Monrovia – President George Weah All Stars (WAS) shared some of their old notes in a 5-1 victory over Liberia’s senior female team in a practice match at the ABC compound on the Robertsfield highway on Saturday.
Captain Weah scored twice, a goal in each half, as he provided some of his old tricks and pep-talks to the senior team on and off the field.
Weah showed being a president is one thing and a footballing icon another task as he not only mesmerized the occasion but told the players to “mark him” in a squad featuring old-time Alpha teammate Lenn Eugene Nagbe, who is the minister of information, cultural affairs and tourism.
Liberia Football Association (LFA) executive committee member Quiwu Pepci Yeke put WAS in the lead and Weah made it 2-0 with a bit of magic and skills by converting a set-piece from 20 yards.
Abraham Sulue made it 3-0 going to the break as head coach Robert Lartey and technical staff sent waves of instructions from the touchline.
Angeline Kieh, who was placed behind the attacking trio of Agatha Nimene, Kanties Sayee and Pauline Agbotsu, was a delight to watch by Weah as he gave endless tactical instructions to his teammates.
And Kieh was rewarded for her brilliant display when referee Lamin Kamara gave a penalty after Beftoh Jetoh tripped her in the danger area.
Kieh dusted herself to convert the penalty but it only added to the resolve of WAS, who had promised to win by at least 10 goals.
Daniel Landford made it 4-0 and Weah converted a penalty, a thunderous shot, before tapping the back of goalkeeper Komassah Sumo for her command in goal.
Lartey and his staff rang the changes, featuring goalkeepers Sumo, Massah Konneh and Lorpu Forkpa in a Sven-Goran Eriksson’s style of substitution.
After the match, Weah thanked the team for honoring his invitation and said he looks forward to more engagements in order to keep the team mentally and physically prepared.
“You see, I didn’t bring George Gebro, Sunday Seah, Oliver Makor and Joe Nagbe. I rested those who played for Liberia in the 2002 Nations Cup finals. We won 17-1 the last time we played a senior female team.
“Where is the girl, who was shouting, ‘don’t allow him to kick’?
She got the command as a goalkeeper. So you people are very lucky but let’s keep the engagement. I wish you the best of luck in Sierra Leone,” said Weah, who presented US$2,000 to the team.
It was the senior team’s third practice match following a 20-1 victory over lower league side Shaitta FC on Friday and a 7-2 defeat to Monrovia Football Academy on Thursday.
The team leaves for the maiden edition of the West African Football Union (Wafu Zone A) Nations Cup finals in Sierra Leone on Sunday.
LFA President Mustapha Raji, executive committee member Pawala Janyan, technical director Henry Browne and women’s football director Francis Tamba watched the match.
Sports Minister Zeogar Wilson and Deputy Minister Andy Quamie also attended the match along with Presidential Affairs Minister Nathaniel McGill, Deputy Information Ministers Boakai Fofana and Eugene Fahngon and National Port Authority managing director Bill Twehway.