Liberian Shines In US Football League

The preoccupations of Liberian international sport stars may not only be soccer and basketball. New Dawn Sports has just discovered one more Liberian, this time, in the game of American football.

Ashton Youboty, a Liberian-turned American was born in Monrovia on July 7, 1984. He plays cornerback for the Buffalo Bills in the national football league in America.

Youboty was drafted by the Bills in the third round of the 2006 NFL league after playing college football at the Ohio State University. His family settled in Philadelphia where he attended the Girard College, a college prep boarding school for single parent kids and low income families.

Unfortunately, Girard didn’t have a team due to lack of insurance. However, they later relocated to Tex when he was in middle school.  Ashton also  lived in Houston, Texas, near the Klein community where he played cornerback and punt returner at Klein High School.

In Ohio, he played cornerback for the Buckeyes football team from 2004 to 2005 and was selected as an All-Big Ten player, as well as passed up his senior year of eligibility to enter the 2006 NFL Draft.

The Liberian-American was drafted in the third round 70th overall of the 2006 National Football league drafted by the Buffalo Bills.  Since then, the Liberian has played with the Bills for four seasons from 2006 to 2011.

He was at his best in the National Football League in the 2007 season for the Bills when he managed to appear in ten games and was credited with 23 tackles (22 solo), a sack and an interception. Unfortunately for the player, his mother died in august leaving him with one sister and two brothers.

Ashton Youboty told the cable sports network ESPN in 2006 that “good athletes come from all over. I’m sure there are a lot of world-class athletes in Liberia right now-people whose skills would allow them to play in the NFL if they just got the right break. I was lucky. How many other African kids do you think there are who could do the same thing if they learned the game? The truth is, a lot, I’m sure.”

2 Liberians Left In ‘Cold’

Two of Liberia’s internationals are finding things difficult to earned regular 11 slots in their respective clubs. Liberia passing and ball carrier, Isaac Pupo was  down-played by Greek’s top flight Panionios FC for the current season and additional three until 2014. Pupo, commonly known as Zola across Liberia, demonstrated in the WAFU tournament in Nigeria where he was scouted for the audition in Greece.

The Liberian overwhelmed officials of the club during his tryout, but is yet to gain a regular station in the team’s starting 11 or the club possible three substitutes during game.

Speaking to the New Dawn Sport yesterday from Greece, Pupo said there were many talented players like him at the club and that it was not easy, but he would make a break soon.

Panionios is positing 13th on the league table with 24 points from 22 games. The other Liberian, George Baysah of Israel league one club Hapoel Kfar Saba, is finding possessions uneasy for first team slot.

Baysah has managed to play nine games for the club since the start of the 2010/2011 season. The central back managed only a cap since Lone Star’s head coach Bertanla Bicskei took charged of the national team, playing in the Country’s 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe last year in Monrovia.

Gizzie Dorbor Hits Target

Lone star’s left-back Gizzie Dorbor was on target for Hapoel Herzliya during their 2-2 quarrel with Beitar Shimshon Tel Aviv Sunday in Israel. It was the Liberian 19th cap for the club and first goal of the season. Dorbor is the only international left-back Liberia has right now. The club is currently positioned 7th on the league one table with thirty three points from 22 matches.

Gizzie joined the club from another league one side Maccabi Irony Jat Bat at the start of the season for an undisclosed fee. His term at Maccabi Irony Jat Bat saw him show-casing in 80% of the team’s league matches, leading to Hapoel Irony Herzliya signing him last year.

Dorbor moved to Israel after a great occasion at local premiership side, LISCR FC in 2008. The Liberian started his occupation with Karn United in the lower league in Liberia before he was contracted by LISCR FC in 2005.  Dorbor spent one season at LISCR FC after which he switched to Mighty Barrolle in 2007 for a season.  In 2007/2008 Dorbor rejoined his former club LISCR FC for the season.

Dioh Williams Returns

Liberia’s international striker Dioh Williams has rejoined his Swedish club, BK Hacken for the coming season. The Liberian completed a season on loan with Russian side Alania Vladikavkaz for the 2009/2010 season. He was loaned to the Russians by Danish top side AFG in 2009. Dioh signed three seasons with the Danish side from 2009/2011. It is  yet unknown  if the Swedish side bought the player or landed him on a loan deal.

Dioh Williams moved to Sweden in 2002 after reaching the entail age to sign a professional contract.  His first club signed for was Floda BOLF in 2002 for one season that ended in 2003. Dioh scored seven goals for the club in his 21 matches he was afforded to play for the club.

In 2003, Williams sheltered a transferr deal to Hacken FC, where he played four seasons. During his term at the club, Williams netted 44 goals for the club in 120 games. In 2007, the Liberian striker moved to AFG in Denmark where he grossed 67 games for the club scoring 13 goals that season. As Liberia continues to recruit forwards for the national team, many are hoping for Dioh Williams to rejoin the national team after his detonation was detached last year.