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This is a writing that I seldom do. But for
this one loss, I would not have known what
it takes to do just that. My first encounter
with Amanda was back in 1997 when I wrote
the sports page of the national newspaper.
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Amando - Finally Departs |
Back then she played for the Aries
basketball team, one of the enviable female
basketball clubs to ever emerge on the
Liberian sporting landscape. I was at court
side when Amanda's Aries played Invincible
Eleven in a league match.
I just do not remember the date of this
particular match, but it was a breath-taking
encounter. Amanda was the green eye chapped.
Her touches on the ball were nerve-rocking.
Too often then I'd only wanted to see Aries
go against IE, which featured stars like
Barbara Geeko, Annette Yaskie, et al. It was
after one of these showcases that I sought
an interview with Amada, which she
graciously granted.
She
proved to be a great interviewee. It is now
eight years since this memorable encounter,
but just as the clock was striking eight
years, the saddest thing ever in human
history struck the passing of Amanda. Oh,
how saddening.
I became speechless on hearing about the
death of Amanda. My initial reaction was a
scream; I think the loudest I have ever
made. “When did this happen? What killed
her?” I asked. And then I became speechless,
speechless for nearly an hour.
My friends aboard the vehicle I was riding
found it difficult to believe that I could
divorce myself from fun-making and provoking
hot debates. Nothing did they say could get
me into their company as we rode to work on
the morning of Tuesday, June 28, 2005.
I have found it very hard to accept the
passing of Amanda, despite my biblical
conviction that all living souls will come
to pass. Even at the stroke of this pen I am
still grieving. Amanda is just one of the
many patriots that Liberia dearly needs in
this period of national renewal to depart
for heights unknown. Oh, how saddening.
Like the others before her, nothing was too
big or difficult for Amanda once it was
Liberia's. When the Liberia Basketball
Federation succeeded in returning Liberia to
international female basketball, Amanda was
there to provide the desire leadership.
Amada placed a huge premium on this
international event, which however turned
out to be a home and away affair between
Liberia and Niger.
In
spite of our elimination before the home
crowds at the Sports Commission, there is no
denying about the type of stewardship Amanda
provided the many upcoming female talents at
center court. In fact, before the match
Amada spent several weeks on personal
training. Early morning jogging was a
regular feature of her day's activity.
She
had no need to have done so. She was the
longest serving and most mature player on
call for this national duty, and by
precedence the captain. Yet she felt that
this call to battle for Liberia deserved the
best. The best she gave of herself in the
wake of neglect for national sporting
engagements. Oh, how saddening.
Game one on April 8 turned out to be a bad
day for the Lone Star. And like in other
parts of the world, the fans booed and
jeered at the red, white and blue girls.
This demoralized and angered some of the
players.
But not Amanda! It let out another golden
hallmark of her career discipline. Amanda
played a concentrated game all through; she
was quick to summon her team for pep talks
from the line up of Lone Star coaches during
the intervals.
She accepted gullibly every instruction from
the panel of coaches headed by Solomon
George. Game two on April 9 was better for
the Lone Star but the visitors could not
allow us a juice to celebrate. So they
fought with tooth and nail to draw the
curtains on game two. This was the last time
I saw Amanda more importantly in action for
a national cause. Oh, how saddening.
By, Tuesday, July 12, 2005, the remnants of
Amanda will be placed into the earth. For
her, the mission is over. The rest here is
ours. It is difficult to say GOOD BYE to
this nationalist, least to allow this pearl
into the soil. But this is a task that we
must face.
And
we must face it asking ourselves: Who can
step into the shoes of Amanda? What can we
do to memorialize Amanda? Oh, how saddening.
Till we meet again Amanda, good bye. |
