Can Liberia Overturn 4-0 Deficit?

Liberia’s under-23 football team was thrashed fortnight ago by her Ivoirian counterpart 4-0 in the first leg qualifiers of the London Olympic 2012 in Accra, Ghana which the latter used as home ground due to the then un-prevailing political situation in that country (Cote d’Ivoire).

Now that the 2nd leg match is expected to be played today (Wednesday) at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Monrovia, where the country (Liberia) need to perform a miracle to overturn the 4-0 defeat by scoring 5 goals without any reply is a huge task ahead of its qualifying chances to the next stage of competition in the Africa qualifiers.

To be able to meet DR. Congo after Ivory Coast, Liberia must beat the Ivoirian with 5-0 or more goals but this is a herculeous task as many Liberians see it as an impossible mission.

The country is in three competitions; the qualifying series of the African Cup of Nations finals to be hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in 2012, London Olympics in 2012 and the All African Games to be held in Maputo, Mazambique. Liberia has slam chances on its qualification journey due to lack programmes, planning and execution.

Last Saturday, Liberia Under-23 football team which expected to play their Ivoirian counterpart today was held to a 1-1 draw by the Nigerian Dream Team in the first leg for Maputo.

Perimeter Not For Spectators

Perimeter of football pitches around the world including the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Liberia do not belong to spectators and ordinary officials, but the opposing teams(home and away), their technical staffs, journalists plus assigned few stewards (security officers).

But on the contrary here these rules are not up-held like the last Saturday international match between Liberia and Nigeria which almost turned chaotic when around the perimeter of the playing pitch of the SKD Sports Complex was crowded with government officials, players of various local clubs, unassigned state security personnel as well as ordinary spectators and members of the LFA.

Some government officials who claimed to be lover of the game here always used their portfolio (titles) to invade football fields by standing around the perimeter when games are in progress which itself  serves as intimidation and dictation to match officials.

This was no exception last Saturday when many officials abandoned the VIP (Very Important Person) lunge or seat and  chose to stand around the perimeter of the pitch while the game between the two country(Liberia versus Nigeria) was proceeding.

This unlawful attitude on the part of Liberians needs to come to an end before it gets too late. If not, it could lead to the country being punish by international football governing bodies, be it FIFA, CAF or WAFU, and not the LFA which on many times breached its own rules.

Amputee Federation Gets New Leadership

The Liberia Amputee Football Federation yesterday held its presidential and general election at the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Paynesville, outside Monrovia. The process was attended by qualified voters and members of the federation, Ministry of Youth and Sport and the Liberia Football Association.

The federation election witnessed Cooper Melvin Gotteh emerging as winner after thirteen of the fifteen voters threw their votes in his favor, while the Vice president for Administration position was won by Johnson Kollie, who earned 13 out of the fifteen votes. Dennis F Parker materialized as winner of the Vice President for Operations during the election yesterday.

The newly elected president, Cooper Melvin Gotteh, told attendees at the election hall that he will work with the ministry of your and sports, LFA and other partners to improve the status of the federation.

The installation ceremony will take place in few days; the election process was controlled by officials of the Liberia Football Association, LFA Spokesman-Henry Flomo, Deputy Secretary General Lafayette Gould and Benedict Yeasah.

Alex Jackson Out

A Liberian international has been ruled out of club football for the next three months due to ankle injury which he sustained while playing a friendly with fellow countrymen in Australia. Alex Jackson, 20, plays club football for White City FC in the Australian Football League and he is a holder of a  golden boot.

A medical scan on Jackson’s left foot ankle shows he ruptured his bones. Jackson went to Australia in April 2007 from Ghana on a resettlement program. He started his career with Adelaide Cobras FC where he played for two seasons in the Southern Australian Premier league in 2009 at which time he netted 30 goals for the club in all competitions.

Thereafter, he was provided full contract at the end of the 2009/2010 season by White City FC. The club has played four matches since the start of the season but Jackson is watching from the stands due to ankle problem.