Pres. Sirleaf taking a kickoff of one of the competitionThe National County Sports Meet will officially kick off this Sunday across the country.The 15 Counties have already being paired in four groups.NIMBA COUNTY

This year’s opening ceremony will take place in the Nimbain capital Sanniqulle with the host County taking on Grand Gedeh County in a group four fixture.

GRAND GEDEH

 Several Matches will also be played at three other venues in the counties.

 Defending football champions Bomi County will welcome last year quarter finalist Margibi in Tubmanburg in a group one meeting in a classical derby.

 Group three will see last competition semi-finalist Lofa taking on 2007 winners Rivercess County in Voinjama in what is expected to be cracker.

 The final match of the weekend will be Barclayville and will see last competition Quarter finalist Grand Kru taking former Champions and Third place holder Bong County.

The 2009/10 national county sports meet will feature five different sporting disciplines.

 They include Football, Basketball and Kickball.

 The other two are Track and Field and Volleyball.

 Already the Ministry of Youth and Sports have made available 21 thousand United States dollars to the 15 counties as an initial preparation allotment.

The Chairman of the organization committee of this year’s event Murvee Gray told Star Sports recently counties who advance to the next stage of the competition will receive additional allotment and an undisclosed amount has being place in the trophies for the winners.

Francis Grandpa Doe in action for Ahly in a league

Liberian international Francis Grandpa Doe has been ruled out of action for three weeks.

The Liberian striker sustained an injury during his club Al Ahly league match on November 29.

A statement on the club’s website said Francis Doe a second degree strain of the muscle on the back.

Ahly’s Director of Football Hadi Khashba said the injury is not major as was reported in the Egyptian media.

Hadi assured their first team striker will be back in action in about two to three weeks.

Francis Doe was stretched off just before half time in Al Ahly’s 2-0 victory against Al Mokawloon Al Arab on Sunday.

The Liberian striker has been able to score only two goals so far but his contribution in attack has gained a lot of praises in Egypt.

Liberia and Supersport United forward supersport united

Laffor set up the second goal on 70 minutes to earn his side a well deserved 2-0 victory over the South African football giants.

 According to United’s official website, the towering forward made a perfect control at the edge of box beating few of Chief’s defenders before making an easy finish for Jabulani Maluleke.

 Although the Liberian International was not on the score sheet, he was rated high in the encounter that saw the ABSA premiership champions extending their lead at the top of the table by seven points.

 United are with 36 points followed by Ajax Cape Town with 29 points.

 They will now face Bloemfontein Celtics at the Loftus Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday.

 Meanwhile, Laffor collected a brace last weekend in Supersport United 3-2 victory over Maritzsburg United.

 Laffor netted the second and third goals goal of the afternoon in his side 3-2, after Jabulani Maluleke had put the champions in front.

 The Liberian international hammered a volley into the back of the net after Maritzsburg’s goalkeeper Goldman had rush to punch clear a cross and only to miss and allow Laffor get a clear sight of goal and made  a superb finish in the 54^th  minute.

 Laffor sealed the match on 74 minutes to complete his brace and guarantee United the maximum three points.

Kojo as player trying to stop a shot

By: Moses K. Garzeawu.

Former Liberian international defender turned coach Thomas Kojo has spoken of plans to assist any of the nations national teams with his technical expertise acquired over the years but has put forward a condition if he is to offer his service.

 Kojo who now coach south African club side Football Club Aziz Kara (FC AK) in the country’s first division is keen on attaching himself with some of Liberia’s youth national teams instead of the senior side the Lone Star but have alarm on the country’s greatest element of failure which he said need to be settle if he is to make his decision a realty.

 The former Lone Star right-back name the element as the unsettle rivalry between the ministry of youth and sports and the Liberia Football Association over couple of years, something he termed as the cause of the country’s long termed failures.

 The Liberia Ministry of Youth and Sports which is responsible for providing resources to local sporting Associations and Federations, and at the same time responsible to finance the growth of every national teams whie the Liberia football Association is responsible to manage every football national team doom the Country’s color. The two have to settle down with controversies since the inception of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf led government the situation that seems to be the sticky point in Kojo’s decision making, ‘’until the Liberia Football Association and the Ministry of Youth and Sports can settle their differences for the good of Liberia and Liberians I will not offer my services’’ the former Lone Star hit man noted.

 Also commenting on the failure of the Senior Lone Star team in the just ended joint world cup and nations cup qualifier, Kojo express regret that the nation failed massively despite acquiring a foreign coach and spending over one hundred twenty thousand United States Dollars (120,000 USD) on his salary excluding the salaries of his three deputies.

 He however expressed frustration that Liberia is not competing to international standard after producing Africa’s only FIFA World player of the year, ‘’its very frustration that we are lacking behind, we are competing with other nations who were once upon a time below our standard and I am very frustrated. People in South Africa ask me what’s happening to Liberia I have no answer to give’’ kojo concluded.

LFA boss Cllr.Sombo Izetta Wesley

 Liberian football is certainly disorganized, as the development of the game in this part of the world is far from reality. The Football House has reportedly gone bankrupt and is virtually in the queue seeking loan from ECOBANK. The various leagues, Premier, First, Second, Third and Fourth Division lack the glamour and attraction associated with contemporary football evidence that the local football governing body, the Liberia Football Association is running a so-call professional league with out sponsorship, and the same time running the football house without a public relation office, something that was hardly spoken against recently by a team of directors who visited liberia early this year headed by mr. Urls Kluser, FIFA develompment manager. this  again is major contributing factor to the scarcity of liberia players on the international scene, evidence that she does not even have a blog, neither a website to alert the world on its progress or danggling condition by its leaders. The various national teams are seemingly in exigent, players ply their trades under acrimonious circumstances as most of them are transferred illegally, courtesy of International Transfer Certificates (ITC) being sent on the outside in eye brow raising fashion. This makes one to wonder as to where is our football heading? with such an unpalatable state, connoisseurs are perturbed and daunted on the country’s football agenda. What a paradox that a country that produced the continent’s greatest footballer in the form of the legendary George Oppong Weah has its football in the doldrums, as it has since left from an ecstatic state to a mere melancholic one. There is a serious need for an antidote, as stakeholders pull the strings to make amends. But, why there is a serious need to improve things, the awkward and haphazard arrangement or organization continues. Quite recently, two virtually unknown-quantities from Israel in the form of Sahar Greenberg and Barvch Saar reportedly entered the country as guests of Premiership flop, LISCR FC. It is being whispered in many quarters that the duo has come to scout prodigious talents and as well provide rudimentary training ot technical awareness to the inconsistent Premier club. The applauds had not gone down when the news broke out that a mini-olympic amongst various Premier clubs in the country was taking place , specifically at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS) for what the organizers, LISCR termed “TALENT SCOUTING”. Clubs including LISCR, Invincible Eleven (IE), Watanga, Monrovia Breweries, Jasmine Rangers, Barrack Young Controllers (BYC), MIghty Blue Angels ect. ignored the risk involved, and took part in this mini-competition reminiscent of a school involved with Old and New students game or calsses league mianly for the purpose of scouting players. What was more astonishing was the decision of these clubs officials order than LISCR (since they invited the un-known duo) to engage in an unprofessional act in playing charity matches while the national league is in full swing. Did they take into account the risk involved in terms of injuries? did they agree to spend additional cash in terms of transport? did they know the history or track record of these Israelis who it was claimed are scouts or agents?, these are just few of the many questions screaming for answers. Interestingly, the decision of some of the clubs to feature in such ludicrous arrangement could open the flood gate where anyone could come to town (Liberia), from any where claiming to be an agent, administrator or promoter to make clubs go the extra in the name of justification. It would have first being expedient had they being involved in a conference where the sporting populace would have known their background order than engaging in a rather different tactic of “keeping it cool”. Also, the arrangement accepted by the Israelis who are reportedly protracted followers of the beautiful game in allowing premier clubs wrestle somewhat gainlessly with each other in the name of players selection, brings to the fore the authenticity of the assertion that they are truly scouts. Why would they adhere to such laughable arrangement when in fact they could have had all the time in the world to select who so ever they wanted directly by seeing a plethora of national league games where players will be more focused and purposed as they have something precious to fight for. Hurriedly arranging practise matches via mobile phones of their hosts further questions their claim of being football pundits. The disadvantage in these hurriedly arranged games is that any one could go through the needle or catch the eye through a “Flash in the Pan Performance”, and such person could maybe be selected and then falter in a trial to the disbelief and discontenment of the scouters. Judging from their action here, one would ask, can some one move to Israel claiming to be a scout and then ask that the likes of Meccabi Haifa, Meccabi Herzliya, Meccabi Telaviv, Hapoel Haifa ect. gather at the Israeli national stadium to play for something like 80 minutes each in the name of scouting their players for probably contracts to mainland Europe? If that is too far and extreme for an example, can this happen in Ghana? Can just two persons arrive from Europe upon the invitation of Premier club Liberty Professional and then call for the likes of Asanti Kotoko, Accra Hearts of Oak, Kasbane FC, All Blacks ect. to assemble at the Ohene Djan Stadium to play a mini-tournament in the name of taking or scouting players for oversea football while the Ghanaian top flight is on? Can this happen in Nigeria where the likes of Kano Pillars, Enyimba, Enugu Rangers, Dolphins ect. are and then some people just ask that they assemble at the Surelere Stadium in Lagos on emorning to justify? This is a question for any one. Why the idea of players promotion are commendable, it is indeed advisable that such arrangement be done in a more proficient and professional as is done in other parts of the world. Our players or clubs should not be left vulnerable in the name of getting to Europe. When these ratifications are made, we will be threading on a good path in terms of improving our CKERY! Editorial LMOCKERY! Editorial Liberian football is certainly disorganized, as the development of the game in this part of the world is far from reality. The Football House has reportedly gone bankrupt and is virtually in the queue seeking loan from ECOBANK. The various leagues, Premier, First, Second, Third and Fourth Division lack the glamour and attraction associated with contemporary football. The various national teams are seemingly in exigent, players ply their trades under acrimonious circumstances as most of them are transferred illegally, courtesy of International Transfer Certificates (ITC) being sent on the outside in eye brow raising fashion. This makes one to wonder as to where is our football heading? with such an unpalatable state, connoisseurs are perturbed and daunted on the country’s football agenda. What a paradox that a country that produced the continent’s greatest footballer in the form of the legendary George Oppong Weah has its football in the doldrums, as it has since left from an ecstatic state to a mere melancholic one. There is a serious need for an antidote, as stakeholders pull the strings to make amends. But, why there is a serious need to improve things, the awkward and haphazard arrangement or organization continues. Quite recently, two virtually unknown-quantities from Israel in the form of Sahar Greenberg and Barvch Saar reportedly entered the country as guests of Premiership flop, LISCR FC. It is being whispered in many quarters that the duo has come to scout prodigious talents and as well provide rudimentary training ot technical awareness to the inconsistent Premier club. The applauds had not gone down when the news broke out that a mini-olympic amongst various Premier clubs in the country was taking place , specifically at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS) for what the organizers, LISCR termed “TALENT SCOUTING”. Clubs including LISCR, Invincible Eleven (IE), Watanga, Monrovia Breweries, Jasmine Rangers, Barrack Young Controllers (BYC), MIghty Blue Angels ect. ignored the risk involved, and took part in this mini-competition reminiscent of a school involved with Old and New students game or calsses league mianly for the purpose of scouting players. What was more astonishing was the decision of these clubs officials order than LISCR (since they invited the un-known duo) to engage in an unprofessional act in playing charity matches while the national league is in full swing. Did they take into account the risk involved in terms of injuries? did they agree to spend additional cash in terms of transport? did they know the history or track record of these Israelis who it was claimed are scouts or agents?, these are just few of the many questions screaming for answers. Interestingly, the decision of some of the clubs to feature in such ludicrous arrangement could open the flood gate where anyone could come to town (Liberia), from any where claiming to be an agent, administrator or promoter to make clubs go the extra in the name of justification. It would have first being expedient had they being involved in a conference where the sporting populace would have known their background order than engaging in a rather different tactic of “keeping it cool”. Also, the arrangement accepted by the Israelis who are reportedly protracted followers of the beautiful game in allowing premier clubs wrestle somewhat gainlessly with each other in the name of players selection, brings to the fore the authenticity of the assertion that they are truly scouts. Why would they adhere to such laughable arrangement when in fact they could have had all the time in the world to select who so ever they wanted directly by seeing a plethora of national league games where players will be more focused and purposed as they have something precious to fight for. Hurriedly arranging practise matches via mobile phones of their hosts further questions their claim of being football pundits. The disadvantage in these hurriedly arranged games is that any one could go through the needle or catch the eye through a “Flash in the Pan Performance”, and such person could maybe be selected and then falter in a trial to the disbelief and discontenment of the scouters. Judging from their action here, one would ask, can some one move to Israel claiming to be a scout and then ask that the likes of Meccabi Haifa, Meccabi Herzliya, Meccabi Telaviv, Hapoel Haifa ect. gather at the Israeli national stadium to play for something like 80 minutes each in the name of scouting their players for probably contracts to mainland Europe? If that is too far and extreme for an example, can this happen in Ghana? Can just two persons arrive from Europe upon the invitation of Premier club Liberty Professional and then call for the likes of Asanti Kotoko, Accra Hearts of Oak, Kasbane FC, All Blacks ect. to assemble at the Ohene Djan Stadium to play a mini-tournament in the name of taking or scouting players for oversea football while the mjjjmmGhanaian top flight is on? Can this happen in Nigeria where the likes of Kano Pillars, Enyimba, Enugu Rangers, Dolphins ect. are and then some people just ask that they assemble at the Surelere Stadium in Lagos on emorning to justify? This is a question for any one. Why the idea of players promotion are commendable, it is indeed advisable that such arrangement be done in a more proficient and professional as is done in other parts of the world. Our players or clubs should not be left vulnerable in the name of getting to Europe. When these ratifications are made, we will be threading on a good path in terms of improving our iberian football is certainly disorganized, as the development of the game in this part of the world is far from reality. The Football House has reportedly gone bankrupt and is virtually in the queue seeking loan from ECOBANK. The various leagues, Premier, First, Second, Third and Fourth Division lack the glamour and attraction associated with contemporary football. The various national teams are seemingly in exigent, players ply their trades under acrimonious circumstances as most of them are transferred illegally, courtesy of International Transfer Certificates (ITC) being sent on the outside in eye brow raising fashion. This makes one to wonder as to where is our football heading? with such an unpalatable state, connoisseurs are perturbed and daunted on the country’s football agenda. What a paradox that a country that produced the continent’s greatest footballer in the form of the legendary George Oppong Weah has its football in the doldrums, as it has since left from an ecstatic state to a mere melancholic one. There is a serious need for an antidote, as stakeholders pull the strings to make amends. But, why there is a serious need to improve things, the awkward and haphazard arrangement or organization continues. Quite recently, two virtually unknown-quantities from Israel in the form of Sahar Greenberg and Barvch Saar reportedly entered the country as guests of Premiership flop, LISCR FC. It is being whispered in many quarters that the duo has come to scout prodigious talents and as well provide rudimentary training ot technical awareness to the inconsistent Premier club. The applauds had not gone down when the news broke out that a mini-olympic amongst various Premier clubs in the country was taking place , specifically at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS) for what the organizers, LISCR termed “TALENT SCOUTING”. Clubs including LISCR, Invincible Eleven (IE), Watanga, Monrovia Breweries, Jasmine Rangers, Barrack Young Controllers (BYC), MIghty Blue Angels ect. ignored the risk involved, and took part in this mini-competition reminiscent of a school involved with Old and New students game or calsses league mianly for the purpose of scouting players. What was more astonishing was the decision of these clubs officials order than LISCR (since they invited the un-known duo) to engage in an unprofessional act in playing charity matches while the national league is in full swing. Did they take into account the risk involved in terms of injuries? did they agree to spend additional cash in terms of transport? did they know the history or track record of these Israelis who it was claimed are scouts or agents?, these are just few of the many questions screaming for answers. Interestingly, the decision of some of the clubs to feature in such ludicrous arrangement could open the flood gate where anyone could come to town (Liberia), from any where claiming to be an agent, administrator or promoter to make clubs go the extra in the name of justification. It would have first being expedient had they being involved in a conference where the sporting populace would have known their background order than engaging in a rather different tactic of “keeping it cool”. Also, the arrangement accepted by the Israelis who are reportedly protracted followers of the beautiful game in allowing premier clubs wrestle somewhat gainlessly with each other in the name of players selection, brings to the fore the authenticity of the assertion that they are truly scouts. Why would they adhere to such laughable arrangement when in fact they could have had all the time in the world to select who so ever they wanted directly by seeing a plethora of national league games where players will be more focused and purposed as they have something precious to fight for. Hurriedly arranging practise matches via mobile phones of their hosts further questions their claim of being football pundits. The disadvantage in these hurriedly arranged games is that any one could go through the needle or catch the eye through a “Flash in the Pan Performance”, and such person could maybe be selected and then falter in a trial to the disbelief and discontenment of the scouters. Judging from their action here, one would ask, can some one move to Israel claiming to be a scout and then ask that the likes of Meccabi Haifa, Meccabi Herzliya, Meccabi Telaviv, Hapoel Haifa ect. gather at the Israeli national stadium to play for something like 80 minutes each in the name of scouting their players for probably contracts to mainland Europe? If that is too far and extreme for an example, can this happen in Ghana? Can just two persons arrive from Europe upon the invitation of Premier club Liberty Professional and then call for the likes of Asanti Kotoko, Accra Hearts of Oak, Kasbane FC, All Blacks ect. to assemble at the Ohene Djan Stadium to play a mini-tournament in the name of taking or scouting players for oversea football while the Ghanaian top flight is on? Can this happen in Nigeria where the likes of Kano Pillars, Enyimba, Enugu Rangers, Dolphins ect. are and then some people just ask that they assemble at the Surelere Stadium in Lagos on emorning to justify? This is a question for any one. Why the idea of players promotion are commendable, it is indeed advisable that such arrangement be done in a more proficient and professional as is done in other parts of the world. Our players or clubs should not be left vulnerable in the name of getting to Europe. When these ratifications are made, we will be threading on a good path in terms of improving ours.

With freeevoice, WordPress, Lokaamodaal, and Africa Media Online vision in given african journalist a voice. they all in one launched in april a hunt for some of africa’s best journalist to report and write on the fifa world cup that is expected to be held in south africa, the first ever in the continent’s history. I was among 300 hundred journalist who apply and fortunately I was selected to particpate in the training,

” my greatest ambition for now is to get involve with the online course and the live workshop inorder to be part of the DREAM TEAM,”.

below is the full listing of the selected 108 journalist who will participate in the workshop.