By: Isaac Solo Kelgbeh
Monrovia, Liberia -I read with interest a post attributed to former St. Joseph Warriors and Lone Star goalkeeper Louis Crayton. If I understand it correctly, Louis Crayton is saying that Charles Taylor paid everything for the Liberian national team during the 2002 World Cup qualifiers. He also named former Liberia Football Association (LFA) boss Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr. and former players as witnesses.
If truly Louis Crayton made such a post, then I find it more interesting, as it would compel me to ask one or two questions. Is this post in support of Sam Johnson’s accusations that former Lone Star player and technical director George Weah did nothing for the Lone Star? Or did anyone, or Weah himself, say he sponsored the Lone Star’s 2002 World Cup qualifiers?
George Weah’s support for the Lone Star is written in world annals, and the very people Crayton-named witnesses have openly told Liberians what George Weah has done for the Lone Star. On record, Weah’s funding and assistance to the Lone Star led to the team’s appearance at South Africa ’96. Beginning in 1994, George Weah was credited with transporting Liberia’s Europe-based players, organizing and funding camps, buying equipment including jerseys, and facilitating communication among players.
Let us leave that period for another day.
Louis Crayton, if he can remember, started following the national team, including lobbying to play for the team in 1998. He made his debut, however, in June 1999 against Tunisia, though he was part of the team that lost to Algeria in Annaba on April 9, 1999. In Annaba, the boots the Lone Star played in were bought by Sylvester Williams (Careca) on George Weah’s order. Careca was then Weah’s local manager. The boots bought by the Liberian delegation were not good for the playing pitch.
But why did Louis Crayton jump to the 2002 World Cup qualifiers when he had been part of the team since 1999? Did Louis Crayton receive up to US$2,000.00 in Cape Verde? Did he receive US$2,000.00 in Chad, Sudan, Uganda, and subsequent matches leading to 2001? On July 2, 2000, Liberia lost to Cape Verde 1–0, with Crayton between the posts in the 2002 AFCON qualifier at Estádio Municipal Adérito Sena. Liberia lost 1–0, largely due to lack of support, most especially local-based players lacking per diem. Who compensated the local players? Although he was not technical director at the time, Weah went to the rescue of the players.
Just for another piece of information, in 1997 Weah also financed Liberia’s push to qualify for the 1998 AFCON in the matches Liberia vs Tunisia, Liberia vs Namibia, and Liberia vs Egypt. The policy and willingness to pay foreign-based players US$5,000.00 in 2000 followed Liberia’s heroics against Ghana. On January 28, 2000, Liberia defeated Ghana 3–1 in Accra, a day still referred to in Ghana as “Black Sunday.” Even with the policy being widely publicized, it was not cast in stone. On many occasions, the LFA had to sell tickets before fully settling the arrears of players. Sometimes, the full amount was not paid.
Liberians are living witnesses to how the Lone Star was treated at Mali 2002. George Weah organized and paid for the initial camping of the team in Côte d’Ivoire before moving to Mali for the 2002 AFCON. In Mali itself, Liberia almost boycotted the opening match against Mali due to lack of funding. Where was Crayton? Or is his argument limited only to the 2002 World Cup qualifiers?
Liberians and sports enthusiasts jumped into the streets of Monrovia to raise money for the Lone Star to play. This support, however, reached the team after Liberia’s opening match. How did Liberia honor the game? To salvage the pride of African football, George Weah and Edwin Melvin Snowe appealed to FIFA President at the time, Sepp Blatter, to grant Liberia in advance part of its FIFA global funding (US$250,000.00).
It does not hurt to give one their flowers when they are due. The criticism former Lone Star captain and technical director George Manneh Weah experienced and still endures is not borne out of only politics but also envy. Yes, I said “envy” by some of the very individuals he gave platforms to and nurtured. George Weah, as former Lone Star captain and as former president, fought battles and wars from every angle. He did not win the war, but he undoubtedly won battles. We shouldn’t be used or deceived.
