IE’s Sorrow Turns To Joy: This World!


By Omari Jackson
jackson_omari@hotmail.com


Liberians are people who, despite their agonies, can turn sorrow into joy. If you don’t believe me, ask the president of Invincible Eleven soccer team, Mr. Richard Tolbert, for an overview of the team’s recent 4-1 loss to Wydad Athletic Club of Casablanca.

The game was not a friendly match but he told reporters after the team’s crushing humiliation that his team’s experience was a “loss-Win Situation.”

It was a loss because of the 4-1 drubbing, and at the same time a win due to what he described as an “institutional partnership” with the Moroccans. And what does it involve?
He said it involves invitation for a 25-man delegation to take part in Wydad’s Annual Competition, in Morocco in July.

Even my good friend, the team’s acting vice president for operations Mr. Kekura Kamara ( of the popular Malawala Balawala fame) was not being comical when he said IE received twenty two pairs of boots, jerseys and training kits, as well as CDs with instructional materials, apparently Wydad’s contribution to help the team do better next time.

So despite the disappointing show case of Invincible Eleven, they have turned their sorrow into joy.

But what were the causes of the team’s defeat in Morocco? Among other factors, Mr. Tolbert blamed 1. The weather 2. Slippery field and 3. Home advantage. But then he said the institutional partnership was due to Invincible Eleven’s “professional field of play,” (which caused them 4-1 loss) and the warm hospitality accorded the Moroccans during the first leg in Monrovia, which Invincible Eleven lost 2-0.

During the first leg, did the weather not help Invincible Eleven? What about the Home Advantage? Did the Sunshine Yellow Boys not get the support of throngs of their fans?

Ok. Let me end this with a summary: before a teeming home-crowd, Invincible Eleven could not hold themselves against their opponents. So the Morocco encounter, considering the performance of the team, was a foregone winner for the Moroccans.

Please let’s do this simple examination: Liberia’s Champion Club, LIRS FC lost both home and away to their Ghanaian counterparts to a humbling score of 5-0 and Invincible Eleven suffered 6-1 against Wydad Athletic Club.

What do the results tell you? I don’t know about you, but the results tell me this: Our league is substandard. Did I hear they have Premier and First Division Leagues? I hope the wise will understand.