Editorial: High Expectations for a Victorious Beginning

The Liberia National Soccer Team, the Lone Star will this afternoon lock horns with the Brave warriors of Namibia at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia. Like others on the continent, today’s encounter is the first for the two team in the qualifying series of the 2013 Orange African Cup of Nations. Ahead of the game, expectations for a victorious beginning for the Lone Star among thousands of home fans continue to remain high.

With the expressed commitment and desire of the players to meet these expectations not only with a single or two, Liberian fans and supporters have openly re-committed themselves to cheering the team. To keep this hope alive and kicking, Liberians expect players to be very effective and consistent with their strikes on target (goal) and avoid the many and un-necessary dribbling. Efficient and selfless collaboration for the desired early goals will equally restore confidence for a winning spirit for the next match.

During the 90-minutes of play, we do expect the Lone Star to play as if the final match of the Cup of Nations was being ongoing; meaning that consistency in attacks must be upheld not only to pressurize, but to completely demoralize the visitors. It is also anticipated that our defenders and midfielders to ensure proper and timely coordination and communication among themselves so as to avoid the sluggishness which usually characterized the defense department when pressures are mounted by the opponents.

While we do appreciate the fact that Coach Thomas Kojo and his technical team have already released the names of the team’s starting eleven, it is now incumbent on the starting players to justify the confidence reposed in them by meeting our expectations for a convincing victory   when the last whistle is blown today.

It must be made known to the players that their encounter with the Namibian is not a contest to show-case their “dribbling skills” before us today, but to ensure good ball coordination throughout the 90-minutes for victory. Now that they are in to go on with their expressed desire and commitment for victory come this afternoon at the ATS, on, on must they go with God’s Blessings.

“Victory…… Lone Star give us victory”