HIGHLIGHTS FROM SWAL'S STARS VACATION TOURNAMENT

           The Sports Writers Association of Liberia (SWAL) came forth with a major innovation as it organized a fancy competition named the SWAL'S Stars Vacation Tournament.

The tournament which is expected to be an annual event as a means of encouraging Liberian players to come back home for the holiday period in December, was sponsored by the Vantaa Sports Management and Pioneer Sporting Group (PSG).

The Sponsors provided an attractive shield, and with the matches being watched by a full house, the local lads gave their more illustrious foreign based compatriots a run for their money as a gruelling 270 minutes of flair cum technically gifted Liberian football was on display. Sports Consultant WLEH BEDELL who certainly played a key role in the organization of the tournament sails through the highlights.

Foreign Based Deserve Commendation- The competition was quite a mirthful one as the foreign based squad led by Romanian Second Division side Farul Constanta all-rounder Ben Teekloh showed case their talents with their local counterparts. By honoring such tournament is an indication that the oversea based stars are keen to encourage connoisseurs to keep faith in the country's football despite the various national teams lacklustre form as well as the poor state of the country's football. In fact, they were not compelled to partake in such a tourmnament since they were on holiday after what can be described as hectic seasons in various leagues they ply their trade, but for the sake of entertaining football hungry fans who have being deprived of top level football at home, the foreign based stars honored such an engagement.

Doe and Martins Clicked- During the competition, the African based connection of Francis Forkay Doe and Ben  MCarthy Martins of Egyptian giants Al-Ahly and Zambian league runers-up Zesco United clicked very well. Both players operating as strike partners played off each other when the need arose. Ben was more a gangling forward who was bulldozing, while Francis came deep with his subtle moves and neat touches and was greatly involved in his side build up.

Ben's tiggerish runs paid off when he brushed aside out of form defender Halie Lahai to rattle the net for the opener which Saylee Swen had no respond to.

Francis instead scored a cheeky goal, but with a somewhat amazing technique. The bubbling hit-man made a run from the left channel, received a flick and then bend the ball in the far corner. With both strikers gettiing a goal each in the contest, many were keen to see them in the other two matches. But, Doe was left alone in the second match as Martins did not play due to pain on the wrist, while The Zesco United attacking ace operated as the yeoman in the last match as Doe did not feature due to a hamstring.

In-form Theo- Turkish side Ankaragucu midfielder Theo Weeks convinced the vociferous crowd that he is in- form and on top of his game. Playing just 45 minutes in the first match, the former Watanga FC player who was a revelation during the last Nations and World Cup qualifiers for the senior national team, commanded the middle of the park as he ignited the second half which led to his side getting the cushion to make the score line 2-0. His pace was exhilirating, workethic awesome and passes precise.  His performance showed to many that he is unsung in his career at the moment.

Leader Teekloh- All-rounder Ben Teekloh proved that he is a leader as he organized things and brought to the fore parity, thus making the foreign based side admirable. His humility, committment, motivation and enthusiasm kept the tournament alive as he managed to convince his playmates on the essence of the tournament. He instilled discipline and harmony into the team and his leadership abilities were unique. He controlled from central defense and at times the holding role. He was always inspiring the rest of the team and was not just a captain noted for just wearing the arm band.

Rennie's Work Ethic Improves- Sublime dribbler Amadaiya Rennie was surprisingly not involved with his usual tricks where he hangs on to the ball to conjure opponents. During his days on the local scene with LISCR, LPRC Oilers and Mighty Barrolle, the lanky wide man was fond of keeping the ball at his feet and dribbling a lot to make in-roads. But, to the amazement of many, upon his return from Sweden where he won laurels with Premiership side Elfsborg U-20 side, the youngster worked a lot in retaining possession for his side and making just few touches when his side was in possession. His work ethic has certainly improved and he is nowadays not the flashy type of footballer who would make pointless touches in the name of showing skills.

Free Kick Redeems Zola- Former LPRC Oilers and Monrovia Breweries sleek playmaker Isaac 'Zola' Pupo redeemed his image as one of the country's top players after he netted in a beautifully executed free kick. The silky player who until the free kick on the final day had a torrid tournament, bend his boot round the ball with his favorite left foot  in executing his trade mark free kick.

That piece of magic won him the man of the match on the final day. In the first two matches, his passes were awkward, pace uninspiring, work ethic poor as his recovery runs left a lot to be desired.

Unhappy Tournament for Lomell- Midfielder cum striker James Koko Lomell had an unhappy stint in the tournament. During the first match where he operated at the tip of the diamond and at times on the left side, the inventive player had to be substituted minutes in the second half after a rugged challenge by NPA- Anchors top scorer Yamie Yancy who was part of the locals back four only for the first match. Due to a swollen ankle, the player who recently parted company with Israeli Liga Leutum underdogs Hapoel Pita Tikva did not even put up a virtuoso performance up to his exit and did not feature in the second match due to a swollen ankle.

But, he managed to join the rest of the squad for the final match, but was red carded with the match just under ten minutes. The decision from the referee was arguarbly emotional and judging from the nature of the contest, a charity one, the red card incident is still a major talking point.

A foul was called against Murphy Nagbe for a crunch tackle on the eventual goal scorer Foday.

The referee took the yellow card from his pocket and called the culprit, Murphy to be punished. The player was like four meters away from him and Lomell began to hold onto Murphy claiming that the referee could go ahead to dish out the card and that the player was not compel to get closer to him since he had already taken off the card from his pocket.

Murphy managed to make his way to the referee who indeed awarded the yellow. Lomell too was yellow carded, though he was few meters away apparently due to obstructing the referee's work. Upon Murphy's return to the range of Lomell, the latter insisted to the former that he was not compelled to get very close to the referee before being yellow carded. With the two players discussing amongst themselves, the referee took strides closer and issued the red in a rather harsh fashion.

 Impressive Ope - It sound too prone to believe that Ope Myers is no longer involved in active football. The former LPRC Oilers and Liberian international defender who resides in Ghana was a joy to watch as his scampering runs down the flanks proved a handful for the locals. His positive attribute helped his side a lot.

Fans Impressed with Sekou's Touches- CSKA Moscow Liberian born Nigerian teenager Sekou Jabateh Oilseh woo the crowd with midas touches in the last match. He was not fuly fit though due to a minor knock on the ankle, and the 55 minutes he styled for was a beauty. The lad did not not make a lot of touches. Just few touches, great movement, prodigious pace and the eye for the whereabout of his playmates made the evening memorable. he mesmerized an opponent on the right channel, but his cross was however disappointing as he like almost all the foreign based players complained on the ball not being good. He showed his frustration just once in the melee, and was when he had made a jink  to the far post where he was lurking to pounce on to a cross, but the cross from Ope Myers was discouraging as it went in the path of those doing some roasting under the stadium.

The fans were however impressed with the 19 year old mazy, maurauding, buccaneering runs and simple one touch football.

Murphy Getting There- The LISCR rearguard was one of few players on the local scene called to augment the foreign based side. Since breaking his leg in June, 2008 in the Lone Star  3-1 loss to Senegal's Teranga Lions in the joint 2010 Nations and World Cup qualifiers, the player is back and from the three days tournament, it shows that he is gradually getting to his usual best. Playing for more than 210 minutes, the burly center back is not there yet, but is getting there. His ferocius tackles and strong character is begining to emerge. 

The Bizzare of the Tournament- What can be termed the most discouraging or laughable moment of the tournament was when South African based glove man Wolo Weah did the unexpected by allowing a feeble shot to sail between his fingers and then between his legs. It was in match day one when substitute midfielder Quinjay Continenta took a weak right footed shot that embarrased the former South African club FC AK goaltender as the locals got the life line. Such charitable goalkeeping caused the foreign based to ask for a local goalkeepr to help them, and true, LISCR goalie was brought in to assist them . The goalie featured in the second half for the foreignbased on match day two and played the entire match on day three as the foreign based emerged as champions.

Andonis Deserve the MVP Crown- The Most Valuable Player was surprisingly defender Andonis Ketter. The diminutive player featured in every minute of the three matches as  a right wing back, though he plays in the centarl role for his club Gedi & Sons in the local top flight.

With stars Like Francis Doe, Ben Teekloh, James Lomell, Ben Martins, Isaac Pupo, Amardiya Rennie ect, the hair-braided youngster won the hearts of many with his good work rate, cleverly measured crosses, neat tackles and geat team attitude.

He showed clamness, consistency and character and was as well a discipline lad on the park. He proved a difficult opponent to get by too, and he is indeed a feature great.

Tactical Mistake- Connoisseurs believe that the foreign based won the competition due to what they termed "tactical mistake" on the part of the technical crew of the locals. In their 4-3-3 formation, the locals played attractive football on the day. They entered the match on the final day with their noses in front as they had won 2-1 the previous encounter, thanks to a spot kick from Invincible Eleven IE live wire Joseph Hina and a screaming winner from Mighty Barrolle final third operator Sam Andrews. They therefore needed only a draw on match day three.

With the match at 1-1 midway in the second half, the locals looked like being poised of lifting the giant shield provided by the sponsors. Then, the unexpected or unwanted came to the fore as the technical staff took off holding midfielder Adolphus Blamo and lithe marking midfielder Quinjay Continenta for two wingers cum center forwards in 'little Shaun Wright and the left footed P.J.. This caused the team to lack its tightness and the likes of Pupo, Rennie and Tokpah who were virtually uninspiring in terms of going forward, came to light as the foreign based got two quick goals to get the last laugh.

 The Locals are Promising- Though they lost to their rather more illustrious opponents, the locals played  hugely attractive football and are indeed promising. Midfield enforcer Wifred Greenfield amidst all odds was the man of the match  on day one, while Quenjay Continenta was man of the match on day two. Another factor why they did not win the cup was due to the absence of save pair of hands Saylee Swen. The goalie who apparently suffered from fatigue on the final day, a day after new year day, had to give way to the relatively inexperience third division play off champions goalie of Aries. He looked bewildered between the sticks.