the 2002 national leagues given a brilliant coloration and booster; with Edwin Snowe stuffed with another forceful four-year mandate and hopes somewhat renewed, it's my conviction as well as others that changes are institutionalized. Changes that would see the clubs encouraged to participate in CAF Competitions; changes that would ensure that the clubs are indemnified and properly organized; changes
that would stretch that capacities of the sub-committees and shun position sales; changes that would put into effect a well-structured secretariat and it's media component coordinating with Sports Journalists for the adequate disseminations of information; changes that would brush out non-essential elements from the FA; changes that would efface suspicions that the FA is being used as propaganda machine and most importantly, changes that would ensure that Sports Journalists are wittingly approached as partners rather than adversaries and changes that would as well divorce the national leagues from its prodigal status.

"Ideas must work through the brains and arms of brave and courageous men, or they aren't no better than dreams".