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Paynesville – Liberia’s president George Manneh Oppong Weah has lamented what he termed late tribute and recognition for his achievements and contributions toward football in his country and on the world stage.
Weah, during his heydays as an iconic footballer, who starred for several European clubs including PSG and AC Milan, became the first-ever African to win the World Best footballer title in 1995 – also winning the Europe Best and Africa Best footballer titles in the same year.
Speaking from a prepared text at an occasion marking the retirement of his number 14 shirt, at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, the same venue where his soccer artistry was nurtured, Weah said while he was appreciative of the honor, the ceremony brought to him mixed feelings and mixed reactions, saying, “I am saddened to see this tribute and recognition come so late on this day.”
“I’ve worked for Lone Star so hard and for so long. Almost everyone knows that I have made my sacrifice of my time and my treasure over many years to bring glory to the national team, by attempting to qualify for the World Cup,” Weah recounted, adding, “we tried three times; in the end, we almost made it, but we were denied the final attempt just because of goal difference.”
But the footballer turned politician continued: “and also then, I asked myself, for all the entire contribution that I have made to the game in Liberia, why did it take so long for this jersey to be retired?”
He noted that he had celebrated along with other players that have retired either before or after him, celebrating their jersey retirement, naming former Italy and AC Milan great, Paolo Maldini, who he called his friend, saying, “My friend Paolo Maldini’s jersey was retired for what he did for Milan. It has, therefore, always been perplexing to me that I have had to wait so long for this day.”
“Better late than never”
Howbeit, having earlier featured for the Lone Star alongside his former teammate James Debbah in a match organized for the retirement of his number 14 jersey, against Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Weah said it was better late than never.
“During my recent commencement address to the graduates of Cuttington University, I told them, sometime in life, the path will always not be clear. Perhaps, this is one of those instances where there are more questions than answers,” said Weah, adding, ‘Anyway, it doesn’t matter now. As it is often said, it is better late than never. So let us put this behind us.”
“We must now join hands and make a collective and determined effort to strengthen sports in Liberia in general, and soccer in particular. So that in the near future, we will produce another Ballon d’Or winner from Liberia,” said Weah, who announced that in this regard, he was pledging his administration’s fullest support to assist the Liberia FA to achieve such goal within the shortest possible time.
“We will look for the best coaches and encourage them to come and work with our national team,” Weah vowed, but cautioned that “good coaches will not be enough, the players themselves will have to be dedicated, committed, hardworking, and disciplined if success will come out of this effort.”
‘Grateful heart’
He used the occasion to thank the Nigeria Football Association and the Nigerian national team that won the Lone Star 2-1 in the jersey-retirement match, for coming to Liberia to participate in the memorable occasion that was attended by a mammoth crowd of Liberians from all walks of life, and an array of foreign guests.
“You are our brothers and also our friends,” Weah told the Nigerian delegation that had earlier presented him a gift, a Super Eagles number 14 jersey.
“I also want to thank all the players of my first team, Young Survivor from Clara Town, where it all began. Little did we know that a time like this was the first step in my journey of a thousand mile,” he continued with his recognition of those who apparently played a role in his soccer career.
He then expressed his gratitude to Liberia’s two traditional football archrivals, Mighty Barrolle and the Invincible Eleven, two clubs he played for during his days on the pitch back home.
“I also want to thank you the Liberian national team, the Lone Star for affording me the opportunity and the privilege to play for my country. There is no greater honor in football than playing for your country, the former Lone Star captain and technical director said, adding, “The national team made me strong.”
Weah continuing his expression of gratitude to those who had a hand in his achievements in football added, “Then, there are many various coaches, particularly the ones from Brazil, Coach Paulo, and Coach Julo, to whom I owe a big debt of gratitude. And I must make a special mention of Coach Mohammed Sithole, my coach when I was playing for IE – who always believed in me.”
“And finally, Weah said, “I’m grateful to the Liberian people, most of whom have been my ardent supporters and devoted fans – I love you. I will always be grateful to you, for the love that you’ve shown me. It was my source of inspiration throughout my career and my strength.”
“…the number chose me”
In closing, Weah used his bleak beginning in life to inspire those now in the same shoes as he was during his days in the slum of Monrovia, indicating that the number 14 jersey that has become so famous because it’s attached to him was thrown at him because it was meant for a sub and not a starter.
“…as we retire my number 14 jersey, I want you to know that I did not choose that number. Rather, the number chose me, Weah said, adding that many players often time get to choose their jersey numbers, with some having the opportunity to even pick numbers used by various famous players, but for him, that was not the case with the number 14 shirt.
“Instead, I was given the number 14 because I was a substitute, and this was a number for a substitute. Even as a substitute, I was not discouraged. I worked very hard, and finally came out of the bench to the starting team,” narrated Weah, who said he kept his number 14 and went from substitution to distinction, and from irrelevance to stardom.
“The lesson learned is that it does not matter how low you start in life; with hard work, determination, resilience, perseverance, and discipline, you can make it to the top,” Weah said.
