Weah’s Tactical Instruction

    George Weah Leaving the VIP area at half time heading to the Locker room

Wleh Bedell

It was proven on Wednesday, February 29, when the legendary George Weah lifted the Lone Star through tactical instruction at half time when the score line was still blank to enable the Lone Star open its 203 African Nations Cup qualifier account with a pinching 1-0 victory of the Brave Warriors of Namibia at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS).

At a packed ATS and the score line at 0-0, the stadium went in rapture when Weah who many did not know was there walked from the VIP stand towards the locker room to join his ex-international junior colleagues in providing tactical guidance to the players of the senior national team who were I a must win situation.

Dressed in a black coat, red t-shirt underneath, white jeans trouser, a blue easy wear and a white cap, the former Lone Star Technical Director along with other former internationals went into the room to give tactical instruction. The former world footballer of the year and one of Edison Arantes Dos Nascimento, alias King Pele top 100 footballers, stressed on attacking play the likes of Sekou Jabateh Oliseh, Patrick ‘Ronaldinho’ Wleh, Dioh Williams and Anthony Snorti Laffor given specific instructions.

On his way back to the VIP stand, the legend was engaged by journalist with a barrage of questions. Taking calculating steps on the periphery of the pitch the ex-AC Milan responding to one of the questions noted “Well I hope we win, this is a game we need to win we must win. We must get the goals”. Also, while the second half was still raging Weah drafted a note and ordered it to be send down to caretaker Coach Thomas Kojo which was indeed based on another tactical maneuvering to oust the visitors.
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The 60 caps 22 goals ex-international was quite emphatic and judging from the fact that the game was a home game, his emphasis was on attacking football as the football brainy man knew the visitors were cautious, sitting back and waiting for the opportunity on the break, thus engaging in the possession game. It was said he also told Kojo to make the team keep the ball after they had scored.

Since hanging his boots during his testimonial on June 11, 2005 at the Stade Veledrome in Marseille France, where a host of top notched footballers, coaches and administrators were present, Weah has focused on politics and despite his unsuccessful try to be president in the 2002 general elections and his second try to be Vice President in 2011 also did not materialize during the elections, the former Ballon D’or winner who mixed his footballing with charity during his heydays is still deeply entrenched into politics in his Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) party.

But, while the former Makossa man is keen on political power via the democratic means there have been constant calls for him to still get involved in the handling of the Lone Star as the team continues in its downhill state.

A couple of months, the ex- AS Monaco linchpin told the BBC he was still willing to work with the national team and that he has not abandoned the game of football. Weah who has promoted more Liberian players than any other person has being conspicuously absent from football activities in the country especially the national team and the need to encourage him to get back I providing guidance and mentorship is continuously stressed all over the country and even various parts of the world.

It is quite an irony that the country that produced the continent’s greatest footballer is a minnow. “We need Weah to run this whole football of our country. “He is a genius there. He has the charisma, the inspiration and so forth. “We want him to promote our players to clubs round the world. He can do it, and we urge him to think on our game t be developed”, a group of stakeholders said after the victory over Namibia.