MONROVIA – Liberia missed out for a place at the Qatar 2022 FIFA World after finishing third in Group C behind Nigeria and Cape Verde.

Liberia earned six point out of a possible 15 with back to back wins against the Central African Republic as the only victories the team recorded throughout the qualifiers.

It might have been a poor run for the Lone Star under Coach Peter James Butler in these qualification process but there are more things than technical that might have affected the team morale.

Yes it’s a fact that Liberia couldn’t see off a CAF banned of the Samuel Kayon Doe Sports Complex that failed to meet the standards prescribed by FIFA and the Confederation. This however saw the Lone Star moving to exile playing their homes game in; Cameroon, Ghana and Morocco respectively. It is not an excuse for losing because you can win from anywhere but the home support counts.

But the real crust is that Liberian players were among the least pay players per Match Appearance fees and game bonuses during the qualifiers. I am however taking case study with our Group winners Nigeria.

Each player at the level of the National Team were earning one thousand United States ($1,000.00 USD ) for appearance fees. Which means when you joined from where ever you come, you get one thousand for agreeing to play for Liberia in that match. This figure is Nine thousand dollars short of the eventual group winners Nigeria who paid an appearance fee of ten thousand United states dollars for its players.

Liberian players were also promised a game bonus of two thousand United States dollars ( $2,000.00 USD) if they win match in the qualifiers. This means the team needed to win a match for players to get at least three thousand United States dollars ( $3,000.00 USD). This amount is three thousand dollars short of the eventual group winners Nigeria who matches bonuses outside of other donations five thousand United States dollars ( $5,000.00 USD ).

With facts being Constant each Liberian players earned Nine thousand United States dollars ( $9,000.00 USD) for the entire qualifying rounds which includes; Appearance fees and bonuses. This means for the entire Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifiers, a Lone Star player could not even earned a one match appearance fee for  a member of the Super Eagles Squad.

Each member of the Nigerian Team that finished first in Group C with 13 Points, seven points ahead of Liberia and four wins against Liberia’s two wins pocketed  at least forty five thousand United States dollars ( $45,000.00 USD).

This speak to the fact that the team was motivated and they had to give the Nigerians the result they needed because they got what was needed “The tool to do the work” was on hand. But for Liberia we were short of that motivation.

A well place source in the team hinted me that even recently added players in the squad were not happy with their earnings playing for the National Team.

A long time player on the squad hinted me and begged not to be mention “ How we will win when we are not satisfy, for us to even get to the match venue is not easy, we get there two to three days, which is not enough to get us adjusted especially when  we have new guys in the team”.  He averred.

“We are giving our all for the Country and need to be encourage and well compensated, with that you can have bigger claims on our head or you can even chopped our heads off if we don’t give the needed need results” He explained.

In an attempt to confirm the figures the players are alleged to be receiving, I called up Deputy Sport Minister G. Andy Quamie via WhatsApp because he’s away from Liberia. The Minister couldn’t give a definite response but directed me to the Liberia Football Association which he said manage affairs of the Lone Star.

My fact finding to the Liberian FA confirmed that the players were receiving the figures mention above.

LFA Deputy Communication Manager Benjamin Garkpa confirmed that “ The players get one thousand United States dollars for appearance which is immediate and I think about two thousand dollars for winning bonuses, which I know was given when the team return to Liberia”.

This speaks exactly to the fact that Liberia problems were even more off the field then on the field. Our players were demotivated and lack encouragement from the government that is supposed to fun the national team.

For Instance a budget of thirty five Thousand United States dollars for the last two matches was slash by five thousand when we were no longer paying for venues to play our last Group matches against Nigeria and Central African Republic.

I can confirmed that the Liberia Football Association and the Morocco FA partnership save the Country over 30 thousand United  dollars for venue rental. The last time Liberia paid Ghana 15 thousand dollars host Cape Verde in Accra outside paying security and others associated with the match.

This is a wakeup call for President George Weah that his dear Lone Star is struggling off the field. What is seen on the field during match days is just a product of the off the field struggles. He needs to wake up and make the Country competitive in the football world.

Monrovia – Cece United Football Academy (Cufa), a mini-grass root football program based in Sinkor kicked-off its “Back-to-School” Initiative, with the distribution of dozens of school materials to over 60 student trainees (targeted group) of the academy on September.

Each kid received a package containing 10 copy books, a pencil and pen.  This initiative aims to assist parents, especially those of underprivileged kids, in sending their members to school.

Most often in our society, parents of underprivileged and talented athletes struggled to feed and clothe their children, thus making school materials not a top priority, despite being fully aware of the importance of education.

Cufa says it is their desire to see these young athletes in school and it strongly believes that their little help will surely impact their lives, because when they go to school with the materials they need on the first day, they will be prepared to learn.

Though academic is not included in its curriculum, Cufa said going to school and good performance at school are top requirements for being part of the academy.

It said their trainees are always encouraged to take their education serious and thru the help of the parents, performance of these trainees at school are always monitored.

“The distribution went well and we were so excited seeing smiles on the faces of these kids and their parents, which signaled to us that our trainees will start the school year prepared to succeed and their parents will do everything in their power to keep them in school.

“This is a great project and I must commend all of our officials, especially our general overseer, Mr. Pawala Janyan and our benevolent friends for their willingness in sponsoring this effort.

“There are too many children in our community, who have never experienced this but we can only try to help for now. This is just the beginning; who knows?” said Coach Moses Konah, who is the technical manager of the academy.

The program, which included soccer matches for the kids, was graced by Information Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe, who took the kick-off and Liberian hip-hop/hipco musician, Christopher Nyanga (aka) Christoph.

About Cufa

Cufa is a mini-grassroots football academy, which was established in August 2012 by some passionate Liberians. It is free to all kids and seeks to educate young and talented Liberians about the beautiful game of football.

Cufa help parents in bringing up their kids with good moral disciplines as well as making high emphasis on dedication to their academic studies, amongst others.

The programs target aged six to 15 years and currently consist of school-going kids in Sinkor and various communities around Monrovia.

This mini-grassroots program seeks to build the capacity of young and talented kids, who will contribute towards the manpower development, growth and the soccer game in our beloved country.

The key concept of this program is to develop players and make high emphasis on their academic studies.

Every year, these kids, being guided, undertake non-football related initiatives such as cleaning-up campaigns, spelling bee, debate, academic challenge, as a way of contributing to the society.

Since its establishment, Cufa is yet to benefit from any permanent external support as funds for logistics and other expenses are normally raised among its officials thru weekly due payments.

Presently, Cufa is in dying needs of financial, technical and logistical assistances as well as classroom and program materials.

Kids in Liberia often play soccer barefooted or in rubber shoes, kicking around plastic bottles or tin cans, just to play a ball.

To help eradicate this, a little bit can go a long way for these kids; every donation makes a big difference!

Visit our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ceceunited.liberia, or www.ceceunited.info (under-maintenance), or call 0776692149/0886436463

Monrovia – The Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) has released the draw for the 2016/2017 national county sports meet with what it calls a new favor.

Group one will feature hosts Grand Cape Mount, Bomi, Gbarpolu and defending champions Grand Bassa Counties, which will be based in Robertsports.

Group two, which will be based in Voinjama, consists of hosts Lofa, Margibi and Bong Counties.

Group three consists of hosts Nimba, Montserrado, Sinoe and River Cess Counties and will be based in Sanniquellie.

And Group four will feature hosts Maryland, Grand Gedeh, River Gee and Grand Kru Counties and will be based in Harper.

According to deputy sports minister Henry B. Yonton, the official ceremony will be held in Robertsports, which is expected to be graced by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai and senior government officials.

Yonton said the tournament will kick-off on December 3 with two teams qualifying from each zone respectively.

Unlike in the past where the quarter-finalists play a one-off match, they will be placed in two groups for a round robin to qualify for the semi-finals.

Yonton said the quarter-finalists will be based in Monrovia and Gbarnga or Buchanan.

He said the rules, which will shortly be circulated to all media institutions, have been sent to the county sports coordinators for their inputs.

The sports meets are organized by the sports ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Monrovia – Liberia needed a bucket of sweat to beat Djibouti 1-0 in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier at the Stade National El-Hadj Hassan Gouled Aptidon in Djibouti City on March 24. South Africa-based Anthony Snothi Laffor scored in the 57th minute to move Liberia leveled with Togo, who play Tunisia in Tunis on March 25, on six points in Group A.

At half time, Liberians, who followed the live commentary on UNMIL Radio from Djibouti, were unpleased with the performance. “We are not anticipating a draw. These guys [Djibouti] are elephant meat. Everybody can be cutting the meat and you go there and can’t get a piece. It means you are very lazy.

“If Lone Star gives us a draw, we will be very disappointed in the entire football team. We don’t need a draw. Another thing is that not every foreign-based player is a professional player. You become professional player based on the league you play in,” said Ben Roberts from 12th Street Sinkor. But back from the break, head coach James Salinsa Debbah, who opted for a four-four-two formation, replaced Patrick ‘Ronaldinho’ Wleh of Selangor FA in Malaysia with Kpah Sherman of Santos FC in South Africa.

And it was a Sherman solo run that won a corner throw, which was taken by Israel-based defender Gizzie Dorbor that led to Laffor’s goal. Liberia last won an Afcon qualifier away when Isaac Tondo scored twice (first and 61st minutes) in a 2-0 win over Mauritius at the Stade Anjalay on June 16, 2001 in a 2002 Afcon qualifier.

And Laffor, who arrived few hours to kick-off due to Mamelodi Sundowns’ Caf Champions League 1-1 draw away to AC Leopards of Congo on March 19, was pleased to have collected three points.

“I feel very good, especially for my travels to get here. Today’s game was very important to the team and the Liberian people. I just want to say thank you to my teammates for the support today. I’ve been away from the team but the coaches gave me an opportunity because of the belief they had in me,” said Laffor, who scored his third international goal in more than 30 caps. As a captain, Laffor endured the wrath of media for his lack of goals, having scored 38 goals in 147 appearances for Jomo Cosmos and Supersport United in South Africa.

After more than 20 appearances with two goals, Laffor swapped the famous #14 jersey worn by the legendary George Weah for the #18 shirt and scored in the 50th minute in a 2-0 win over Uganda in a 2014 World Cup qualifier at the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) sports complex on March 24, 2013. Just as he did three years ago, Laffor dedicated the goal and victory to Liberians.

“I just want to give it to the Liberian people for believing in me and us. I want to say thank you to Musa Hassan Bility and the technical staff. They really did well for us today,” he told UNMIL Radio. On October 13, 2015, William Jebor of SD Ponferradina in Spain helped Liberia to break a 14-year record of having not won a World Cup qualifier away with a hat-trick in a 3-1 victory over Guinea Bissau in a 2018 World Cup qualifier in Bissau.

Jerbo played no part in Thursday’s historic win but should be available for the second leg at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia on March 29. Midfielders Tonia Tisdell of Karsiyaka Karabükspor in Turkey and Melvin George of Hantharwady United FC in Myanmar didn’t make the trip due to unexplained reasons. But Debbah may have been undeterred by their absence given the return of midfielders Theo Weeks of Ermis Aradippou in Cyprus and Dulee Johnson of Molde FK in Norway.

Defender Omega Roberts of FK Donji Srem Pecinci in Serbia, who last played in a 2-2 draw with Nigeria in a 2013 Afcon qualifier on September 8, 2012 at the SKD, didn’t make the 18-man squad released by the technical staff although he was in Djibouti. The odds did point to an away victory with Djibouti given 11.75 and Liberia given 1.07 and Debbah is now looking ahead to the return leg.

“Were you expecting more than one goal? Three points is three points regardless of how many goals you win with. I am happy we took the three points and that’s the most important thing. “Now we know our opponents. We know what kind of system we are going to play with [in Monrovia]. That is what made the game very difficult for us because we didn’t know who we were going up against but we will start preparing from tonight,” Debbah told UNMIL Radio’s Hilary Justine Colnoe in Djibouti City. 

Djibouti have now lost 26 matches (friendlies, World Cup and Afcon qualifiers) played between May 31, 2008 to present at home and away and another defeat is imminent. They drew 1-1 with Sudan at home in a friendly on January 4, 2009 in their only positive result.   

Djibouti lost their group matches in the 2015 Council for East and Central African Football Associations (Cecafa Cup) in Ethiopia, 2-0 to South Sudan on November 23; 3-0 to Malawi on November 25 and 4-0 to Sudan on November 27.  They have never qualified for any major international competition while Liberia participated in the finals of the 1996 and 2002 Africa Cup of Nations.

Liberia: Tommy Song’o, Solomon Grimes, Gizzie Dorbor, Teah Dennis Dirkir Glay, Theo Weeks Lewis, Anthony Laffor (Sekou Konneh 70’), Zah Krangar (Dulee Johnson 65’), Dioh Williams, Sam Johnson and Patrick Wleh (Kpah Sherman 53’).

Unused substitutes: Gallay James, Alvin Maccornel, Trokon Zeon and Alsény Keita. Coach James Debbah

Match officials: Idris Mehammed Osman, center referee; Angesom Ogbamariam, assistant referee #1 and Berhe O’michael, assistant referee #2.

Reporting: Danesius Marteh, danesius.marteh@frontpageafricaonline.com