The Assistant Secretary of the Sports Writers Association of Liberia (SWAL) has differed sharply with veteran football tactician Josiah N. Johnson on his assertion that his so-called “Best Eleven” for the Lone Star of Liberia could pull a win against Cameroon next March in continuation of the Nations Cup Qualifiers.

Mr. Wleh Bedell indicated that the fact that Mr. Johnson still maintains faith in the likes of Joe Nagbe, James Debbah, Prince Daye and Kelvin Sebwe by placing them in a future line-up against Cameroon demonstrates that he is not abreast with the activities of Liberian players around the world. Mr. Bedell has therefore called on the former national coach to rethink his statement.

The LFA 2005 Print Media award winner further stated that while it is true these players made their marks over the years with the Lone Star, it has now become evidently clear that their glorious days had faded away.

He said Debbah’s career has lost momentum after being inactive for the past 36 months, which has surprisingly caused him to surface in Indonesia where he is in the hunt to impress at Premier club Persija. 

As for Joe, he opined that he might had been active for a couple of seasons in Indonesia, his performance has always been overshadowed by the consistent form of his younger countrymen, including  Murphy Nagbe, Steve Mennoh  Tarkpoh Sonkailey and a host of other promising players.

He also noted that the player now lacks the bite and aggression associated with contemporary football while the aging midfielder Kelvin Sebwe has lost his normal influence in the middle of the park, as evidenced by his recent match against the Amavubi of Rwanda played at the ATS, which the Lone Star won in a nervy fashion by 3-2.

Journalist Bedell said Prince might still have age in his favor, but the fact that he is in the lower ranks of Qatari football after exploits in France and Israel, is a pointer that he is not the same player who made in-roads over the years, wondering whether Mr. Johnson has seen a tape on him in recent time before keeping faith in him. 

He also stated that while the veteran tactician may be thriving on experience as his basis, it is advisable that he be cognizant of the fact that experience goes with current form, and not how long one plays, but how well.

He said if one insisted that the JNJ squad is the “best 11”, then one should equally call for the likes of Pewu Bestman, Musu Shannon, Chris Wreh, Thomas Kojo and Mass Saar Jr. as reserves since they’re  equally experienced players despite not being endowed with current form.

He said it would be an affront to Liberian football if one were to virtually ostracize the likes of Chris Gbandi who is outstanding at FC Dallas in the American MLS, Murphy Nagbe of Indonesian side PSMS Medan, Jomo Cosmos Anthony Laffor, Frank Seator, Dioh Williams, Ousman Lamine, James Koko Lomell, Julius Kwateh, Willis Farko as well as other promising youngsters round the world who continue to woo fans.

He questioned Mr. Johnson’s optimism of his “best 11” beating Cameroon. Mr. Bedell said while it is true that the beauty of the game is its unpredictability, and that on a day any one or team could be beaten,.

it would be dangerous to raise early expectation of that the Lone Star could pull a quick win against the deadly Cameroonians who are itching to make amends after their disappointing defeat in the Germany 2006 football jamboree.