Another Hero In The Making
By Wilbert Foley
July 3, 2001

As aging strikers on the Liberia national soccer team Lone Star prepare for retirement in a not too distant future, young and promising star Isaac Tondo is gradually paving his way for one of the top jerseys.

During the team's regular training session last week between Team "A" and Team "B" at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium on United Nations Drive, for Sunday's crucial World Cup qualifying match against the Black Stars of Ghana at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex outside Monrovia, which Liberia was defeated 2-1, the young star who featured for Team "B" was the toast of spectators' conversations.

While most soccer fans thronged the stadium to witness the training session and spy soccer giants like Weah, Debbah and others, there were some who went purposely to get a glance of Liberia latest soccer sensation, Isaac Tondo.

There were times that argument broke up among spectators concerning the young player's performance. Some argued that young Tondo is strong and skillful enough to replace any of the big players on the team while others shared opposing views.

For Ben Williams, a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) sports reporter who traveled to Monrovia to cover the game, Young Tondo is a possible replacement for Liberia's goal king James Debbah if his injury denied him the opportunity of playing a full 90-minute game.

Mr. Williams who was in Liberia for couple of days watching the team's practice session said the young player has speed and kicks well on goal.

Mr. Williams made this assertion more than four times on local radio stations in Monrovia and BBC, which indicates that, he is impressed with the lad's performance. Young Tondo is a local who plays for St. Anthony in Monrovia.

He came to international spotlight last month when he featured on Lone Star team "B" and scored the two winning goals in Liberia's last African Nations Cup qualifier against Mauritius in their backyard.

Technical Director George Weah named a 21-man squad early this week for the two remaining World Cup qualifying matches against Ghana and Sierra Leone with Isaac Tondo being excluded.

Weah somersaulted and featured the lad 15 minutes to the final whistle in the game when the Ghanaians were leading lead 2-1.

In an interview with the young striker at his King Lodge room where Lone Star had been camping, Tondo says he has no regret for Weah featuring him at the end of the game.

"This is a good sign, all I need to do is train more," the striking and shy lad commented. He expressed thanks to Technical Director Weah, Coach Viva George and others for his inclusion on the national soccer team and promised to abide by rules and regulations governing the team.