Zizi
Roberts Joins Colorado Rapids - to Partner Musa Shannon in Attack
November 19, 2002
Siebo D. Williams
Monrovia
Following several months without being attached to a
club, Zizi Roberts has finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel in
his professional football career.
The player, who last played for Olympiakos of Greece up
to the 2002 African Cup of Nations finals held in Mali, has joined first
division side Colorado Rapids of the Major League Soccer in the United
States of America.
Reports reaching this paper say Zizi Roberts was signed
on after he was recommended by a top-notch football administrator who is
presently in the United States of America. The top-notch administrator has
preferred to remain anonymous for now.
He said after Zizi was recommended, the player was
provided an opportunity to justify his inclusion, which he did justified to
his utmost best.
According to him, Zizi has signed a
one-year deal with the Colorado Rapids, and is expected to form an attacking
partnership with his fellow Liberian striker Musa Shannon, who also plays
for the club. Shannon returned to the USA after his contract with Portuguese
club Maritimo ended last season.
It can be recalled Zizi said he lost his contract
with Olympiakos of Greece due to an injury he sustained while playing for
Liberia in the 2002 African Cup of Nations finals. He stated that he was
abandoned by the LFA and Sports Ministry after the injury and thus did not
recover on time to secure his contract with Olympiakos.
But the LFA reacted to Zizi's claims saying that it was
he (Zizi) who told them in Mali that his former team (Olympiakos) doctor
instructed him that the injured leg should not be treated but only massaged,
and that upon return to Greece he would be treated.
Following the Mali games, nothing was held about Zizi's
injury until he was invited to play for the Lone Star against Guinea. It was
at that point that the player said he would not be available to play for the
Lone Star again.
But later another report had it that Zizi did not have a team
so he did not want to come to play far below standard. The player later
disclosed that he was on his way to England to justify with some clubs. No
reports came from England until recently when our Sports Desk received news
that Zizi had signed a one-year deal with the Colorado Rapids of the US
Major League Soccer.
Meanwhile, Liberians have expressed optimism that Zizi
will respond to Lone Star's invitation for the match against Ethiopia
scheduled for March 2003. He is expected to come to sharpen the Lone Star's
defense since the match will be played away |
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