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The national
team of Liberia the Lone Star is expected to face a baptism of
fire as she goes to the lion's den to face the deadly Teranga
Lions of Senegal in the joint 2006 Nations and World Cup
qualifiers.
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Johnny
Menyongar - Out! |
Under the
tutelage of the lowly-rated tactician Joseph Sayon alias Kofi
Bruce, the Lone Star is expected to feature a predominantly
home-based squad as government maintains there is no money to
bring in foreign based.
And so, 15
players on the local scene along with three foreign based
players are expected to face the weighty task of battling
against the Group-2 leaders, Senegal.
Players named
for the battle include:
Goalkeepers: Lartee Jackson of Invincible Eleven and Melvin
King of Gedi & Shoes.
Defenders:
Varmah Kpoto of Mighty Barrolle, Solomon Wesseh of
LPRC-Oilers, Sackey Doe of Invincible Eleven, Shelton Barlee of
LPRC-Oilers, George Weah of LISCR and Patrick Gwarnu of
LPRC-Oilers.
Midfielders:
James Koko Lomell of LPRC-Oilers, Abu Sando of Mighty
Barrolle, Anthony Lanford of Ashanti GoldFields of Ghana,
Solomon Grimes of Mighty Barrolle, Aloysius Pennie of LISCR and
Isaac Pupo of LPRC-Oilers.
Strikers:
Isaac Tondo of LPRC-Oilers, Francis Doe of USA, Bob Zeo of Heart
of Lion of Ghana and George Miller of Mighty Barrolle.
Surprisingly,
the Nation’s leading goalkeeper Piscal Karblee of Mighty
Barrolle was left out the line up, as the technical crew of the
national team preferred the towering Gedi & Shoes goalkeeper to
the Mighty Barrolle shot stopper.
Goalkeeper
King is the only first division player on the 18-man listing,
though he featured for Shoes F.C. in last season premiership.
The Young
goalkeeper was a member of the National U-13, U-14 and U-15
national team that made head way in the Gothia and Dana Cups in
Sweden and Denmark five years back.
Another
surprise left out was the ruthless midfielder and striker Prince
Garwo of Premiership leaders NPA-Anchors.
And as
expected, the “inactive” Frank Seator did not get a call up for
the huge task in Dakar. The striker who last played for
Malaysian Club Perak is unfit as his pace is poor.
With this
listing, pundits say the Lone Star would certainly come out
second best against the Star studded Senegalese side on Saturday
in Dakar.
With a young
squad, the lone Star has an ardor task, as their opponents have
high profile players mainly based in France and England.
The Teranga
lion is to parade only one local player and he is the reserve
goalkeeper who plays for Senegalese league champion Jeanne _D'arc
The
Senegalese under the helmsman ship of French man Guy Stephane
have a solid all round team and with the inclusion of Star
players Khalibu Fadiga and Hadji Diouf , it would certainly
serve as a spur to the host.
Senegal will
be attempting to win the duel with a heavy score line so as to
maintain top slot, as they currently lead the Group on goal
difference ahead of the Chipolopolo of Zambia.
But, it is
said the beauty of the game is its unpredictability, as one
nerve knows what will happen until the end of the full ninety
minute.
Who knows
what will happen after the full ninety?
The Lone
Star are entering the match as dark horses with virtually
nothing to loose, having swallowed three goals in the
first leg at home, and could pull the trick.
Though the
team’s apparent weakness is lack of exposure, the entire back
force lack pace, and its captain Varmah Kpoto is not fully fit
as he has not engaged in any competitive match since last
September.
The braided
hair defender has a stint in Greece and is a survival of the
George Weah contingent.
The players
in midfield are endowed with awesome skills. But whether they
could match their opponents is what remains to be seen.
The
teenage magician James Koko Lomell who played a season in South
Africa for first division side Meritzbury City where he ended as
the top scorer is expected to team up with the adventurous
Anthony Lanford of GoldFields who have not won first team shirt
for his club for most part of the season.
Also last
season top scorer and most valuable player Abu Sando, who just
returned from a successful trial in Switzerland and the
ex-Cameroonian club Racing F.C. enterprising midfielder
Aloysius Pennie, will all be in the heart of Lone Star
midfielder.
The
traditional goal scorer Isaac Tondo, the unconvincing Francis
Grandpa Doe and terrorizing Bob Zeo are strikers the country
will be counting on to deliver.
Any two of
the three strikers could be selected to start the duel, with no
high profile foreign based players. The young lads have a task
and let’s only hope that the best would come out of Dakar. |
