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As the
Nation’s pride and joy the Lone Star prepares for the Herculean
task of engaging the deadly Teranga Lions of Senegal in the
joint 2006 Nations Cup and World Cup qualifiers, it looks
uncertain as to whether many of the foreign based players being
sent for will turn up for the crunch duel in Dakar.
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Liberia's only Lone Star - Faces a lot of problems |
According to
reports, some players might not honor the National Team’s
invitation on grounds that faxes were not sent on time to inform
their respective clubs, while others are demanding that tickets
be sent to their respective bases.
The local
football house claims it has sent faxes on time inviting foreign
based players and informing their clubs about their national
engagement.
Prominent
on the list of the soccer imbroglio are the Swedish based B.K.
Hacken duo of defense ace Jimmy Dixon and technically gifted
striker Dioh Williams who are reportedly in Cyprus on a training
tour with their club as they prepare for the ensuing Swedish
Premiership, the “Allsvenskan” which begins in a fortnight time.
It is not
yet clear as to whether the duo would turn up for the Senegal
battle as it is believed that faxes for their release were not
sent on time, and could serve as an impediment for their
release.
Also, the
highly experience sleek midfielder Kelvin Sebwe and the
workaholic Oliver Markor are said to be requesting for the
tickets to be sent to their bases in Greece to honor such epic
clash.
Indonesia-based defender, the hard working Fallah Johnson of
premier club Persita Tangarang might not be available for the
match due to club engagement.
His club is
said to be having a torrid time in the Liga Bank Mandiri as they
currently have four points from four matches; and to make matter
worse, they were beaten by Persija 2-0, a club that has fellow
Liberians, the stalwart defense lynchpin Murphy Nagbe,
sharpshooter Henry Gobah and the sublimely gifted Zah Krangar in
their fore.
Goalkeeper
Louis Crayton based in Switzerland is also said to be busy with
his club and may not form part of the Lone Star line up.
Players
who much is not known of with respect to honoring the match
include former Invincible Eleven danger man Bob Zeo of Ghanaian
emerging giant Kpondi Hearts of Lion, the diminutive John
Menyongar based in the U.S.A., Jomah Ballah based in Indonesia
and George Gebro based in Greece.
Already in
the country are the Asanti Gold Fields towering midfielder
Anthony Lanford and the player who has volunteered to foot his
own ticket bill Francis Grandpa Doe from the U.S.A.
At the same
time the clubless striker Frank Seator has been invited to
strengthen the national Team in her preparation for the mammoth
task against Senegal.
Player
Seator who has been in the country more than a month, was
dropped by his Malaysian Club Perak for a below par performance.
Though the player claims he is nursing injury, he was seen
training with the team yesterday at the Antoinette Tubman
Stadium (ATS). His physical condition looks poor, his pace
unsatisfactory and his goal scoring instinct still unconvincing.
With less
than five days to the match, the coming of Frank Seator involves
a lot of talking point, and if he is selected by Coach Kofi
Bruce, it would be a highly questionable decision since of
course the club less Striker ostracized himself from the team’s
training while in the country.
The Lone
Star is expected to feature a predominantly home based squad
against their more illustrious Senegalese opponent.
Soccer
pundits say Lone Star stands no chance against the 2002 world
Cup quarter finalists.
Under the
captaincy of defender Varmah Kpoto who has not been engaged in
any competitive match due to an injury he sustained in last
September against rival Club Invincible Eleven while featuring
for Mighty Barrolle in a league match, the Lone Star has a tough
task. And, whether Kpoto who is a bit match rusty will be up to
the task against the rampaging Senegalese side is something
which remains to be seen.
His probable
defense partner Shelton Barlee is injured. After colliding with
an opponent in the Lone Star 2-1 triumph of I.E in a friendly on
Sunday. Though the nature of the injury is not known, and can
only be declared fit or unfit by the doctor. But, if he is unfit
for the trip, the LISCR defense Marshall George Weah look as
favorite to win his shirt.
Other rising
stars expected to form part of the Lone Star line up include the
little magician James Koko Lomell, formerly of South African
first division side Maritzburg City, last season’s top scorer
Abu Sando who just returned from Switzerland after a successful
trial, the net buster Isaac Tondo, leading goalkeeper Pascal
Karblee and Young Solomon Grimes.
The Lone
Star certainly has a mountain to climb. And, only the heavens
know what will be the fate of the team after the match in Dakar
on Saturday.
The National
Soccer Team, the Lone Star, is second from bottom in her group
with four points out of five matches played so far.
Meanwhile
the government says it’s unable to sent for foreign based
players for the country remaining matches in the joint Nations
Cup and World Cup qualifiers competitions.
According to
the government it is facing with financial constrains and as
such the services of foreign players were impossible added that
its remaining matches will be played by the home based players.
The
government further said that this will help to expose the home
based players. Earlier the Government agrees to sent for 10
foreign based players for Lone Star pended match with the
Teranga Loins of Senegal. |
