BBC SPORT | Football | Africa | Liberia begin 'Act 22'



By Ledgerhood Rennie BBC Sport Online in Monrovia

Liberia have begun the first step of their new coach Kadallah Kromah's ambitious plan to regenerate the Lone Star team - Act 22.

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Kromah has said that the plan is to develop Liberia's home-based talent before looking abroad, and to integrate it at all levels, from the full international side to Under-17.

He met his new squad, of about 30 local-based players, for the first time on Wednesday in Monrovia at the country's oldest football arena, the artificial turfed-Antoinette Tubman Stadium.

The players told BBC's Online Sports in Monrovia that they are anxious and determined to build upon what their predecessors have achieved for the Lone Star.

"We may be young but not inexperienced," said young striker Isaac Tondo, who was first given his chance when the team that flopped at the African Nations Cup was disbanded.

"All we need is to concentrate on our training and with high motivation and support we could surprise Africa."

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And Tondo brushed aside suggestions that the team needed some of its old foreign-based members to be a competitive side.

Players in training
The players now have to put 'Act 22' into practice
"Among us are players who have already had a taste of international football, and therefore we do not need to bring in too many foreign based players," he argued.

Captain absent

For Eugene Gray, who just returned from India where he had 14 months of first division football, being called to serve his country is a much-awaited honor.

"I'm honored and I want Liberians to give this young team a chance," Gray said.

"All we need is exposure for most members of the squad and we will make a difference."

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The players added that coach Kromah is a respectable Liberian footballer of old and with his coaching credentials he is somebody they are willing to work with to lift the Liberian game.

However, a noticeable absence from the training session was former team captain Joe Nagbe.

Although he arrived in the country a fortnight ago, Nagbe has not been summoned and would appear to have little role in Kromah's new masterplan.


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