The NEWS (Monrovia)
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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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… [Read Full Text]
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… [Read Full Text]
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… [Read Full Text]
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.
http://www.uniformedcupid.com-Date some one who really understand the word"committment" !
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.
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… [Read Full Text]