Six Pros, 12 Local-Based Selected
- As Lone Star Departs for Addis Tomorrow
March 25, 2003
Siebo D. Williams
Monrovia
With just six days to the crucial match involving
the Lone Star of Liberia and her Ethiopian counterparts, reports
received by our Sports Desk have it that the Liberia Football
Association (LFA) and the Government will only be in the position to
shoulder the expenses of six foreign-based players, while 12 local
based have been selected to complete the 18-man squad required by CAF
to play the Ethiopia match.
The decision to reduce the original 11 foreign-based
players to six is purely financial. There are reports that the LFA and
Government can only afford to handle the expenses of six foreign-based
players, meaning reimbursing their air tickets and giving them their
game perdiem.
When LFA Chief Scribe Yanqueh S. Borsay was contacted
yesterday he confirmed the report. Also Lone Star technical manager,
Kadalah Kromah confirmed the reports as well and even said he was
asked by the LFA to submit his list of players that are making the
trip. He told our Sports Desk that he was scheduled to have submitted
the list to the LFA yesterday.
Meanwhile, late reports that reached our Sports Desk
had it that coach Kromah did submit his list of 18 players for the
trip. Foreign-based selected are goalie Louis Crayton
(Switzerland), George Gebro (Greece), Jimmy Dixon (Sweden), Alvin
Power Kieh (Cyprus), Prince Daye (Tunisia) and Bill Neewray
(Switzerland).
Janjay Innis (who
previously played in Switzerland) is selected to beef up the Lone
Star. Innis is presently in the country from Switzerland attending to
family matters. He was asked by Lone Star Assistant coach Joseph Seyon,
alias "Kofi Bruce" to join the team in training.
The report said Innis did justified his
inclusion on the Lone Star well, and has been selected for the
Ethiopia match. What is not known is whether he will be given his air
ticket just as the other foreign-based players.
The likes of Oliver Makor and Fallah
Johnson did not respond to the invitations extended them by coach
Kromah, so he left them out, while Edward Zico Dixon and
Dulee Johnson were apparently left out due to game plan that will
be used in Addis. As far as Kelvin Sebwe and James Debbah
are concerned, they had previously rejected their inclusion on grounds
that the former was justifying on a new team in the UAE and the latter
preferred giving preference to younger and talented players.
The report also said 12 local-based players are
selected for the Ethiopia trip. Prominent on the list are Varmah
Kpoto (formerly of Greece), Larmin Ousmane (formerly of in Sweden),
Shelton Barlee (LPRC Oilers), Henry Gobah (LISCR FC), Isaac Tondo (St.
Anthony FC) and goalie Boye Pratt (LPRC Oilers). The rest were not
disclosed to our reporter. But there are speculations that the likes
of Oscar Glaydor, Takpo Sonkarliey, Frederick Vah, Francis "Razak"
Carr and goalie Lartee Jackson are included. We hope to
confirm the list today.
Also expected to make the trip are the five
technical staff members that will include the Head Coach,
Administrative Manger, the Deputy Coach, Doctor/Medic and Masseur.
Others will come from the LFA, the Sports Ministry and the Media.
The Lone Star was said to have been withdrawn by the
Sports Ministry, but that decision was overturned by President Charles
Taylor.
The team takes on Ethiopia in Addis Ababa on March 30,
2003 in continuation of the 2004 African Nations' Cup qualifiers.
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