With Alan shearer, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi
and Harry Kanes of this world pulling down
set records and setting new ones, one may be tempted to think that there
are no more records left and nothing new to prove. But that of course is fallacy which explains why the record set
by George Weah as Liberia’s president elect few hours ago tickled the fancy of
many.
His indeed
can be dubbed consolidation haven also joined the league of history makers and
record breakers when he emerged first ever world footballer of the year to be
elected President. When he emerge footballer of the year in 1995 it was also
history making as it would be the first time an African would be doing so and
as a matter of fact the only one till date.
Perhaps when
he flagged off his football career with a youth side Young Survivors Claratown
in 1981, he had the dream of growing into one of the respected strikers in the
world and as he graduated from junior to senior category and finally hitting it
big with all the big clubs that shaped his career, Monaco, Paris Saint Germain
to AC Milan where he was not only a major hit but proved to be a force to be
reckoned with, it was apparent that doggedness and determination were some of
his major attributes.
That
fighting spirit which saw him battle for and earn mouth watering laurels in the
round leather game he retained when he eventually retired in 2003 and ventured
into politics.
This
never-say-die attitude came handy when he announced for the first time in 2005
that he wanted to contest for the post of president and went ahead to form
Congress of Democratic Change to back his ambition.
Expectedly
he was seen as a green horn venturing into an unknown area; in fact those who
did not think he was good enough to run for the office cited his lack of formal
education in contrast with his Harvard-educated opponent, Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf. Analysts also noted Weah’s lack of experience, calling him a
“babe-in-the-woods”
But the
unique thing here is, rather than chose to fight those who scored him low, he
rather took note of those perceived inadequacies and worked on them
assiduously. He ignored side talks to obtain his SSCE in 2006 at 40, proceeded
to obtain a degree in 2011 at 45, added his Masters in 2013. With these armed coupled with his humanitarian
gestures he rose up again contested and won a senate seat in 2014, defeating
the son of incumbent president, Robert Sirleaf, and three years later in 2017
he realised the dream emerging the President elect who will be officially
handed the mantle of leadership in the new year.
For those
wondering how he will translate the dribbles, pacy runs and flips on the pitch
into political and economic realities, returning to the class room to equip
himself academically coupled with the experience he has garnered in the senate
in the last three years is an indication that he is not only ready to learn but
also ready to bring in the tenacity that served as ginger while he played for
15 different clubs he had to lace boots for. It won’t be a surprise if a great
footballer begets a great footballer, and indicators to this fact can be seen
in the exploits of his son Timothy Weah who signed for Paris Saint-Germain in
2015 and plays for the United States youth team.
It was not
just about club exploits for Weah, he also attempted to re-position Lone stars
of Liberia not only as a player and a coach of the side but also committed his
resources on two occasions to held the national team qualify for the African
Cup of Nations in 1996 and 2002.As a player for the national team he made 60
appearances and scored 22 goals. His
emergence as president of Liberia is sure to rub off on the national team that
is likely to have a fresh look in with a view to making them competitive again.
His goodwill earned in the course of playing across the globe is sure to bring
good tidings to the former war-torn enclave.
