Ansley Cooper Explains French Trip

Liberia’s only representative to the International Association of Athletics Federation tournament held last month in France has been recounting his experiences on the trip. In a conversation with the 100-meter sprinter at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex before the kickoff of the Liberia vs Angola friendly match Wednesday, Cooper said the trip was characterized by lots of discouragement.

He said, “I spent two weeks in Ivory Coast without participating in a full training session, while processing my French visa.”nAnsley narrated that he arrived in France and the next day participated in the youth track and field tournament, adding that “The shocking part of the trip was my experience before I got on the track to run.”

He said the same outfit he used to warm-up under a heavy downpour left on him when he appeared on the track to run. “All the others trackers changed their outfits, but I had to run in the same suit I warmed-up in. It was wet and coal on me during the race, which had a negative impact on my performance”, he added.

The Bong County runner said his participation in this year County Meet is uncertain because he might leave the country for some international tryouts. Cooper also played for Gedi & Sons FC in the Liberian premiership, but the club has been relegated to first division after its poor output from the last season.

Patrick Looks To Youth & Sports

Lone Star’s Under-23 midfielder Patrick Jackson, who also plays for Watanga FC, is waiting on the Ministry of Youth Sports to facilitate his travel to Ghana for advance medical treatment.

According to the midfielder, a recent x-ray conducted on his leg indicated that a broken bone in the right leg has reconnected, but he will have to wait until it gets better and the iron is removed. Jackson broke his right leg while playing for the Lone Star Under-23 against the Ivoirians in Ghana.

He is usually seen during national team matches at the SKD, but the player disclosed that the Liberia Football Association is yet to show concern about his injuries, something he pointed out is disappointing. According Jackson, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has contributed immensely to his recovery.

“Since I came back from Ghana months ago; the Ministry has shown me total concern as compared to the football house which I had anticipated much from during this period”, he lamented.

Rep. Pennue Pledges LD10, 000 for Goalie Sherman

Grand Gedeh County Representative Zoe Pennue has promised Lone Star’s shut stopper Nathaniel Sherman 10,000 Liberian Dollars for his brilliant performance against Angola. Sherman is strange to international football, but his performance in recent matches indicates that he is a promising hand for Liberia, Zoe noted.

Representative Pennue described the young Liberian goalie as brave and very attentive between the poles: “This is the kind of attitude we are looking for in our national team players.”

According to reports yet to be independently confirmed, Sherman has been transferred to Nimba United FC for the coming season. He came to the spotlight during his club league match with Invisible Eleven; his brilliant performance from that match landed him at the national team where he has rose to become the first choice, among other local goal keepers.

Sherman was the man between the poles for Liberia during the West African Football Union tournament held in Nigeria few months ago when Liberia finished 3rd during that tournament.