The Liberian National Soccer Team And The Under-23 Lost Vital Games
Unless the necessary programs are put into place, and politics and personal interests are put aside from the game of football, those who control football and the national football teams will continue to bring disgrace to Liberia.
The Liberia Football Association keeps creating the avenues for more whipping of our various national teams. Over the weekend, the senior and Under-23 national teams suffered heavy defeats in two international football competitions.
In the qualifiers of the African Cup of Nations, the senior Lone Star went down 2-4 to Cape Verde on Saturday, March 26. Another disgrace for Liberian football was on Sunday, March 27 when the Under-23 sustained a humiliating defeat at the legs of the Under-23 of the Ivory Coast in Accra in the London 2012 Olympic qualifiers.
Liberia was walloped 0-4 by the Ivoirians. The country conceded a total of eight goals in two days in two international matches. Such horrific football image for Liberia could only be attributed to the inability of the current administration of the Liberia Football Association or LFA headed by Musa Bility.
Our football authority failed to plan and prepare because they had nothing to prepare, so they had nothing to implements as a nation on Saturday March 26 and Sunday, March 27, 2011 in Cape Verde and Ghana.
The road to London 2012 for Liberia has received numerous setbacks before the final one against Ivory Coast after full time.
Lone Star Under-23 first setback was experienced during a knock-out between Jubilee FC and Nimba FC, when Sam Johnson for Nimba FC got injured from a tackle with Jubilee FC defender.
The action put the Under-23 striker out of Lone Star junior team game played in Ghana against Ivory Coast on Sunday (March 27). Lone Star Under-23 second setback arrived when Israel base winger Patrick Doeplah died on Tuesday morning in Monrovia, after arriving in Liberia for a day training session with the team, before heading for Ghana. Lone Star Under-23 was contented for the arrival of America Under-20 Liberian forward Alex Nimo to replace the late Patrick Doeplah.
The team landed in Ghana on Thursday, they were informed that Nimo will not play for Liberia, until the right document are put into place. The team was left in the hands of Sekou Jabateh, he did his best, but they still lost.
The Liberia Football Association has confirmed the death scene of Patrick Doeplah, the Israeli based Liberian striker who met his untimely death on Tuesday morning.
The LFA in a statement issued Wednesday, March 23, 2011, said the player died at the home of his girlfriend on the old road, a suburb of Monrovia and not in a hotel room as was earlier stated.
Medical report quoting Dr. Brisbane said Patrick died Tuesday morning March 22, 2011 upon arrival at the JFK medical center in Monrovia, where he was taken by friends.
According to the LFA: “He had spent the night of March 21 at the home of his fiancĂ©e on the Old Road a few hours upon arrival into the country from Israel to form part of the national U-23 delegation to Ghana to engage against Ivory Coast on Sunday”.
The Football House says the Government has launched an investigation into the circumstances leading to Patrick Doeplah’s death. The LFA says it is also sponsoring full autopsy on the mortal remains of the player to ascertain the foundation of his demise.
According to a statement signed by LFA spokesman Henry Flomo, the LFA wishes the family of the player to take solace in God Almighty during the period of bereavement. The Football House says the loss of Doeplah is colossal to the nation’s plan of improving the potential of youthful players.
Meanwhile, the LFA will open a book of condolence by 12:noon Thursday March 24, 2011 at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia; it will be preceded by a major news conference.
All football lovers, officials, the media and members of the LFA are expected to turnout. The Liberian leader and Chief Patron of sports Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf have presented the LFA US$20,000 as support to the national football teams of Liberia.
The President also wishes the national team victory in their endeavour away to Ivory Coast and Cape Verde. Disclosing this on Wednesday, LFA president Musa Bility said the Football House is grateful to the president for the gesture. He said the amount will help boost the morale of the players.