Says LFA Executive Committee Member, Murvee Gray
PHOTO: Murvee Gray of the LFA EC
By Amara Konneh, konnehamara96@gmail.com
Monrovia- Amid series of criticisms and protestations by sports pundits calling for the resignation of the Liberia Football Association boss, Mustapha I Raji as result of National Team poor performance and other issues, an Executive Committee member of the Football governing body, Murvee Gray has rubbished the claim as poor propaganda that is intended to distract the works of the LFA.
The Liberia Football body under the leadership of Mustapha Raji has been engulfed with series of protests by people who believed to be stakeholders of Liberia Football that the failure of the Senior National Team to progress in CAF Competitions is associated with the LFA boss who lacks the will to deliver the Lone Star. They blame the FA President for the team not winning nightmare and for not qualifying for the African Cup of Nations and the World Cup.
Former Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports and now Executive Member on Inter-Schools Sports Association, Murvee Gray has dismissed the notion that the LFA boss and his executives are not responsible for the under performance of the Senior National Team whose primary responsibility is to play managerial role.
While on the other hand, he said that the National Government takes full responsibility and ownership as it is done around the world but he said, it is on the contrary in the case of Liberia.
Speaking in an interview with journalists at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia, EC member, Gray added that the National Team is owned by the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Youth Sports whose shoulder the financial issues. And they as LFA provides the managerial skills as caretakers with financial supports from government, but for others to think and run with false claims and accusations which they can’t provide any prove, are just meant to create false impression and poor propaganda for would be individuals desiring of becoming LFA President.
He said that the LFA is opened to everyone who wants to be president if the person meets the necessary requirements and standards but to go in the public and provide false and misleading information on the character of the respected young man in African Football.
Mr. Gray therefore, said that it is unfortunate but as an Executive Committee Member at the LFA, it is his primary responsibility to erect the necessary checkpoint and feed the public with the facts.
“So, those who are making false claims that the LFA President should be held liable for the National Team poor performance to tell the public how much government has given to Liberia Football. If you have gone to other countries, you will realize that Liberia is far behind other countries in terms of support to National Team,” the LFA Executive Committee member noted.
He said through the LFA Boss and his Executive Committee Members solicited funds to shoulder the financial backing while the team was in Morocco but unfortunately the match could not play due the country disaster and upon returning to play the reschedule match.
According to Mr. Murvee Gray, it was the same LFA President that provided funding for the players and technical staff. Citing that with all of the challenges under taken by the LFA Boss then why will someone say, Mustapha Raji Is responsible for the National Team poor performance?
However, the LFA Executive Committee member mentioned that there are factors surrounding the poor performance of the Senior National Team and if these issues are not addressed and taken as priorities, we would experience the same thing under any leadership.
He further said that because there are not many players in top competitions outside Liberia like other countries, there is no sustainable programs sponsored by National Government like U-15, 17 and 20 teams.
Mr. Gray added that if these factors are not amicably addressed by financial backing, there will always be poor performance from our players and the LFA Boss will not be responsible for the under-performance of those players.