Lone Star Must Respect Lesotho With the senior National team of Liberia the Lone Star in Lesotho to defend their solitary goal lead against the Crocodiles, a feat they achieved in the first leg on May 18, at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS), courtesy of a relatively effortless tap in from towering Captain Anthony Snorti Laffor in an African Nations Cup qualifier, the Lone Star under seemingly left-over Coach Roberto Landi must put forth a cautious approach against Seephepe Matetes outfit on Sunday June 1. The return of Landi who according to the Liberia Football Association (LFA) won a case against them after they fired the lethargic Italian for poor performance raises eyebrows in many quarters. According to the football house, they are indebted to the Italian a staggering US$ 200,000.00 and that FIFA has asked them to reinstate the tactically erratic Italian, though the LFA is yet to show any communication from FIFA on such delicate issue and in fact such salient matter is no where a major news as it cannot be seen on the website of FIFA. LFA Vice President for Administration Musa Shannon who is a close ally of Landi is said to be the key orchestrator in this whole Landi reappearance under the canopy of FIFA directive. Whatever the case is, the red, white and blue are in cold Maseru, the Capital of Lesotho, with the aim of qualifying as a draw would see them to likely face Kenyas Harambee Stars who narrowly defeated minnows Comoros Island in Nairobi in the first leg tie. With no major inclusion on the Lone Star despite passionate appeal for the likes of Theo Lewis Weeks, Francis Forkay Doe, Patrick Ronaldinho Wleh, Solomon Grimes, Gizzie Tucan Dorbor and others to be included as a means of augmenting the poor travelers squad, the foreign based contingent of Melvin King, Al-Seny Keita, Chris Roosevelt Jones, Kpah Sherman, Sekou Jabateh Oliseh, Anthony Snorti Laffor and Chris Momo are expected to combine with their local based colleagues to see the Lone Star through. Since the match is not a must win one for the Lone Star, they dont need to play expansive, risky football, but must respect Lesotho by playing a cautiously compact game. Thus, a flexible 4-2-3-1 formation with ball retention the key will be necessary. They should not over respect their opponents though, but must respect them somehow, be calm, frustrate them with much possession, absorb their pressure and catch them on the break via a brutal counter attack from wide areas. The finishing too must be clinical as they will be very few and far between, but the Lone Star must avoid defeat in the coldest city in Southern Africa. As a probable line up: Nathaniel Sherman should be between the sticks and will be behind a back four of Alpha James, Myers Garlo, Teah Dennis and Sylvester Seimujla. The double pivot or two holding midfielders to protect the back four and urge the middle three should be Prince Jetoh and Al-Seny Keita. The middle three should be Chris Roosevelt Jones as the play maker between the pair of Anthony Snorti Laffor and Sekou Jabateh Oliseh, while Kpah Sherman should be the lone striker upfront. Historically, the Lone Star has won just once in Southern Africa and that was on June 16, 2001, when a certain Isaac Tondo got two goals, one in each half against unfancy Mauritius to see a fringe Lone Star squad winning 2-0 in Belle Vue in a rather academic contest in a Group 2, 2002 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) Qualifier. With only two oversea based players in Jimmy Dixon and Dulee Johnson, the Lone Star had already qualified for Mali 2002 African Nations Cup finals but Isaac Tondo ensured the party continue. The teams first visit to Southern Africa was when a completely local based Lone Star held the Brave Warriors of Namibia 0-0 in Windhoek on January 11, 1997, in a 1998 Afcon qualifier. The team would return to Windhoek 15 years later, this time with a mixture of over sea and local based players to get the same score line of 0-0 on June 16, 2012. But, the Lone Star four defeats in Southern Africa were against South Africas Bafana who beat the Lone Star in Johannesburg 2-1 on December 16, 2000, September 4, 2004, against Zambias Chipolopolo in a match Africas 1988 footballer of the year Kalusha Bwalya came out of retirement, from the bench, took of his track suit after Coaching to score a spectacular free kick to end the match 1-0 in Zambias favor in Lusaka. September 4, 2011, the Lone Star were mauled 3-0 by the Warriors of Zimbabwe in Harare. Then, on September 7, 2013, the Lone Star were hammered in Luanda by the Palancas Negras of Angola 4-1.
Posted on: Fri, 30 May 2014 20:56:45 +0000
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