A Third Liberian In American Football

More and more Liberians continue to be discovered in America Football. After the discovery of others, Bha woh Papi Jue has become the latest.

He was born on the 24th of May 1979 in Monrovia and is an American football safety currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Green Bay Packer in the third round of the 2001 National football Draft.

He played college football at Penn state and has also been a member of the San Diego Chargers, St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals and Florida Tuskers. Jue and his family escaped the crisis in Liberia when he was a year old.  He lived in California and Rhode Island before settling in Virginia. Jue attended Chantilly High School in Chantilly, Virgina where he was a two-sport letterman in American football and basketball.

He also ran track and field as a senior and helped lead Chantilly (coincidentally, also named the Chargers) to the 1996 Virginia State AAA Football title, making 73 tackles and 3 interceptions as a defensive back and rushing for over 1,200 yards and 21touchdowns as a tailback. That year he was named a USA Today All-America selection, and Associated Press first-team All-State on both offense and defense.

He also earned Region Defensive Player of the Year, and Conference Player of the Year.  He was also coached by former Washington Redskin, Zion McKinney. Jue attended Penn State University from 1997–2001 and finished his career there with 99 tackles, 7 interceptions and 28 passes defended.

As the Nittany Lion’s starting left cornerback, he was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten in 2000 and was selected to play in the 2001 Senior Bowl. During his college career, he also played in the Alamo Bowl and the Outback Bowl.

Interestingly, Jue was roommates with three other futures NFL at Penn State: Omar Easy, John Gilmore and Tony Stewart. Jue began the season switching between cornerback and safety, but was eventually permanently placed as a safety when he took over for the injured LeRoy Butler midway through the season.

He totaled forty-six tackles with two interceptions, and was named the Packers’ Defensive Rookie of the Year. His sophomore season was limited to four games after suffering various injuries that put him on injured reserve early in the year. In 2003, he played in all games, primarily on special teams and had a career best 1.5 sacks, coupled with twenty-seven solo tackles.

The following season saw him make forty-two tackles with an interception. After the 2004 season, Jue left to sign with the San Diego Chargers where he set new career highs with forty-seven tackles and three interceptions. He spent most of the 2006 season as a reserve due to injury and was released from the club on September 1, 2007.

JNJ Wants One Set of Players

Former national team player and Coach, Josiah Johnson has emphasized the urgent need for the national team to sustain the first eleven facilitate the rebuilding process.

According to Mr. Johnson, the process of rebuilding the national team will give the country  perfect and fruitful results until the next period of time when the general of players get accustomed to the playing styles and techniques of each other.

He noted that the overnment of Liberia was in error when they dissolved the national team in the 2002 Nations cup held in Mali. According to him, the foundation of a good national team should start from Lone Star Under-23 with all of the support and a set of regular eleven starters for the senior team with numerous test matches.

Layee Kamara  Joins Under-23

Liberian youngster Layee Kamara has begun preparations with Liberia’s Olympic football team ahead of their away clash with Ivory Coast. The 20year-old defender returned home after spending half season with Club AYL in the Maldives premiership.

Kamara previously played for NPA in the Liberian premiership before his exodus from Liberia. Kamara joined NPA from Paynesville Young Controls which was later sold to Jubilee Church. The club is now participating in the Liberian premiership with the name Jubilee FC.

Although the Liberian is yet to cap for any of the national teams of Liberia, Kamara’s presence at the training ground is heartening for Liberia because of his international and local experiences.

Liberia, in their second leg with the shooting star of Sierra Leone last year at SKD, witnessed LISCR FC defensive midfielder Michael Jaesue playing in the central defense with Alpha James of BYC.

The under-23 will be without Liberia’s top inspiring forward Sekou Jabateh as they  play the youthful legs of Ivory Coast. Liberia attacking line may also miss the legs of Patrick Doeplah, and Sam Johnson of Nimba FC.