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For Lone Star Games:
Weah, Debbah Support Youth Development Want to Assist Technically
October 3, 2002
Siebo Williams
Monrovia
A day following a statement from the Technical Manager
of the National football team, the Lone Star, Kadalah Kromah, that "we can't
make it without the old boys", two of the countries foremost senior players
have thrown their weight behind youth development.
Speaking separately on DC 101 sports program yesterday,
George Weah, who officially announced his retirement as Lone Star technical
director and player on January 28 this year in Mali, said due to his age (
he turned 36 on October 1, 2002) he cannot come and play for the Lone Star
anymore.
"I have retired from international football and my age now would
not permit me to play actively," Weah said. Commenting further, the former
Lone Star Technical Director said if football authorities want him to assist
on the technical team of the Lone Star he is willing to contribute.
On whether his coming back to assist technically will
ease tension between the other players who have vowed never to come for the
Lone star, he said those players have personal problems with the sporting
authorities and he has no authority to stop them from coming for Lone Star
games. He urged football authorities to settle whatsoever problem that exist
between they and the other players.
Commenting on the current batch of players on the
Lone Star, the former Lone Star's skipper stressed the need for youth
development, stating "it is time for the younger players on the team to be
given attention so that they can serve as possible replacements for the
older players."
As for celebrated soccer star James Debbah, he
maintained his previous position that he wants to give chance to younger
players on the Lone Star. "We have played our part for almost 16 years, so
let the younger players be given the chance to prove themselves."
Debbah then wished the Lone Star well in the match
against Niger come October 12,2002 at the SKD Sports Complex in Paynesville.
He also disclosed that his ankle is injured.
Weah and Debbah support for youth development
comes at the time coach Kadalah Kromah has somersaulted that he cannot make
it without the old players.
Prior to Lone Star's departure for Guinea to
honor its first Nations Cup qualifiers, coach Kromah told Liberians to be
patient that "Rome was not built in one day". He said his focus was to build
a new team which nucleus would be around the home-based players.
But on Monday of this week, coach Kromah changed
his position and said that he cannot make it without the old players,
something which has not gone down well with football pundits.
Technical manager Kadala Kromah disclosed that Liberia
cannot make it without the old players because the young locals are not
given the opportunity to play test matches for exposure, and he was
therefore extending an open invitation to the old school boys.
The Lone Star coach made the assertion on DC Talk and
also extended an open invitation to former Lone Star technical
director George Weah (UAE), the Nation's most celebrated soccer star James
Salinsa Debbah (UAE), Zizi Roberts (USA & Ghana), Joe Nagbe (formerly
of Greece), Varmah Kpoto (formerly of Greece) among others for the match
against Niger slated for Saturday, October 12, 2002.
Already a formal invitation was extended to
midfield maestros Kelvin Sebwe (UAE) and Oliver Makor (Greece), along with
Prince Daye (France), George Gebro (Greece), Jimmy Dixon (Sweden), Dulee
Johnson (Sweden),
Fallah Johnson (Indonesia), Louis Crayton
(Switzerland) and Alvin "Power" Kieh (Cyprus) for the match. The Coach
however, said that he extended this open invitation to the old players for
the sake of peace and reconciliation after what transpired in Mali. And on
the other hand, Liberians are not patient enough to wait for the next two to
four years for the Lone Star to be rebuilt. "Since these guys are still
playing, it is imperative that we invite them to the National team, and as
time goes by they will be replaced gradually."
But the decision of Weah and Debbah maintaining
their stance for younger players to be given the chance on the Lone Star has
cast a cloud over the coach Kromah's ability to handle the Lone Star.
"Since the coach has come out to say he cannot make it
without the old players, and the old players themselves have come out to
give way to younger players, coach Kromah must tell Liberians how is he
going to approach the qualifiers," a fan remarked yesterday following Weah
and Debbah's pronouncement on DC Sports program.
Another fan said yesterday at the ATS that "coach
Kromah's statement that he cannot make it without the old players clearly
indicates that he cannot handle the national team and he should immediately
be replaced since it is still soon."
He stated that it was the same coach who asked
Liberians to be patient that is the reason why the results from Guinea was
accepted. "What then can coach Kromah say after the same old players have
come up to support younger players on the team?" he asked.
It is not known what next action football
authorities will take but, observers believe that more emphasis will be
placed on the current batch of youthful players. |
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