More Liberians drift into Indonesia

 
Joseph Amoah back in the Thai League

 

By: Bruce Wiah - Liberiansoccer.com

 

3/ 15/ 2004- In the last few years a good number of Liberian players have been drifting into Asia as a line of fresh attack to an ornamental career.

 

This Asian mass departure after Liberia’s aching crash to the 2002 World Cup is turning into another dream for the apparently careworn Liberian skills.

 

The stats and the reasons might differ from one person to another, but the bottom line is short and logical for anyone to infer - finding a career out of the wounds.

 

Statistically speaking

 

Liberian soccer experts tabulate that 75% of Liberia’s players - old and young are either playing or searching for clubs in Asia, which has become the last alternative for a generation of  European-shy contenders.

 

Apart from a few playing in other Asian Leagues, a large portion resides in Indonesia, while a handful plays in Malaysia and makes the headlines very seldom.

 

Indonesia is now the money-spinning spot for Liberian players, and even boasts former Lone Star skipper Joe Nagbe.

 

Nagbe who has played in France and Greece now guides the likes of Nyeman Collins, Fallah Johnson, Joseph Amoah, Fofee Kamara, Moses Nyewon and other maturing talents.

 

Little Zah into the foray

 

In the last few weeks also, few other players added to the registry leaving the Indonesian League, which comprise typically of aging African and South American players the deluxe place to begin after a shredded start.

 

Murphy Nagbe formerly of Durban Star (South Africa), Zah Krangar who lately featured for Racing Club (Cameroon) and Winston Daniels the former Junior Professional and Mighty Barrolle stopper are the newest exports into Indonesian football.

 

Limited European force

 

The choice for Asia according to experts diminishes the already draught Liberia’s football force in Europe, something that spoke volume as far as missing the 2004 African Nations Cup is concerned.

 

BK Hacken trio and the Greek duo of Oliver Makor and George Gebro, with Cyprian-based Alvin Kieh intersperse are nothing to standup tall to.

 

Former Bastia winger Prince Daye slip into the Spanish lower league adds to the wavering physique of a team that recently captured world’s football admiration.

 

Combination threshold

 

Lone Star relied heavily on foreign combination to achieve in the 2002 qualifiers, and besides, at least 80% of the team then was playing competitive football.

 

Today, the story is different as the experienced players are out of the competitive leagues and more over have aged and faded away while the ones to turn to go for the last resort. Feeding Liberia’s share fortune into the 2006 qualifiers now hangs on a thin fabric.