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Why Pro Players Are
Pulling Out of Lone Star?
Fallah Johnson
September 03, 2002
Siebo D. Williams
Monrovia
As Dulee Johnson, JB Seton still await invitation, our Sports Desk have
learned that another Liberian foreign-based player, Fallah Johnson, has
pulled out of the Lone Star for the 2004 African Cup of Nations qualifying
match against the Syli Nationale of Guinea scheduled for September 8 in
Conakry.
According to reports received, Fallah said his reason was based on the fact
that the invitation fax got to his club very late. He said the team had
expected it at least two weeks ahead of the time to enable his coach bring
in a player to fill the gap since he is starting player.
The report further said that Fallah's team, Persita Tangerang, has been
training for a crucial match scheduled for the weekend of September 6-8, the
same time Lone Star will be playing Guinea. "Because of the late arrival of
the fax, my club has refused to allow me to come to Liberia for the match,"
Fallah was quoted as informing the LFA.
When LFA General Secretary Yanqueh S. Borsay was contacted over the weekend,
he confirmed Fallah's pronouncement to pull out of the team for the Guinea
match, but pointed out that the fax did not get to the player's club late as
being said. "I think Fallah is not coming because his team has a match on
the same weekend Lone Star will play Guinea." Mr. Borsay said.
The LFA Chief Scribe said then said he was scheduled to communicate with the
technical staff of the Lone Star regarding the pull out of Fallah Johnson.
Another Indonesia-based striker, who said he was coming to justify his
inclusion on the Lone Star has canceled his trip due to the same problem
Fallah has. The two players play for Persita Tangerang.
It was also reported on a local radio station that another professional
player, Oliver Makor, has disclosed that he is pulling out of the Lone Star.
His reason according to the report is that, the players that he played with
are no longer on the team, therefore, he will not come to play.
The first player who pronounced his pull out of the Lone Star was utility
player Zizi Roberts. He said he was abandoned in Mali after he sustained an
ankle injury, something, which led to him losing his contract with
Olympiakos. But in reaction to his claims, the LFA denied ever abandoning
the player and disclosed that it was the player who instead told them that
his former team's doctor told him to only massage the foot, and that upon
return to Greece he would have been treated.
The total of three foreign-based players, who were in the initial plans of
technical director Kadala Kromah for the match against Guinea, have pulled
out for the reasons stated above.
The technical staff had initially invited nine players, including Louis
Crayton, Frank Seator, Prince Daye, Victor Konwlo, Bill Newray, Jimmy Dixon,
George Gebro, Fallah Johnson and Christopher Wreh for the Guinea match.
The likes of Oliver Makor, Josiah J.B. Seton, Anthony Ballah and Dulee
Johnson were placed on a reserve list because the Sports Ministry said the
Government could only afford to bring in players.
Now that Fallah Johnson has pulled out due to club engagement, it not known
which of the players on the reserved list will be invited to fill in the
gap. There were reports that Dulee Johnson and Josiah JB. Seton were
awaiting their invitations so to plan their travel.
Football pundits are wondering why some of the professional players are
pulling out of the Lone Star. Some of the pundits who spoke to our Sports
Desk said they are suspecting sabotage but failed to say who is behind or
doing it.
The reports of the players pull-out is kind of bothersome, most especially
when there is only seven days to the game with Guinea. Other pundits say
they are confident that technical director Kadala Kromah and his team are
capable of handling the situation. "We know the team will perform in the
absence of those who have pulled out," the pundits said. |
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