Liberia vs. Nigeria Apri 16

Liberia’s Under-23 football team will honor the first leg of the all African Games qualifiers this Saturday at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville against their Nigerian opponents. Liberia was recently thrashed four –zero by La Cote d’Ivoire in Ghana during the London 2012 Olympic qualifiers.

The Liberian side will be led by Italian coach, Roberto Landi and Thomas Kojo as assistant. The Lone Star Junior team is expected to line-up local base players for the match. The players’ listing of the Nigerian Dream Team for the Monrovia game is drawn from oversea players.

Though  Liberia is almost out of two major competitions- the African Cup of Nations and London 2012 Olympic, it is going into the 3rd qualifier for another competition. After being subjected to  a 4-0 disgrace nearly two weeks ago, the local team continues to training at the ATS for tomorrow’s match, some adjustments expected for improvement.

BYC axis back Alpha James was seen working as a left-back defender, while LISCR defensive midfielder Michael Jaesue was shifted to right back sidelining Bill Paytoe of Oilers and Trokon of IE. Mighty Barrolle’s  goalkeeper Sam Cooper returned to the team after being dropped from Liberia’s game with Cote d’Ivoire to fill the gap of injured Black Star’s goal keeper Galley James.

Nimba FC’s striker Sam Johnson is also rejoining the striking unit with Path Sherman of BYC and other attackers for the game. LPRC Oilers’ Center back Teah Dennis and BYC center-half Graynt are  expected to partnership in the Under-23 center defense. Lone Star youth forward Patrick Wleh rejoined the Under-23 after netting one goal for Lone Star against Cape Verde.

Nat’l County Meet Still December

The schedule for the National County Sports Meet will not be changed this year, as is being speculated. Recent reports have had it that the Ministry of Youth and Sports had decided to schedule the annual event from June to July this year. Assistant Youth and Sports Minister Marvee Gray told the New Dawn on Monday (April 11, 2011) that he date remains the same because it had an extraordinary spirit during the holiday season.

According to Minister Gray, the Ministries of Youth and Sports and Internal Affairs, as well as superintendents of the 15 counties, have positioned the counties into four groupings for the 2011/2012 edition of the tournament.  He said the preliminaries of the football and kickball matches will be played at four venues for a  week, reducing the time frame and costs previously allotted.

Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, Gbarpulo and Monsterrado Counties constituting group 1, will be hosted in Tubmanburg in Bomi, while Grand Gedeh, Maryland, River Gee and Grand Kru Counties  in group-2, will play their qualification matches in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County.

In group 3, Grand Bassa, Rivercess, Sinoe and Margibi Counties will play in Lower Buchanan, Grand Bassa, while Gbarnga in Central Liberia will serve as the venue for the games involving Lofa, Nimba and Bong Counties  in group 4.

Koko Still Determined

A Former LISCR midfielder, James Koko Lomell, has returned to Liberian from Bahrain where he is reported to have signed a five-month deal to end next month (May-2011). Koko netted four goals in the Premiership for LISCR before his loan departure from Liberia.

The 25-year old midfielder, suffered a club owning folder from South Africa’s 1st division club Aziz Kara, who claimed Koko was their product and warned PSM Medan FC, an Indonesian Club to avoid the Liberian.

Since then, the Liberian international has struggled to regain international deal, although he surfaced in Indonesia for a short while. Koko returned to Liberia after a tryout in Sweden. Koko, a regular leg in Lone Star matches, was seeing training with the national team ahead of the All Africa game against Nigeria this Sunday in Monrovia.

Taurus, Wilfred Debut Match Sunday

The Swedish 2nd Division national league is expected to feature two Liberians this Sunday. Taurus Manneh and Wilfred Green, contracted by Carlstad United, will honor their official league game on Sunday. Carlstad United FC is scheduled to play its first league match away to Assyrian BK.

Both Liberians were signed weeks ago on a forward deal from Monrovia FC, according to last club details provided for fans on the club website.