An opinion by: Jacob N.B. Parley
I love sports, particularly football. Most often, once it’s not time for me to attend service, once I am not on active duty (working hours), I find myself watching the game in nearby video clubs and at times at home.
One of the things I notice is that I don’t enjoy watching the game alone because doing so takes away the euphoria in me.
Watching the game along with friends makes me feel very comfortable because I love to blend the game with argument.
I started developing love for football around 1986, this time I was a teenager living in Zwedru City, Grand Gedeh County, during the Administration of President Samuel Kanyan Doe, when, in my opinion, value started to gradually be attached to the game.
During the period under review, I was always touched by commentaries on ELBC Radio, where I heard some of the experienced sports analysts and commentators in Liberia at the time say: “We are bringing you a play-by-play description from the Samuel Kanyan Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville, where the Lone Star of Liberia is taking on the Black Stars of Ghana.”
From these same commentaries, I heard names and descriptions like wizard dribbler (Weah), James “Body Work” Karrow, the miracle man( James Salinsa Debah), defense minister, Washington Blay, etc.
There were times the games were local ones, especially those involving Mighty Barrole (kayan Pepper), of which I am a fan and Invincible Eleven (IE), otherwise known as Sunshine Yellow Boys. I have never enjoyed any local football festivity in Liberia compared to the pre-war era in our country.
There is a reason for which I am trying to lay a premise before going to the mean reason(s) for this opinion.
In over twenty years of my life as a journalist, I have no professional experience on sports journalism because this is not my area. However, there was a time when the Late Zogar Jaynes of the Liberia Broadcasting System tried to draw me into reading sports news. During a particular 7 PM newscast, the person who should have read the sports news was not around, I was only there to help Zogar package, besides submitting two human interest stories that evening.
After reading the sports news, I was not really feeling good because of the difficulties I had, especially, not having ample time to rehearse and also taking into account the jargons the person who prepared the script used. Let me admit that the jargons were timely, except that I was abruptly entering a strange terrain in journalism.
After, the five-minute sports news, Zogar Jaynes, now deceased claimed that I did well and said I could make a very good sports reporter. Well, he could be right, perhaps because he saw something in me. Unfortunately, I had less interest in becoming a sports journalist because my focus was on economic or diplomatic reportage.
God be praised that today I am a member of the Network of Economic Journalists in West Africa. May peace be unto Zogar’s ashes.
The Main Reason for This Opinion
I was able to join scores of other Liberian football enthusiasts Monday, November 21, 2022, to watch the game between the United States and Wales. I did so in the Barneverville area, where the game was screened at a local video club. Majority of those watching the game last night were young people. I want to believe, if we were to gauge public opinion as to why these video clubs and entertainment centers across Monrovia and parts adjacent were packed beyond imagination, the first and overriding answer will be “Because of our President’s Son-Timothy Weah.”
Yes, I do know that these games attract a lot of fans across the world, including Liberia, beginning the European clubs, for instance, Manchester United, F.C. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester City, etc.
I do strongly believe that at the top of all of these European teams I am mentioning is my National Team- The Lone Star of Liberia.
However, there is something that I think is lacking in the Liberian society that continues to cause my heart to always bleed from a psychological standpoint. This is the issue of always trying to draw politics into nearly every little thing. Yes, as the field of politics dictates, everyone is entitled to his opinion on issues that continue to interplay the typical Liberian environment. But when people go to the point of being totally blinded by politics, to the extent that certain things that are supposed to be embraced, celebrated and appreciated are bitterly discussed the wrong way, and then I see it as unhealthy.
My Argument:
Prior to the game, when coaches across the world were doing the selection of players, the first thing some people started running with was that Tim Weah, won’t form part of the squad.
Now when, by God’s intervention he was included, the issue dramatically changed from “not forming part of the US team to, he will not be a starting player.”
Unfortunately for those who were making all of these insinuations, Tim, again by God’s grace started the game against Wales.
In the first few minutes of the match, I heard some other people say “Oh, the man is not running for the ball or is he waiting for his friends to send the ball to him before he will make a mood?”
At another point of the game, when Tim Weah started making attempts to go for the ball and at the same time harass the defense of their opponents, I heard some of the same elements say,
“But Tim has to be careful how he goes after the ball before they hurt him.”
When, by God’s grace he found the back of the net in the 36th minute of the first half to put America ahead of Wales, there was uncontrollable jubilation in the video club where I was watching the game, to the extent that a teenager got angry with me and said I was causing noise over him. With his eyes red-hot and heart uncontrollably beating within, I had to say sorry, in our Liberian way and finally decided to change my position to avoid problem.
As the jubilation continued at the video club following Tim’s goal, the next argument was:
“I don’t see why people jumping all over here for somebody who decided to play for America instead of Liberia.”
At another point of the game, I heard other comments like;” Why President Weah can’t make his son to play for Liberia?”
These are just a few of the unfriendly comments I was hearing during the game.
What kind of country is this?
I do know that Timothy Weah is an American citizen, but who knows whether in the future he could have a second positive thought about dear father’s country-Liberia?
Are we not proud that a talented individual of such a promising age is playing for the great United States?
Even with his American citizenship, is there no some degree of “Liberianness” in his entire life?
Lone Star’s Past Games:
I recall when I was living in Clara Town; the Lone Star of Liberia was due to face the Green Eagles of Nigeria, I guess it was somewhere between 2000 and 2002.
I was disappointed again that most of the video clubs were displaying attractive and giant-sized posters of prominent Nigerian players like J.J. Okocha, Wanko Kanu, Taribo West, etc, instead of our kind (George Weah, James Debah, Kelvin Sogbie, Christopher Wreh, Kpoto, and Crayton).
Such a high degree of lack of love for dear country, as clearly displayed by majority of the video clubs got me angry to the extent that I had to make my way to Central Monrovia to watch the game on Gurley Street. Unfortunately for the National Team’s detractors, Lone Star whipped the Super Eagles during the very game. Besides, Liberia also defeated another African country that same month.
Right after the game with the Eagles, uncontrollable jubilation overtook Monrovia, particularly places like West Point, Clara Town, New Kru Town, Doe Community, Logan Town, etc.
One particular song that was being sung in Clara Town that caused some people to openly share tears, predominately a woman was: Lone Star now do it, Doe now wake up.”
Musa Bility’s FIFA Leadership Bid.
I can remember again, when a prominent Liberian sports administrator, Musa Bility announced his interest in the FIFA election, I heard similar comments from some parts of our country.
When I reflected and realized that if Mr. Bility had contested and won, it would have brought pride and dignity to Liberia, I published an opinion in at least two local dailies, including The Analyst.
In my opinion, I saw Mr. Bility’s mood as a positive step that would have placed Liberia on the map of global football politics and urged fellow Liberians to embrace his announced candidature instead of tearing him apart in the public.
Let realize that the blessing that God has for people differs from individual to individual and so let’s learn to show love and appreciation to others when they do things that bring pride to us, even if not immediately, directly, or indirectly.
From the look of things, Tim could undoubtedly step in his father’s shoes in the football arena and we can never tell whether he could one day think about the Lone Star.
A hint to the wise is quite sufficient!
