Monrovia – Ahead of Liberia’s Nations Cup preliminary match with Chad in the African Cup of Nations’ preliminary round, Sylvanus Nimely, has backed himself to win his fight for a place within the national team’s starting line-up.
The Liberian Russian-based attacker since making his debut for Lone Star in 2013 against Angola in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, saw limited playing time under former head coaches James Debbah, Thomas Kojo, respectively. He is also experiencing the same current coach James Pater Butler.
Nimely is presently the ‘best Russian foreign-based player.’
Since Butler sat in the ‘hot seat,’ he has invited Nimely for the last two games in the World Cup qualifiers against Sierra Leone but the player only watched the full 90 minutes of both matches from the bench.
The former Lone Star Under-20 captain and Monrovia Club Breweries player since moving to Russia has been at his best scoring 17 goals in 83 matches.
Nimely, in an interview with FrontPageAfrica, said he knows that his time will come to prove himself.
The 21-year-old acknowledged that he is aware that at the national team, there are good players and it is not a right for him to start every or any game but a privilege and he insists he is ready to fight for his place.
He said, “I know that coming for a national team game is exciting and a difficult challenge for any footballer. I always have in my mind that coming for games with the national team is to compete for a place against the best players of Liberia and I like big challenges.
“I have a big heart, a strong character and I have the courage to carry on competing for my place.” Nimely added.
Former coach Debbah was Nimely’s idol growing up. But under Butler, Nimely has every hope that the current Lone Star team can avenge their absence from the Nations Cup.
He stated, ‘To play at the Nations Cup final would be a dream come true. I would love to be there, that would be something very special. Special for me because I want to play at the big stage in Africa. But special for Liberia as a country, too, because we have not been at the Nations Cup since 2002.”
Nimely, who won the best foreign player in Russia in 2018, is of the conviction that the current national team has all it takes to bring back the glorious days of football to Liberians.
Young Nimely is the brother of former Manchester City and England former under 20 striker Alex Nimely.
“All I want is to see the team winning games and together we can do that. I have spoken with the coach and he assured me that he has plans for me so I will put in my all any time I am called to defend the Red, White and Blue of Liberia.”
Sylvanus Nimely, who is expected to be among the players for the October 9, 2019 clash with Chad in Monrovia, was on the score sheet over the weekend in the Russian second league as he scored eight minutes into the match between Shinnik and Spartak Moscow II at the Stadium Shinnik.
His goal just could not help his side from going down 3-2.
