With just one day before the clash of June 3, 2007 at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS) involving senior national teams of Liberia (Lone Star) and Cameroon (Indomitable Lions) in the qualifiers rounds of the Ghana 2008 nations cup, there has been and continuous to be mix receptions from soccer followers across the country.
Lone Star’s technical staff, headed by Head Coach Frank Jericho Nagbe, invited 12 professional players plying their trade in Europe, Indonesia and South Africa to boost the morale of 13 local-based for the all prestigious encounter this Sunday.
But there is a very stiff resentment from across the country as to the selection of the team. Soccer followers and fans of various players are calling on the technical body of Liberia’s senior national soccer team for the inclusion of players they described as ‘much more matured players’ to include the likes of midfield maestro Kelvin Sebwe, machine man Oliver Makor, wizard dribbler Prince Daye and senior goalie Louis Crayton.
These players were not considered in the program of the qualification of the team by Head Coach Nagbe.
Pundits are arguing that the trio, Sebwe, Makor and Crayton including Prince Daye, would play a major role if Liberia should triumph over Cameroon who are considered as ‘giant’ of African football.
Arguing further, soccer followers are saying the trio were the backbone for Liberia’s 3 – 2 win over Rwanda at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia.
Foreign-based players expected to pull the trigger for Liberia include Sunday Seah, Murphy Nagbe, Ben Teekloh, Steve Mennoh, James Koko Lomell, Zah Krangar, Anthony Laffor, Frank Jean Seator, Francis Grandpa Doe, Chris Gbandi, Ousman Lamin and Dulee Johnson.
Others are Saylee Swin, Jerry Bing, Shelton Barlee, Solomon Wesseh, Varmah Kpoto, George Baysah, Gizzie Dorbor, Johnny Bledee, Frank Nagbe, Jr., Sengbeh Kennedy, Leon Power, Vatalie Sieh and James Zotia.
Meanwhile, the indomitable lions of Cameroon are expected to arrive in the country from their camp in Belgium today.
The lions are coming with full strength including goalkeepers Idriss Kameni and Souleymanou Hamidou; defenders Rigobert Song, Andre Bike Amougou, Benoit Angbwa, Ateba Bilayi, Eric Matoukou, Bill Tchato, Armand Deumi; midfielders Landry Nguemo, Jean Makoun, Stephane Mbia, Geremi Njitap, Guy Feutchine and Modeste Mbami and strikers Samuel Eto’o, Idrissou Mohamadou, Daniel Ngom Kome and Rouldolph Doualla Mbella.
Liberia was paired in group 5 for the qualifiers with Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Rwanda. The indomitable presently sits on top of the table with 9 points followed by Equatorial Guinea with 6 points and Liberia struggling at third place with 3 points from three games and Rwanda at the bottom.
By Wuotema Abraham Suah, Liberian soccer
