President Sirleaf Must Take the Lead


By Wleh Bedell
bedellblessing@yahoo.com
 +2316106293

THE SENIOR NATIONAL team of Liberia the Lone Star faces an uphill two-leg clash with old foes Nigeria Super Eagles in the third and final round of the AFCON 2013 qualifier. From all indication the Nigerians are the favorites to sail to the African flag ship competition at the expense of their Liberian counterparts judging from their pedigree, organization and other factors.

A WIN FOR the Lone Star at the expense of the two times African champions in the two- leg contest which takes place on the weekend of September 7-9 and the weekend of October 12-14 at home and away respectively will be considered a major upset for the former Green Eagles who are desperate to make amends after their disappointment of missing out of the last edition co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

FACING NIGERIA IS by no means an easy task as even the neutrals will concord that going against a passionate football country like Nigeria entails a lot if one is to succeed against them. Thus, the need to put in everything humanly possible to oust them must be stressed.

JUDGING FROM THE enormity of the task and the benefits that will come to the fore if the Lone Star is to progress to its third nations cup, there is a serious need for the chief patron of sports, Her Excellency, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to take the lead in the mobilization aspect that would serve as a catalyst in propelling the red, white and blue outfit, the nations pride and joy, the best bastion for peace and reconciliation to make a lasting impression against its West African counterparts and perhaps get the ticket to South Africa, as in football, anything is possible.

THERE IS QUITE a serious need for the Lone Star to engage in full scale preparation for the Herculean task which entails a whole lot, ranging from mobilization, fund raising, technical preparation and other salient issues.

FIRSTLY, THE ISSUE of funding is very paramount as such would improve things a lot in getting the team to face the Nigerians. People from every sphere of the society need to rally behind the team. From the cabinet ministers or every member in Government, the religious community, the business community, shoe shine boys etc. need to get involved in supporting the Lone Star which makes the need for the president to take the lead of much relevance.

OUR PRESIDENT MUST emulate the Late President Samuel Kanyon Doe who took the lead in lifting the Lone Star via massive support. And, why one would not in any way be suggesting that there is no need to give a cabinet minister or any high key official in Government the lead post in rallying for the team as head of mobilization committee, a President Sirleaf led Lone Star mobilization committee will surely get the entire country involved as everyone would passionately rally behind the nation’s pride and joy for the Nigeria 180 minute battle.

THROUGH FUNDING, THE relevant football authorities can design the programs for the matches as there would be international friendly matches, players’ game bonuses being increased and much organization coming to the limelight as the country’s football ambassadors will be whole heartedly motivated in engaging their opponents.

WHY THE LONE STAR might not be amongst the strongest or best teams on the continent by evidence of their lackluster form since the end of the George Weah led generation, it must however be noted that the best teams or the side with the best players are not always the champions or the ones that get the victory. It is through adequate preparation though and also sheer determination, focus and an element of luck that normally takes a team to places or make it achieve optimum result.

AND, WHY NIGERIA might be the favorite; the fact that the game remains unpredictable indicates that an upset is not impossible. The president must therefore take the lead in making the rest of the country more interested in the Lone Star dream of cruising to the AFCON 2013 finals.

PRESIDENT SIRELEAF’s LEAD role will make the rest of the country follow as she will get the religious community, the Bodios, Zoes, chiefs, students and even other foreign partners in the country deeply involved in supporting the Lone Star which would be a very good omen and a recipe for success.

LET IT BE CLEARLY stated however that such massive support or mobilization program with the president at the apogee as far as making the Lone Star make strides would at all cost make the team winsome or qualify, it is possible that the team might still not qualify with the Nigerians booking the ticket. We must however be positive and if even the team fail to qualify, the fact that the right thing was done in terms of a massive mobilization program with the president taking the lead will to a large extent serve as a consolation as the entire country will be appeased that the right thing was done, but probably it was just not the Lone Star’s term as a lot will begin to be put in place in working towards the future.