IPNEWS-Saudi Arabia: Liberia’s Minister of Youth and Sports Hon. Dester Zeogar Wilson has expressed appreciation to the Government and the people of Saudi Arabia for the warm reception accorded the Liberian National Soccer Team, the Lone Star, and praised the officials of the Saudi Football Federation for being a ‘good host’, ensuring that the Liberian delegation at the ongoing friendlies, is being given all the necessary attention as per the protocols.
Minister Wilson spoke at the cultural event organized by the Saudi authorities to showcase the historical progress made by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since the establishment of the Monarch in 1932.
He said that the ongoing friendly matches between the Lone Star and the Saudi National Team have the ripple effects of exposing players of both sides to the next levels in their career and that it could be the beginning of a more collaborative effort by the Sports officials of the two countries.
In separate remarks, Minister Wilson expressed optimism about the future of soccer in Liberia and urged the young players to remain focused and courageous in their efforts to achieve success in their careers. The program was climaxed by a visit to a mobile museum where Saudi handcrafted materials, as well as artistic designs in local fabrics and metals, were on display. Players were also introduced to the Arabian traditional attires which they wore and snapped photos.
Meanwhile, Minister Wilson is scheduled to hold a series of meetings today with the officials of the Saudi Sports Federation. The meeting which will be attended by Minister Wilson and Mr. Abu Kamara, Charge d’Affairs of the Liberian Embassy accredited to Saudi Arabia, is expected to center around Sports development in Liberia. The Minister, according to sources, will make a specific case on the need for the establishment of a Joint Commission (MOU), between the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Liberia and the Saudi Sports Federation. The final encounter between the Lone Star and its Saudi counterpart is slated for Tuesday, the 30th of March, 2021.
Currently, Nine foreign-based players have been invited by Liberia national football team coach Peter Butler and are in Saudi Arabia for the encounter between Liberia and Saudi Arabia on tomorrow, March 30 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The players’ names were revealed when Coach Butler named his final squad for the friendlies. Those invited include former Monrovia Club Breweries defender Prince Balde of FK Feronikeli in Kosovo, Southeastern Europe, Mark Pabai (FC Utrecht, Netherlands), midfielders Allen Njie (NK Slaven Belupo, Croatia), Oscar Murphy Dorley (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic), Marcus Macauley (Aljeel, Saudi Arabia), David Tweh (Rukh Brest, Belarus).
Others include strikers Sylvanus Nimely (HNK Gorica, Croatia), Van Dave Harmon (KF Laci, Albania) and Peter Wilson (Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biala, Poland).
The foreign-based players will be joined by 10 local players who were selected following justification at the George Weah Technical Center in Careysburg.
The friendlies are part of the Saudi Arabian U-23 team preparation for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, which will be held from July 23 to August 8, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.
The friendlies were arranged following a technical cooperation agreement between LFA and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) during a meeting held on the sideline of the 43rd Ordinary and Elective General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on March 12 at the Sofitel Hotel in Rabat, Morocco.
Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Tommy Songo (LISCR) and Alpha Jalloh (LPRC Oilers)
Defenders: Jeremy Saygbe (LISCR FC), Sampson Dweh (LPRC Oilers), Daniel Paye (Bea Mountain), Prince Balde (FK Feronikeli, Kosovo), Mark Pabai (FC Utrecht, Netherlands), Prince Nagbo (Nimba Kwado)
Midfielders: Allen Njie (NK Slaven Belupo, Croatia), Oscar Murphy Dorley (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic), Festus Blapoh (Monrovia Club Breweries), Marcus Macauley (Aljeel, Saudi Arabia), David Tweh (Rukh Brest, Belarus), Sam Jackson (LISCR FC), Edward Ledlum (Bea Mountain) and Frederick Dennis (Tony FC)
Forwards: Sylvanus Nimely (HNK Gorica, Croatia), Van Dave Harmon (KF Laci, Albania), and Peter Wilson (Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biala, Poland)
