The senior soccer Team of Liberia, the Lone Star is embarking on a Journey to Ghana for the African Nations Cup Finals. The Last time the Lone Star made a move on the nation’s cup show came an avalanche of embarrassing games.

Head Coach Kadallah Kromah brainchild ACT 22 was a failure.

His idea to discard the former players of the Lone star and build a whole new team caused Liberian soccer to fall to the lowest level since the Samuel Doe Regime.

We all saw the Togo team playing in the World Cup. The talent level between the Togolese players and our players is not that wide.

We played Togo to a 0-0 draw at SKD only to see them in the world cup.

For the Lone Star to get to Ghana for the Nations cup in 2008, we have a daunting task. In our zone we have perennial soccer power Cameroon, up and coming Rwanda and Equatorial Guinea.

We will need to tap into our foreign-based talent to help us regain our status in African Soccer.

It has been proven that it is next to impossible for any country to win intercontinental football in Africa with only local Players.

The Best hope for Liberia is if we field the team listed below. It is a team that will give us a chance to win. This team is made up of players playing in good leagues and in form.

Louis  Crayton



Fallah/ Gebro       Jimmy Dixon       Murphy Nagbe         Chris Gbandi

 

Oliver Makor           Kelvin Sebwe         Dulee Johnson     Daye/ Teekloh

 

   Francis Doe         Dioh Williams
 

Crayton is playing top flight in the Swiss League and is an experience goalie. He proved his worth in the nation’s cup in Mali. He was a key to our performance in the African Football Gala. He is the most experienced Liberian Goal Keeper around.

Fallah Johnson currently plies his trade with Persita Tangaran is an experience defender. His knowledge and skill is still needed.

George Gebro is playing in Cyprus and is a Defensive midfielder. He is another experience and forceful defender. His ball skill is needed to help keep possession. Both of them are seasoned defenders that will shore up or defense.

Jimmy Dixon made his lone Star debut in the African Cup of Nations in Mali. Right now he is listed as the best central defender in Sweden. His Arial Prowers and experience will Marshall the middle of the defensive line.

Murphy Nagbe is also a Proven Defender he currently plies his trade with Persikabpas in Indonesia

Chris Gbandi is playing better now since his knee is fully healed. He is one of the best attacking left fullbacks around. This Defender can fly and support the attack. His 1st game in Liberia at SKD proved that he is a world-class defender. His passing skills and speed is needed at this level

Midfield Key

Oliver Makor and Kelvin Sebwe are the real glue to our attack and defense. The experience of this pair would be needed to slow the teams like Cameroon attack and support the strikers.

Dulee Johnson is a great playmaker, he is holding down the starting spot for AIK in the 2nd Place in the Swedish Top Flight.

For some reason Kadallah Kromah refused to use him. The kid is experienced more then before and getting ready for big time.

Prince Daye is also a baller playing last season in Israel; he has deft touches and control.

Ben Teekloh reminds me of Patrick Vieria - Played last season in Moldova Eastern Europe, Presently on trial at Hapoel, Tel Aviv.  He is a hard worker and keen to support the defense as a proven ball winner.

Our Young Guns

Francis Doe is ready to step on the big stage. The kid that was touted as the next George Weah is playing top flight in Greece and has taken his team to the UFEA cup. In a must win game to get to the cup he scored both goals in a 2-1 win.

Dioh Williams is a young striker that is holding the starting striker position for his club in the Swedish top flight. Kadallah misplayed this duo when he played Dioh as an attacking midfielder. These two strike partners will case havoc for opposing defenses.

Players on the Bench

Shelton Barlee , defender that has gained a lot of experience and is proving his worth in the LFA league.

Anthony Laffor is also a key. He is an attacking midfielder that can provide punch off the bench. He is playing in South Africa and is in terrific form; presently he is the reigning Coca Cola Cup MVP.

Willis Farko is young and has never capped for Liberia. He played against Barcelona for Real Salt Lake and held his own against on of the best forward lines in the world. He is still young and is playing well in the MLS. We need to cap him soon or he might play for the US. This kid is a skillful defender and is primed to move up the soccer ladder.

This team has both experience and youth. This is the way that national teams are made up. It is not prudent to start with a brand new team. We are talking about winning this zone and doing it without our full compliment of players.

Reports reaching our desk state that the budget is for only 5 Professionals. This is a recipe for another colossal embarrassment. Looking at our Group Rwanda is already playing practice matches and heading to Germany for training.

Equatorial Guinea is going to be our 1st test. We have not played any practice matches nor are we getting in contact with our foreign legion. We will need to get the max points from our home game against Equatorial Guinea, and the most goals possible.

The perennial champion of Africa Cameroon will come to play Liberia with her full compliment of players. We cannot expect to play local players and not get the same embarrassing score of 6-0 we received from Senegal.

The national team is not the responsibility of the LFA. It is the Ministry of Youth and Sports and especially the Deputy Min. of Sports Mr. Marbue Richards. He is an experience Sports Administrator and a former soccer tactician. His Leadership and creativity will come into play.

I listened to an interview on Star Radio where Minister Richards stated that our players were not playing in good leagues; therefore it would be a waste of money to call them for national team duty.

If the international coordinator Mr. Steve Davis was doing his homework, the Minister should have been better informed about Professional talents.  The team I listed above is comprised of players playing in good leagues.

The world cup had players playing in the same leagues our internationals are playing in. I understand the budget constraints that have Minister Richards’ hands tied. I also understand the logistical issues of travel to Monrovia.

For the 1st time we have a budget for the Lone Star. We can use the budget as the baseline and provide further financing using sponsorship and gate receipts from the home games.