The Lone Star of
Liberia was in the roll call as well. And as expected, the crest
fallen Liberian National Side was hammered by their more
illustrious Senegalese opponent 6-1 in a virtually one sided
contest in Dakar.
Under the
tutelage of the lowly rated tactician Joseph Sayon alias Kofi
Bruce, the Lone Star with a predominantly home based squad left
for Dakar a day to the match for the huge task of engaging the
star studded Lion Taranga of Senegal.
But, few hours to
the duel it was reported that things went haywire on the Lone Star
camp as professional players who were invited by the FA threatened
to seize the team’s Jersey in demand of the reimbursement of their
flight tickets that were not made available by sporting
authorities.
Earlier, the
National team with only the head coach Kofi Bruce and no deputy
requested for ten foreign based players to augment his struggling
team against the deadly Senegalese side;.
But the National
Government, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, made it
emphatically clear that there was no money to foot the expenses of
foreign players traveling for the weighty task against the Group-2
leaders.
However, the
likes of Kelvin Sebwe, George Gebro and Oliver Markor, all based
in Greece, and the pin-sized John Menyongar, based in the United
States of America, claimed they were not informed about the
pronouncement made by the Ministry.
But, thanks to
the Liberian community in Senegal who played a pivotal role in
making the players to abort such an eyebrow raising decision.
For the match
itself, the Lone Star despite parading six foreign based players
looked disjointed as the Senegalese made light weather of them.
They looked
ordinary in their 4-4-2 formation as the back-four of Sackey Doe,
George Gebro, Shelton Barlee and varmah Kpoto looked suspicious.
The midfield
quarter of Patrick Gwarun, Anthony Langford, John Menyongar and
Kelvin Sebwe were overran and the front of two dreadlock players,
Bob Zeo and Oliver Markor looked sterile.
With the latter
playing a little deep behind the former, a position which involves
a lot of talking point as Markor was misplaced, he certainly
featured in an unusual position.
Therefore, he did
not contribute much. He is a very resourceful midfielder who could
have tightened the engine room and allowed Kelvin Sebwe to play a
little deep behind the unconvincing Bob Zeo who was surprisingly
preferred to Isaac Tondo the eventual goal scorer.
After erratic
goalkeeping from goalkeeper Lartee Jackson, the Bolton Wanderers
mazy runner Khalilou Fadiga opened the floodgate through a
beautifully orchestrated free kick.
Couple of minutes
later, Bolton Wanderers pugnacious midfielder cum striker El-Hadji
Diouf increased the tally from a spot kick after the gangling
Mamadou Niang was impeded by LPRC Oilers defender Shelton Barlee
thus ending the first 2-0 in the host favor.
Match
details:
Liberia Walloped By Senegal
Again
Substitute Isaac
Tondo coming in for the gold field reserve player Anthony Langford
scored the Lone Star consolation after he dislodged three
Senegalese defenders.
Coach Kofi Bruce
introduces the morocco based striker Sekou Keita into the frey,
but his presence had no bearing.
Therefore, the
Lone Star sank without trace in the lions den. Surprisingly, the
teenage craftman James Koko Lomell and the sublimely gifted Abu
Sando was left out by Kofi Bruce.
In all fairness,
the Lone Star build-up to the crunch fixture was unsatisfactory.
As the old
syndrome of “no money” continued, the team played low profile test
matches and the tactical training under achieved manager Kofi
Bruce did not conform to contemporary football.
The Coach too
looked indecisive as his decision or tactical know-how of the game
was highly questionable. John Menyongar made no impact in the
match. But surprisingly he played the full ninety minutes.
There was low
qualified supply of passes upfront. And, why Oliver Markor
operated as a striker and not a midfielder is still a question yet
to be answered. And so, with the lackadaisical manner in which the
game is being run in the country, the defeat of Lone Star was no
surprise.