Top Ten Players who are not where they should be

 

By Wleh Bedell
bedellblessing@yahoo.com
 +2316106293

Since the exit of the legendary George Weah from the football stage where he made in-roads consistently in the highest echelon of World football, many were of the view that there would have being many of his younger compatriots following in his footsteps. The 1995 Ballon D’Or winner has since left the biggest stage of the beautiful game .

The urge to see the younger ones from his native Liberia step in his shoes has so far being illusive as they soon come to the limelight amidst much hype with a host of promise and some eye catching performance must soon dwindle as their career continue to go downhill with complacency, inconsistency and probably the lack of commitment continuously putting them down the pecking order. They were or at least since they are still playing expected to be in some of Europe’s best leagues but are instead plying their trade in the less glamorous leagues to the disappointment of followers of the Liberian game. This has since brought to question the football prophesies that were put forth that they were going to compete in the leagues of Spain, England, Germany, France, Brazil, etc. These players are many but cannot all be named as the top ten are listed in descending order.

10.Isaac Pupo: on a day the crafty left footer can tear any defense apart with his incisive passing which can be of devastating effect to any group of players in the defensive third. From lower league side Caldwell Super Stars to Monrovia Breweries and then LPRC Oilers where he helped them win the Liberian top flight crown in 2005, ‘Zola’ as he is widely known is a player gifted with the knack of beautifully executing set pieces, mainly free kicks and in swinging corners reminiscent of his ‘name sick’ Gianfranco Zola. The cultured left footed orchestrator was scouted in an off season tournament in 2004, at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS), and moved to Azerbaijan via an unsuccessful stay in the Netherlands. At FC Karabaka, ‘Zola’ did not really impress but after returning to the local scene had the chance to get another try in moving to Greece but made no impact and the story was the same during his short unsuccessful stint in Sweden. After playing a host of community games for months, the lanky midfielder has resurfaced with the Oilers as he aims to revive his career. With such fabulous talent followers of the game here expect Pupo to be at a higher level where his conjuring ball skills would have captivated vociferous fans order than the lowly rated local scene which he should have nothing to prove.

9.Fredrick Nyemah: Nicknamed ‘Owen’ mainly for his speed where he breeze pass opponents, the winger was expected to be one of the best players the country would have boasted of in terms of playing in one of the best leagues worldwide. The quiet channel operator made strides at Third Division side Invincible Star from the Borough of New Kru Town, but it was at Invincible Eleven (IE) that he came to prominence in operating in the central midfield. He would later move to the now disbanded St. Anthony and then NPA Anchors where he emerged as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the 2005 elite league. This deadly winger would then thru a help from his close friend Anthony Laffor move to South Africa with some even insinuating even before the player landed in that part of the world that top clubs like Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, etc. would scramble for him. All soon turned a fluke as Frederick who was an unused substitute in the 0-5 home mauling by Zambia’s Chipolopolo in a 2006 joint nations and world cup qualifier even struggled to settle in lower league side FC AK. Recently returning home on holiday in his homeland after failing to make a breakthrough in South Africa where he had being for more than six years, it remains unclear whether he has returned back to the land of World Cup 2010 all is still around.

8. Stephen Mennoh: Kweku nearly played for the Ghanaian national U-20 after being selected to form part of a long provisional squad list in preparation for the World U-20 championship in 2001 in Argentina. But, authorities of the now disbanded Junior Professionals who had gone to see the January 28, 2001 historic match involving Liberia and Ghana in a 2002 World Cup qualifier which the former surprisingly won 3-1 at the Accra Sports stadium, persuaded Mennoh who left Liberia from West Point at a very tender age for the former Gold Coast where he and family members sought refuge as they fled the Liberian civil crisis to return home and join Weahs club.

However, in the process of preparing for the next league season the team was ordered dissolved by the 1995 world footballer of the year and the hardworking midfielder joined LISCR FC. It can be recalled that in 2003, while at home trying to fetch food for his family, the Lone Star technical crew took a risk in sending one of the kit men on the team to get the tank man from Gardnersville to the team’s camp in Sinkor where they were preparing to feature in a group match against Ethiopia in a 2004 African Nations Cup qualifier at the ATS. With the war raging on between the government forces and the LURD Rebels, Mennoh who is likened to the Ghanaian workaholic middle man Michael Essien for his simple style football, aggression and industry, braved the storm to trek in getting pass trigger happy men for the sake of playing for country.

He had being called by the Kadalla Kromah led technical staff because some of the professionals send for had left the country as the shelling was heavy. Mennoh became the team’s savior as he netted in the only goal of the match as Liberians cheered in the midst of sorrow. The harder worker would later move to the Oilers of LPRC and then had the opportunity to showcase his talent in Indonesia where he has being for more than six years with various clubs. A scorer against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun in the Lone Star 1-2 loss in a 2008 African Nations Cup qualifier at the ATS, Mennoh is yet to move to a bigger league despite his immense talent.


7. Bob Zeo: As a Second Division star ‘Squeeze’ was a member of the senior national team of Liberia in the early 2000. His mazy runs and jaw dropping skills through the help of his then ‘God Father’, Sports minister Francois Massaquoi (deceased), was frequent on trips with the senior national team despite playing in the lower division. He also had a stint with Liberia’s darling club Invincible Eleven (IE), but the peak of his career was when he thrilled Ghanaians in becoming the MVP in the Top-Four (an annual competition involving the country’s top four clubs). Zeo was a key member of Kpondi Hearts of Lions in that country and his impressive form in the competition won the hearts of the clubs fans and even fans of their rivals. He was an instant hit and several clubs in the country expressed interest in him. But, Zeo soon went the wrong way as he made an unsuccessful trip to North Africa, and upon his return was reportedly dropped by the club. He then started perambulating the globe, traveling to South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Gabon, Cameroun, Nigeria and is now back in Ghana this time unattached.

6. Johnny Blidi: Not many foreign players can thrive in the Ghanaian league. Besides, a club like Accra Hearts of Oak is no club any player can just burst into, but this pin-sized wide man against all odds moved in and settled at the Phobians quickly. His athletic pace, never say die attitude and good work ethic made him a constant threat down the channel for the former African club champions as his name was dominant in the media there. Johnny mainly came to prominence when he styled for Flacons in the Second Division in his homeland. He later moved to the Rollers in 1996 where he proved his worth. The hard runner benefited from an FA decision to allow clubs to recruit players after a chunk of the players in the top bracket of the country’s game had fled the April 6, 1996, crisis to countries in the sub-region. Thus, Johnny was one of those players from the lower level to be recruited in filling the void left by those players. Also useful as a central midfielder, Jebor also featured for the now disbanded St.Anthony. But, how did the current LPRC Oilers forward manage in losing his place on the Accra based club is what remains one of the unknowns. Such club was expected to be a spring board for the industrious player who was part of the Lone Star in their 1-2 loss to Cameroon in the 2008 AFCON qualifier.

5. John Tarkpoh Sonkailey: A long range specialist as far as his kicking is concerned. Gifted with artillery shots, Tarkpoh is on record for leading a Second Division outfit (Mighty Blue Angels) in winning the Liberian FA Cup/Knockout competition in 2003. His trademark distant shot captivated followers of the local game when he fired home the winner for his side against the Oilers in the semi-final of that competition. It was predicted that Tarkpoh would have gone on to one of the best leagues in Europe as he can be regarded as a gem. But, a stint with Mighty Barrolle and then the Oilers led the international midfielder to Indonesia where he has being for more than six years.

 

4. James Koko Lomell: Lovers of skillful attractive football remain annoyed and somewhat disappointed that Koko is plying his trade in Indonesia. Endowed with mesmerizing skills, precision passes and superb ball artistry, the international midfielder cum striker who some likened to Ronaldinho Gaucho for his prodigious qualities and partying, had stints in South Africa and Israel and seems satisfied with football in the world’s largest Muslim state as there are no signs of quitting such terrain for bigger stage football in a very competitive European league. At lower league side Haja FC, ‘Salam Deala’ was getting basketful of goals season upon season and after leading the club to Second Division qualification via the Third Division play-offs in 2000, the exciting footballer joined Junior Professionals now disbanded. But, he really caught the eyes of Liberian football hopefuls when he netted a brace against the Lone Star in a trial match involving the Gardnersville U-17 and the senior national team led by the legendary George Weah in May 2001, just three days to an AFCON home qualifier against South Africa with many calling on the country’s leading radio talk show by then, DC 101, for him to be included on the squad for the South Africa’s clash. But, the ‘Weah XI’ was not for a one day performer as that did not happen.

Two years later, Agbeshi was scouted and joined South African Second Division outfit Maritzburg. Nations Cup ’96 winning Coach Clive Barker would then describe him as a polishing diamond for his great skills. But, he after a season fell out with the club on grounds that he was a free agent and wanted to move to the top flight. This did not materialize as he soon became unattached. Suffering from nostalgia he and others opted to return home, but wrong travelling documents caused them to be arrested and placed behind bars. After a brief period, he finally returned home and joined the Oil boys, helping them win the championship in 2005.

He returned to South Africa this time with FC AK, but soon defected to Indonesia. Lomell would put up an inspiring performance against Cameroun causing Samuel Eto’o Fils to give him as a present, his jersey and boots after the Cameroonians 2-1 win at the ATS. The career of the skill workshop has being characterized by abject struggle as he soon returned to Liberia from Israel where he was offloaded after spending a season with Hapoel Pitah Tikva. After a season with LISCR he returned to Indonesia where he is currently.

3. Dioh Williams: This lanky assassin was part of the Monrovia FC team that made headways in the Scandinavia in 1997, ’98 and ’99. His intrinsic qualities made him settle in Sweden, first with Floda Boif and then BK Hacken. The cool finisher would then be transferred for a staggering US $1million from his club Hacken to Danish side AGF Arhus with former Denmark gritty midfielder Stig Toften describing him as “the modern day version of Thierry Henry”. But, the lad who started with Taisa on the local scene and to then Second Division club Ducor defenders before moving to Sweden soon began to wither and got a loan deal to Russian side Alania Vladikavkaz. The club was later relegated and Dioh returned to Arhus. He however surprisingly made a return to Hacken which can be described as a downhill state for a player many thought would have used his early meteoric rise from Sweden to Denmark and then Russia to go all the way to other bigger and more respectable leagues in Europe. But, it’s like a restart for the five goals man on international level who is on record for being arguably the only Liberian to date in scoring back to back in a qualifier at home and away as he did against the Teranga Lions of Senegal.

 

2.Dulee Johnson: The son of ex- international striker, coach cum veteran football administrator, Josiah N. Johnson (JNJ), the diminutive playmaker Dulee has had several controversial moments in his career which has caused him to be labeled a “trouble maker”. The player whose style it was since noted is more European than African for his simple passing, and quick movement was a hero of the Monrovia FC U-13, U-14 and U-15 sides that won laurels in the Gothia and Dana Cups in Sweden and Denmark respectively. Diego A started his career in the lower league in the Central Monrovia Sub-Committee with Liverpool and later moved to the legendary George Weah’s Junior Professionals that are no more. His exploits in the youth games in Sweden landed him at one of the country’s lower league clubs Floda Boif after the Swedish press labeled him as “Another Weah”.

 The impressive form of the player who was the youngest member of the Lone Star during the Mali 2002 AFCON finals later moved to BK Hacken and then AIK Solna also in the elite stage of Sweden. All seemed bright for Numero Dix and was then in the plane to Israel where he signed on with top notched side Meccabi Telaviv. But, trouble soon started as another side of the midfielder began to unfold itself with the club parting company with him based on mutual consent. The son of JNJ whose elder brother, Tubman Johnson, an international defender, died in Indonesia in 2007, returned to AIK where he played in the EUROPA. He had a trial with Birmingham in England but his club was not willing to accept what the English club put on the table and the deal could not go through as he went back to AIK. But, rape allegation soon fell on him and had to with the aid of his lawyer spend a lengthy period clearing his name. He was then acquitted, but the club sponsors insisted that the club part company with their Liberian import for bringing the club to disrepute.

This happened and the tiny Dulee was off to the Netherlands where he signed on with Erdevisie strugglers De Graafschap. But, after a laconic period he was offloaded on grounds of drunkenness. And, after a protracted period of inactivity he recently signed with South African Premier Soccer League middle of the table occupiers Amazulu, and what would be the next story of the short crisp passer remains unknown. He is seen as a player at an English Premier League (EPL) level, but in football “attitude is more than ability”, which could be one reason the descent passer is still in the not too fancy leagues manly of Europe.

1.Francis Forkey ‘Grand Pa’ Doe: From the suburbs of the Capital Monrovia to the Budumburam refugee camp in Ghana and now to Malaysia after stints in Egypt, the United States, Greece and Cameroon, ‘Grand pa’ has had his ups and downs in his career with a plethora of controversies as well. Being a player who did not play organized or division football in Liberia, Doe grew up in Ghana experiencing refugee life and soon went to Cameroon where he emulated the Great George Weah in joining Tonerre Klara club ending as the best foreign player in 2003 and leading the club to the grand final of the CAF Cup where they lost to Algerian club JS Kabilye with the bubbling striker netting six goals. Then Cameroon’s German Coach Winfred Schaffer described him as a budding star. ‘Grand Pa’ who is good at taking on defenders via his mesmerizing skills and strong runs was too hot that the likes of Wallsaw and Portsmouth in England as well as Argentinean side Boca Juniors were reportedly keen on him.

After few years however the difficult to handle striker went to Greece at Attromitos, but after a season was offloaded and moved to the United States where he joined Minnesota Thunder and was as well offloaded. His next club was DC United and parted company with them as his next destination was Egypt where he joined African club of the century Al-Ahly. But, after two seasons he had to leave and is now at Malaysian club Terranganu where his boot has since renewed contact with the net and has won a golden boot. The scorer of five goals at the international level, Forkey who is regarded as “Liberian Wayne Rooney” for his temperamental behavior” like one of the others in this article Dioh Williams was recently expelled from the Lone Star on grounds of ‘breaking camp’. He is no doubt a fabulous talent who is not where he should be as far as playing at a highly respected league notably in Europe is concerned.