The NEWS (Monrovia)

Liberia: Two Lone Star Strikers Dropped

5 June 2008


Monrovia — Francis Grandpa Doe and Dioh Williams, two key strikers of the Liberian national football team, Lone Star have been dropped for failing to make the trip to Algeria on Monday.

Following the 1-1 draw between Liberia and The Gambia in a 2010 World qualifier on Sunday, June 1, 2008 in Monrovia, the Lone Star immediately departed Liberia for the next match with Algeria without the two young strikers on Monday morning.

While it was being anticipated that the two players would rejoin their colleagues, it was made known on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 by the Secretary-General of the Liberia Football Association (LFA), Mr. George Williams that the Lone Star head coach Antoine Tony Hey has told the LFA to have the duo dropped.

According to Mr. Williams, the decision by the Lone Star head coach stemmed from the fact that tickets were already bought for the two players for the trip only for them to not be available during departure time.

Mr. Williams added more woes for the players by saying that he has been told by the coach for the two young strikers to return to their respective clubs. Grandpa Doe plays in the United States Major League Soccer (MLS) for DC United, while Dioh Williams plies his trade in Denmark for Aarhus.

The LFA Secretary-General stated that the two have appealed for pardon, claiming that their car had broken down at the time of the trip. But their pleas seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

Dulee Johnson of Swedish side AIK Solna is also missing form the trip, but Mr. Williams blamed it on an 'understanding' the midfielder had with the Lone Star coach. He (Williams) did not explain further.

Kelvin Sebwe is quoted by the LFA official to have apologized after being left out of the team against The Gambia for indiscipline.

Yet, Mr. Williams declared that Sebwe, based in Greece, is now part of the Lone Star squad after apologizing and has assumed his duties as leader of the team but not as captain. This could mean that Murphy Nagbe will continue as captain against the Desert Foxes of Algeria this weekend.

Sebwe fell in trouble with the Lone Star technical staff when a female visited him at the Lone Star camp on the eve of the match.

Although Sebwe met the female visitor outside of the team's camp, goalkeeper trainer Kasimu Sillah asked the veteran player to return to his room. But, the move later prompted exchange of words between the two, thus leading to Sebwe's exclusion from the team.

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Author: quamellen
Fri Jun 6 10:46:12 2008

Well, if the Liberians renaissance must achieve it goals in post war liberia, every Liberian must follow what it says,even at the football level.Our players need to change their minds and their attitudes as well.Football has its own culture the world over with Liberia not an exception.Our players need to be discipline to the culture of football.I personally miss Grandpa Doe on the team.But I think discipline must prevail at the team level.This has been one of our problems in Liberia and even on the field of play.Most of our players are not discipline and they want to succeed through football.Finally,with the presence of a foriegn coach on the national team,I strongly believe that there will be rules and conducts governing the ethics of football in Liberia.Bravo Mr.Hey for that prompt action against indiscipline players like Grandpa Doe.

Author: chea
Fri Jun 6 15:16:28 2008

I take my hats off to coach Hey for trying to bring discipline to the Liberian Lone Star Soccer squad. Regarding the two expelled players, the timing of their expulsion is a serious miscalculation. They could have being warned or suspended for the 1st offense, then expelled for any inexcusable 2nd offense, but this seems to be a zero tolerance or one strike and you are out rule.

Sooner or later such ruling could backfire on coach Hey if the team begin to loose or draw possible winnable matches in the absence of these players. Who are the players that the coach have to replace these strikers when lonestar with a home advantage could not even beat Gambia?

In this worldcup qualifying match, time is every thing. May the coach reconsider his decision.

Author: jkwah1
Sun Jun 8 09:18:11 2008

A coach for the senior national team has to use skills to set an example for other players. The point has been made. What is needed in this case is for the LFA to review the appeals and use their positions to establish regulations that addresses these issues. This is an opportunity to set new standards for our national teams, not only soccer, but in other sports as well. The review committee should rule in favor or the players because of the following reasons:

1. There were not established law that allows a coach of the national team to suspend two key players from the team without first verfying their reasons for being late. These are players that left their teams to travel and work for their countries on the patch.

2. A senior national coach sould be skilled in the area of how to achieve a balance between desciplane and the objective of his position as head coach. The coach focus should not be on so rigid discipline for reasons that are beyond his comprehension. Rather, he sould be focused on winning the critical match ahead. A skilled coach files a formal complaint to the review committee after the team returns from the game. No memtioned should have been made about such a simple issue that could have been resolved in a 30 minutes meeting between the LFA, the coach and the players, resulting in a written warning to the players and the establishment of regulations to promptly conclude such matters.

3. The moral of the national team is deminished when you, the national coach, remove two of the cylenders from the main engine and suspends the engineer who oils the ballers to keep rolling. It is not that there are not others who are just as qualiy as the part of the engine that is been removed. guaranteed parts are not as goooooooood as the factory manufactured; or is it? If you have to expel senior players from the national team for such a simple matter, than do it the right way. And just in case, let me just elaborate on the the right way. Before the national team travel for any internaitonal or national competation, the rules should be very clear in writing to all player and their agents or lawyers. Provisions should be made for appeals without a rush to judgment. Proper accommedations should be made for the players in reference to reliable transportation and communication. Players should be paid competatively comsurate to their skill level, just as other countries are doing. Not a huge sum of money to the coach and nothing to the players... but just travel and play for the love of your country. Compensate the players so that they are more focus to perform for their national team.

Author: wadolphu
Sun Jun 8 20:01:34 2008

It's sad that there are Liberians who can not come to term with reality. The coach may all these players to sign a document commiting them to the Lone star, so the coach has the right to take the stand he took. I know that we as Liberians are not use to being discipline or punish for doing wrong, this why we are where we are as a nation. The coach should continue to discipline them because the players in question, are professional players who should know better and not do things to the national team what they will not do to the teams they play for. To those who say the coach is wrong, should ask themself how these player missed their flight if the team was on camp as we all know. Until we as Liberians can come to term with reality, we'll continue to go backward.

Author: hoggardt3
Sat Jun 14 05:33:00 2008

I just signed up.Thanks for taking my comments on issues concerning my country.First this is about the national team,I personally stand by the coach for his action on those two players.And we need to drop all the old players,and let the coach go out and find fresh young players and train them.There n need to be no more free soccer in Liberia.This sport is a job all by itself.This is from high school games to first division.Every team need to have a built field or then no team.

Author: chloesmith1023
Mon Jun 23 07:06:23 2008

http://www.uniformedcupid.com-Date some one who really understand the word"committment" !

Author: raymondc1612
Mon Jun 9 01:38:28 2008

Thanks for allowing me. The first step in any good result is commiment,respect,discipline,in Liberia from the LFA ministry of sports and the players they do not care. It is all about me me me.We need to stop and put Liberia first like every other country then things will inprove and Liberia will be that football like the passed.


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