That “Congo Boy/Girl” As He Did in the “Football Profession”
By Samuel G. Dweh—+231 (0)886618906/776583266/samuelosophy@yahoo.com/samuelosophy1@gmail.com
This article ends with recommendations—solution methods of how he CAN out-perform.
Even though I remain an “unwavering critic” against the “political missteps”, and poor National Projects Implementation strategies of Liberia’s current Head of State, which could keep our Country longer in the abyss of under-development, I’m under a moral obligation to “empathize” with him against other Liberians’ predominantly “sentimentally bias” perception against him or his ‘little impactful visible National Projects.
And it is to show him the “way forward” based on my personal knowledge of “effective leadership”, which has a root in my avid reading life, regardless of my “low formal education” (below a University status) .
The word “Country Boy” is a form of ‘racial tag’ stuck on male “indigenous Liberians” (citizens bearing native Liberian names) by freed African slaves from America “dumped” on the “Grain Coast”, later renamed “Liberia”, after they seized “political power”. Indigenous Liberians “racially indoctrinated” by these ‘exported freed slaves’ soon started calling—or describing— their “kinsmen” in the same “racial way”
This racial slur was later extended to educational level by the natives: You were called “country boy” (or “country girl”) if your surname name “Dweh”, “Yarkpawolo”, “Guanu”…or your class-room educational level was below that of the “former African slave” or his/her “Liberian protégé”
So George Manneh Weah—current President of Liberia—is a “country boy”. That’s based on his nativity and level of his education compared to that of each of his predecessors with a pure “freed slave” background (dumped on the “Grain Coast” around 1822), or an indigenous Liberian (Head of State) who had exhibited—through siphoning of monies from sold Liberia’s natural resources, or placing foreigners over Liberians in the natural resource distribution process— this “racial tendency” against his/her “compatriots” maintaining their “original nativity” through their “original indigenous names”
PRESIDENT GEORGE MANNEH WEAH—A “COUNTRY BOY”
His surname—“Weah”—has already revealed his ‘link’ as long as the “Country Boy” and “Congo Boy/Girl” (Americo-Liberia) dichotomy is concerned.
His parents were poor; he lived for decades in “slum area”—“Gibraltar” (a community in economically disadvantaged ‘Claratown’) with his parents; he never had access to top-class education (like children of the “Congo Boy/Girl” were being exposed to); he didn’t cross beyond 11th grade (due to his parents’ poverty status); and he couldn’t get a “rich meal” and a three-square meal (per day) was only got in his young imagination.
The Author of this article shares some of the ‘poverty experiences’ with this Man: Both parents extremely poor; born in a “slum community” (Township of West Point, in the Nation’s capital); couldn’t get a “rich meal”, and getting a three-square meal (per day) was only got in his young imagination; and never had access to “top-class education” (from Kindergarten to 12th grade)—now with only a High School certificate.
And an ‘ethnic connection’: This Author is a ‘kinsman’ to this Man: Both of Grand Kru County, situated in South-Eastern Liberia.
OUT-PERFORMANCE IN THE “FOOTBALL PROFESSION”
But George Manneh Weah’s exhibition of his “natural ability” (talent) later changed his situation: Poor boy to Rich Man.
At the home-front, he started first with Young Survivors Football Club (a Second Division Side) in his childhood community (Claratown); migrated, on greener pasture basis, to Mighty Barrolle Football Club (of Liberia’s Premier League); and continued his ‘greener pasture’ seeking journey to the Invincible Eleven (IE) Football Club (First-Division Side in the Liberian Premiere League) At each of these Teams, he captured majority of spectators’ heart with his ‘wizard dribbling’ (bringing three or more markers down to the ground with swaying of his body, the ball still between his legs), his marathonic speed (with the ball), and his ‘mysterious goals’. The Author of this article was one of his unwavering ‘worshippers’, especially on his ‘wizard dribbling’, even when “Oppong” was playing, for Young Survivors, against the ‘senior’ Football Team (La Modelle International) of my community (Township of West Point) between 1996 and 1989.
When the Home-front’s Premier Soccer arena became dwarfish by his towering and hovering Soccer figure, First-Division Teams of other African Countries and European Nations started courting him with ‘bigger cash’—far above the signing and playing fees any Liberian First-Division Team had to release.
So, he made his first ‘outside trip’, first to Cameroon on a call from that Country’s popular Division 1 side Union Douala.
But Arsenal Football Club, of England, used ‘cash violence’ against the African Team, and the Liberian football maestro moved to England. In the ‘red and white’ jersey, he mesmerized Arsenal Fans, and most of the English football lovers, with his entertaining dribbling skills, racing-car like speed with the ball, and hypnotizing goal-scoring.
But the Law of Kama caught up with Arsenal, and Chelsea Football Club snatched the ‘Liberian football magician’ from their English Sister. In the ‘blue and white jersey’, he did for “The Blues”—as he had done for the “Gunners”.
But the ‘marriage’ of George Manneh Weah and England’s Chelsea was short-lived on the conquest of AS Monaco Football Club of France. The ‘bigger money’ seeking Liberian rising global football icon couldn’t resist Monaco’s offer, so he said, “bye, bye”, to the owners, managers and fans of Chelsea.
In less than four years in the ‘blue. Red, and blue’ jersey (colours of AS Monaco), the owner of Italian Division 1, AC Milian, billionaire, Silvio Belusconi, brandished a check to George Weah’s face. The amount written on the check was almost the total sums of money offered by Arsenal, Chelsea, and AS Monaco combined.
“I can never lose this Italian’s offer,” the once poverty-stricken boy, of the “slum community” named Claratown, of the Republic of Liberia, said while he was still in AS Monaco’s jersey.
But the George Weah-AS Monaco marriage ended few months later, and he entered the ‘red and black’ jersey of AC Milian.
Few weeks later, an “indigenous Liberian name” with a number—“Weah” and “14”—with AC Milian flashed on many television screens and sports newspapers across the globe.
Fast Forward: In 1995, Liberia’s George Manneh Weah was announced by FIFA, on a unanimous vote by a majority of a body of World’s football greats and sports commentators, as African Best Player (in Europe), Europe’s Best African Player, and the World’s Best Player. He was—and still is today (Friday, July 17, 2020)—the only African footballer with these records. That means, he beats individual football records of other globally popular African footballers—Tarak Dhiab (Tunisia—African Player of the Year, 1977); Roger Miller (Cameroon), Tony Yeboah (Ghana); Stephen Kechi (Nigeria), etc.—who had gone ahead of him to First-class European football teams—and who he had watched on television screens in Liberia.
His records—in a single year (1995) also surpasses many of globally worshipped European and South American footballers—Pele (Brazil); Diego Maradonna (Argentina), Marco Van Basten (Holland), etc.—he had watched over television, worshipped in his teen years in his native Liberia—and had wish of “being” one day.
How still-playing-football George Manneh Weah used his (some of his) “professional fees” (football money) to restore peace in his civil war-ravaged Country and build the human resource capacity of his compatriots—even his political opponents (he was not absolutely politically neutral during those days)—is for another article by this Author.
GEORGE WEAH: THE HEAD OF STATE (PRESIDENT)
Weah in Liberia’s ‘symbolic’ Presidential Seat during inauguration (January 22, 2020) Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor shares the Presidential mood. Photo credit: Google.com
On the 22nd day of January, 2018 the global football icon, George Manneh Weah, was inaugurated Head of State the Republic of Liberia—after one painful Presidential defeat by most Western Nations’ favorite Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2005, and one painful defeat by his presidential candidate Winston Tubman by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2011.
WHO IS THAT “COUNTRY BOY/GIRL”
This person—male or female—is a former President of Liberia, with a non-indigenous Liberian surname and who had bragged or is boasting of being “more educated”—on the basis of possession of college papers—than any “future President” with a “indigenous Liberian name”
Living Liberian history shows us that Liberia has been plundered under a ‘foreign-name’ President more than under an ‘indigene-name’ President. To confirm this, look at the surnames of the Country’s former Heads of State from 1847 (beginning of Western-type political leadership in Liberia) and compare each President’s actions on the Country’s natural resources—gold, diamond, iron ore, oil, etc. These are things that facilitate the fast-track growth of any Country.
Some of the ‘plunderers’ would place “excuse” of their respective “poor performance” on ‘distracting political restiveness’ (by politically disadvantaged Liberians) as a top ‘impediment’ to their respective Presidential performance. But post this question to the excuse giver: “Did those behind the political unrest tie your brains or your hands to stop you from utilizing the human and material resources available to you to your Government to develop the Country?”
WHY I WISH FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL OUT-PERFORMANCE OF THIS “COUNTRY BOY”
First, because of my being a “Country Boy”—in name (“Dweh”)—similar to his.
Second, because of my history of “long-time” poverty period (over six years)—almost similar to his.
Third, because of my “low formal education” over a long time ( I have only a High School certificate—23 years after I graduated on Ghana’s refugee camp, 1997)—similar to his (he stopped at 11th grade at the Wells-Hairston Junior and Senior High School, Monrovia, before going on his football-playing journey out of Liberia)
Fourth, because of long stay in a “slum community” (Township of West Point) –similar to his.
Fifth, because of my having an athletic talent (footballer—I started playing in my childhood community, Township of West Point)—like his.
HOW THIS “COUNTRY BOY” CAN OUT-PERFORM HIS PREDECESSORS—“CONGO BOYS/GIRLS”
This is recommendation component of this article.
First, let me say that I’m aware that being a member of the Football Profession, who success is dependent solely on featuring the “most skillful players to positions/wings” on the pitch, George Manneh Weah doesn’t lack knowledge of how to achieve “victory” in a business venture involving a collection of different people with different talents or skills—for the success of the Football Team. This successful football understands that running a Country to “develop” for the socio-economic benefits of all citizens is similar to running a football team to generate money for the owner, the body of persons (coaches, players, medics, etc.) running the team for the owner, and the team’s loyal fans who invest their time and monies for the team to win and for them to get financial reward and ‘spiritual satisfaction’ (happiness) from victory of the team of players.
Solution method #1: This “Country Boy” should READ, everyday, any written material on “Leadership”, as well as ALL DOCUMENTS sent to his Office for perusal. On documents to the President, there’s leaked information from the Presidency that Head of State Dr. George Manneh Weah doesn’t read (most) of the “most important and high sensitive documents” presented to him for perusal and ‘final word’—endorsement or rejection, and that he only gives order to another person to read each document for him, and his only part is to affixes his signature.
A male relative of one of the President’s party top steward (working closely with the President) quoted his brother (working with the President) during one public discourse where I live. “The day President Weah begins reading at least ninety percent of communications presented to him, Liberia begin developing faster during his leadership—like it was during his predecessor’s time. The President hardly reads letters sent to him. He only gives order for the Personal Assistant or the Advisor on the particular subject to go through the document elsewhere, and then bring it for signing,” the guy quoted the President’s top buddy.
Personally reading a letter or a document gives you a deeper knowledge about the content of if than when done “for you” by another person. Laziness in reading a received letter causes a person to affix his/her signature to a ‘Legal Death Warrant’ prepared by an enemy—who’s aware of the person’s reading apathy.
Liberia’s 18th President, Samuel Kanyon Doe—another “Country Boy” (on his two indigenous names—“Kanyon” and “Doe”)—used to love reading all communications sent to him, says a former Minister of Information, during Doe’s Presidency, on the “Cyrus Pack Show”, a personality interview program, produced and presented by veteran Liberian electronic Journalist, Cyrus Koko-Wleh Badio, aired on State Radio Station, ELBC. The former Information said on the Show that the then President Doe had selected “Every Friday” as his ‘reading day’ for all communications he had received from various Liberian groupings, foreign governments, UN Agencies and independent International Development Organizations, through the Office of the Personal Assistant. Any strange ‘technical word’ or phrase he stumbles upon, he calls for help of definition or explanation from his Minister or Advisor whose expertise area the word or phrase is connected.
Second solution-method: President Weah should not make “political connection” as the sole condition of appointing people to his government. This condition creates an embarrassing governmental situation whereby most of those who are allowed into the governance system lack the knowledge of implementation of tasks assigned to them as “Ministers”, “Directors”, or another top government position. This is one of the main factors of Liberia’s snail-pace development under the leadership of a man who outstandingly excelled in the “Football Profession” Best brains from the opposition bloc should be brought in, for the less-informed members of the ruling political party (Coalition of Democratic Change) to learn from, but the President should MAKE A PUBLIC SHOW (broadcast/publication of name in the media) of any of these employed ‘political opponents’ who convincingly failed in performing an assigned task. This will silence the opposition camp that’s always blowing a trumpet on “failure” of the Weah’s Government. Later the Head of State should KICK OUT this “incompetent” person.
Solution method #3: President Weah should make it mandatory for all his party’s members holding top positions (Ministers or Directors), but whose outputs are below average, in terms of implementation, to attend week-end classes at any reputable Liberian University on the courses they said they had graduated in, but cannot defend with practical performance. This will prevent fake university degree holders being placed over Government Ministries or Agencies and continuously failing on their respective assigned tasks, which will save the image of the Weah’s Government.
Solution method #4: This “Country Boy” Head of State should promote Liberia’s “Talents Industry”—writers’ association, musicians’ union, cultural choreographers’ union, movie practitioners’ union, painters’ union, photographers’ association, national cooks’ unions, tailors & garment weavers’ union, etc. Talents (natural abilities) develop a country faster than any other skill does. George Weah’s—football playing—is an example. Talents promotion has received very little attention from each Liberian President—beginning from the first (Joseph Jenkins Robert), and each of the ‘Country Boy’ Heads of State (prior to George Weah’s ascendancy) had shown “much practical interest” in talents promotion than the “Congo Boy/Girl” Head of State. My example: Liberia’s Movie Industry was booming during the Presidency of Samuel Kanyon Doe (1980-1989), evident in the birth of “Malawala-Balawala”, produced by Kekura Kamara and his fellow creative colleagues. Which “Congo Boy/Girl” Head of State promote Liberia’s creativity sector, say movie production, by advocating for a national budgetary allotment or through personal support to the sector near to “Country Boy” Doe (President) did?
I’ve played my patriotic role as a Writer: Highlighting of the ‘issues’ and proffer solution-methods. It’s left with the President for his patriotic role: READ the Writer’s UNDERSCORED issues and try them—one after the other.
We will meet again through another nation-building article. But, before the next through-writing meeting, you can connect with me through any of my telephone and e-mail contacts, as well as my Social Media platform via the Author’s name with this article.
About the Author:
Samuel G. Dweh is a member of the Wedabo ethnic group of Grand Kru County, situated in the South-Eastern part of Liberia. He’s a member of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), and Liberia Association of Writers (LAW) He can be reached via: —+231 (0)886618906/776583266/samuelosophy@yahoo.com, samuelosophy1@gmail.com