The Liberian FA named the theme of the upcoming 2018 WAFU U20 Cup in honour of the country’s president George Opong Manneh Weah
The tournament which kicks-off next month, between the 24th April to the 6th May, will carry the theme “14”, which is the jersey number of the newly elected Liberian President and former Ballon D’or winner, Weah, during his playing days for the Liberian national team. The decision which was announced by the Liberian FA President Musa Bility in his speech at the tournament’s draw on Monday at the Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex in the Liberian Capital, Monrovia, is in honour of the ‘achievement and contributions’ made to football by the former World player of the year.
Speaking during the ceremony, LFA President Bility told the audience the theme of the tournament will be is “14”, adding: “We all know what 14 means. It explains itself so 14 is the number everyone remember.”
Bility, who is also the Vice President of WAFU, said the regional body decided to host the tournament in Liberia in order to inspire young talents.
“For too long, we have been in search of talents, we believed that the WAFU tournament is an opportunity to invest and discover young talents,” he further stated.
President Weah, who had a glittering football career both for Liberia and in his 13-year stint in Europe for the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Chelsea, during which he had won winning Ligue 1 titles, two Scudetti, and the FA Cup, is without doubt, one of Africa’s all-time greatest footballers. While at AC Milan, he was crowned winner of the 1995 Ballon D’or, after becoming the top scorer in the 94/95 UEFA Champions League. He is the first and so far only won by an African player to have won the coveted accolade.
The Former Liberian Captain showed greatly loyalty to his country in his playing days, under very difficult circumstances after his country was ravaged by civil war in the early to mid 90s, which had killed and destitute thousands from the West African country, but despite, Weah fought heard for his country both on and off the field. In 2002, with his nation under dictatorship rule and still reeling from the devastation caused by the civil war, Weah led Liberia to within one point of World Cup qualification. His team only missed out to Nigeria after they lost their final game to Ghana in Monrovia on July 1st 2001.Up until that point, the Liberians had their destiny in their own hands, two points ahead of Nigeria with two games to play, they beat they beat Ghana 3-1 in Accra but lost 2-1 in the return leg, which Nigeria to finish above them.
Off the field, Weah, who was born in the Liberian capital, Monrovia in October 1966, but also holds French nationality, contributed immensely in helping the people of his impoverished country, by placing particular focus on education, sexual health and refugee protection, after being appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1997. Efforts which earned him the name nickname ‘King George’ by the natives. His election victory to become Liberia’s 25th President showed how highly he is held by his countrymen and women
