MONROVIA – James Salinsa Debbah, the legendary former celebrated striker of the Liberian national team, the Lone Star, has launched a scathing critique of internal divisions within the Grand Bassa County sports leadership.
By Christopher C. Walker | [email protected]
His comments follow the county’s stinging 2–0 defeat at the hands of Grand Kru County in the ongoing National County Sports Meet.
In a late-night video message shared via social media, an emotional Debbah described the loss as both “painful” and “avoidable,” asserting that the “Bassonians” are losing hope due to administrative infighting.
“I am disappointed tonight. Very disappointed,” Debbah stated. “And I know it is not just me. A lot of people are disheartened. Losing two goals to zero is not easy to accept.”
Politics vs. Sports
Debbah, a native of Grand Bassa, argued that the county’s struggles on the pitch are not a result of a lack of funding, but rather a product of political interference.
He warned that the politicization of the county team is undermining the spirit of the tournament.
“Our biggest problem in Grand Bassa County is division,” he said. “We politicize everything. Football and politics do not mix. When you mix them, it becomes a disaster.”
The former international star pointed to rifts between opposing political factions within the county, noting that these tensions have trickled down into the team’s administration.
“This is not about money,” Debbah emphasized. “People have contributed. The county leadership has tried, and we have seen encouragement like the recent US$5,000 Christmas bonus for the team. However, we are not united and a house divided against itself will not stand.”
The ‘Nimba Example’
Drawing a sharp contrast, Debbah cited Nimba County as the benchmark for success in the National County Sports Meet, attributing their dominance to a unified front.
“Nimba County puts the county first,” he observed. “They are consolidated. They are winning because they are together. We need to learn from that.”
Technical Deficiencies
While Debbah acknowledged that the Bassa players showed commitment and dominated ball possession during the match, he lambasted the recruitment process.
He specifically highlighted the glaring absence of a clinical finisher in the squad.
“We worked hard, we dominated possession, but we don’t have a striker,” he noted. “You cannot win games without scoring goals.”
With two matches remaining in the group stage, Debbah called for an immediate cessation of hostilities among county leaders. He urged the administration to involve seasoned football technicians to steer the team back on track.
“It should be all hands-on deck,” he said. “If we work together, we can achieve more. It is sad… it really saddens me.”
As Grand Bassa looks toward their next fixture, the pressure is mounting on the county’s sports steering committee to reconcile and salvage their campaign in Liberia’s most prestigious annual sporting event.
