Photo: allAfrica.com

George Weah.

George Manneh Oppong Weah, the political leader of the Congress For Democratic Change (CDC), greatly succeeded being a world class footballer and a successful UN (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassador for years, but his bid to clinch to state power on the political field has failed twice.

As footballer, Weah won the prestigious World Best, African and European Best footballer awards, besides putting Liberia on the map and helping the country to take it to the African Cup of Nations in 1996. As UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, among others, Weah was very instrumental in the disarmament of tens of thousands of Liberian youth and children, many of whom were drugged to take arms against their country and destroyed it during the 14-year Liberian civil war--1989-2003.

The world's soccer legend and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador however resigned from both portfolios in 2005 to seek the presidency of Liberia after he had been robbed of ascending to the leadership of the Liberia Football Association--where many still argue he would have done better at the time.

A high school dropout, Weah was defeated as presidential candidate at the polls in 2005 by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of the ruling Unity Party with his defeat greatly attributed to limited education and leadership skills.

Meanwhile before the last presidential elections in 2011, the CDC icon had completed both high school and college education, but seconded himself as Vice Presidential Standard-bearer to Harvard-trained lawyer and former UN ambassador Winston Tubman.

Many of his supporters were angry with the decision, but a good number of them said that would take him closer to the main position--the presidency--in preparing him to later take over.

Again, unfortunately, the party was defeated by the UP. Tubman resigned afterwards, and Weah remains the political leader of the CDC, which many believe is destined to win the country's next presidential election in about years, but not in the absence of putting its house in order and defeating detractive internal wrangling.

When Weah graduated from DeVry University in Florida with a degree in Business Management in 2011, he noted that it was never late to go to school. He said he has always wanted to get a college degree, but never had the chance to do so because of his professional football career.

He told VOA then: "We all often strive to have college degrees. Some did, some never had the opportunity and some waited until the appropriate time was afforded. So, in my case, it is something I have always strived for, but I never had the opportunity because of my [football] career. And so, what I did, I did online courses. But, after my career, I decided to go back to class because it is the right thing to do, and I am very glad, and I made my parents and even my critics proud," he said.

Weah said his degree should serve as a lesson for the young and old that it is never too late to learn.

"I just want them to know that [you are] never too old to learn and everyone should keep their hopes alive. I know lots of kids that want to be educated, they want to have college degrees, but they don't have that opportunity, but I think they need to keep believing in themselves that one day it will happen," Weah said.

Weah says leadership is not about how many college degrees one has, but rather the extent to which political leaders can understand and fulfill the needs of their citizens.

"There are lots people that went into leadership and they don't even have a college degree, but because people believe in them, they show good leadership skills. So, it's left with the Liberian people [to determine] whether, because I have a college degree, I can be leader of that country. But, I know that I am a good leader, and I am waiting for the opportunity to one day lead that country," Weah said.

Weah then vowed that he would shortly start the journey for his graduate degree, and for years to the next Presidential election (2017), he has disclosed that he will earn his Master's Degree next month in the United States, where he completed high school and did his undergraduate studies.

Weah broke the news when he urged graduates of the 11th cycle training of a career initiative established in his honor, known as the Ambassador George Weah Global Institute of Vocational Education (GIVE), to seek more educational advancement.

The CDC Chief further cautioned the graduates to exhibited professionalism in actualizing and maximizing their potentials in the discharge of their career disciplines in contributing to the building of the Liberian society.

The Liberia Peace Ambassador admonished the over 90 graduates not to be complacent with what they have achieved but should move to another level with focus and determination, before announcing his pending graduation.

Pundits believe that this will give Weah and excellent educational background, the lack of which he was defeated in the past two elections.

"From all indications, you can see that Georgie is preparing to replace President Sirleaf after this term, and if they CDC behave well, he will definitely win," pointed Emmanuel Debleh of Bardnersville Estate.

Weah has already been petitioned to run for the pending mid-tern (2014) senatorial election for Montserrado, the CDC's strongest hold. Though he has yet to officially accept or reject the petition, many observers are of the conviction that that's what Weah should have done first before thinking of the presidency years back.

"It is certainly obvious that no candidate can stop Weah should he decide to contest the midterm election," commented recently a political pundit. "He will unequivocally flog any opponent who will dare stand in his way."

Meanwhile, the country's most popular politician earlier this year flipped a new page of history, after accepting to become the country's peace ambassador after Nobel winner Leymah Gbowee gave up the task in October.

Observers said it is no hesitation that the former world soccer idol and Liberia's soccer king accepted a very hefty challenge, a responsibility many of his kinds--politicians--will not want to undertake as they prepare for another political battle in just few years.

The news of Weah's appointment to lead the country's reconciliatory drive was broken by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf recently when she held talks with opposition political leaders on the country's visioning exercise at the Executive Mansion. "... President Sirleaf informed the political leaders that with the National Conference Committee launching the Reconciliation Roadmap, Ambassador George Weah has consented to work with the government as "Peace Ambassador," and will assist with the reconciliation efforts," a statement read.

Weah, the statement noted, will put together his own Plan of Action as to how he will proceed. The President said that, over several months, the National Steering Committee, with technical assistance from the United Nations system and others, has put together the Reconciliation Roadmap with much more specifics as to how it will be achieved.

Weah officially accepted the challenge, reminding Liberians and himself that it would not be an easy journey. "I greatly accept the appointment as Ambassador for Peace for the country that I love so much," he stated at the close of the Vision 2030 Conference in the central Liberian capital of Gbarnga, Bong County last year.

Weah realized that he will not succeed unless with the cooperation of "all Liberians" and the "full support" of the government.

While others describe his acceptance of the task as an entrapment by President Sirleaf to hold back the CDC strong man's quest for the presidency, others have argued that it is an excellent opportunity for Weah to build his leadership skills and experience towards the mantle of state power.

"I tell you the truth, Weah is gradually preparing himself for state power after Ellen," analyzed Nyantoson Weah (no relation) at the Carey Street hatai center. In 2005 he was a high school dropout and Ellen defeated him; in 2011 he was a college graduate but went as Vice to Winston Tubman so he could learn from the lawyer, now, ahead of 2017 he is talking about Master's Degree. He means real business and this time he will not be defeated because he has no education and working experience.