Soccer News of Friday, 28 May 2004

Source: liberiansoccer.com

Lions Played Fake Liberian National Team

May 28, 2004 - Liberia?s Lone Star synthetic 5-0 demolition at the hands of Ghana?s Hearts of Lion as being reported in the media, is a swindle and con trick and doesn?t reflect the actual pride of the senior team of Liberia.

The game, which was played at the Kpando Park in the Volta region of Ghana during the week, was actually between a team of ?unfortunate? Liberian players residing at Buduburam refugee camp in Ghana and not the Lone Star of Liberia currently in camp ahead of the match with Mali in Monrovia.

According to our investigations, an amateur coach identified as D.K. Rue masterminded this highly sinful arrangement to attract officials of the Ghanaian club in honoring the match and to raise cash for his upkeep in Accra, Ghana.

D.K. Rue who has been residing at the Liberian Refugee Camp for nearly 15 years now, our investigation unveiled, uses the Lone Star?s image as a means of attracting top Ghanaian clubs to play his selections of Liberian refugee players residing in Ghana.

Nearly a year ago, he led another counterfeit Liberia?s U-23 team under similar scheme into another region in Ghana with the picture that the Liberia?s U-23 team was on a West African tour, something the real U-23 has never done.

Amateur coach D.K. Rue has been capitalizing on the Lone Star last situation in Ghana in June of 2003 to honor international matches while rebels try to overthrow the Taylor?s regime.

It can be recalled the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA rescheduled Liberia?s remaining home matches for the ANC 2004 and the All-African games for Accra after Guinea and Ghana complained of insecurity in Monrovia.

Liberia, in those international appearances, bowed to Guinea 1-2 at the Accra Stadium and lost 6-0 on aggregate to Ghana?s Black Meteors in the ANC 2004 and All-African games qualifiers respectively.

Liberiansoccer.com, the official homepage of Liberia Football Association, has its Beat Reporter in Accra, Ghana and further clarifies that at no time did the Lone Star play Hearts of Lion as it? being reported.

Meanwhile, confirmed and highly credible sources in Monrovia have revealed that the Football house in Liberia is planning an investigation into the matter and would take stern actions against those responsible for the indignity and discomfiture.

The sources also hinted that the Ghana Football Association will be contacted on the matter to help bring the perpetrators of this football crime into the public realm.