Weah blasted as 'incapable'

By Ledgerhood Rennie
BBC Sport, Monrovia

Sogbie is not impressed by Weah's credentials for high office

Jonathan Sogbie has taken a swipe at George Weah, branding his former international team-mate "incapable" of governing Liberia.

Weah, the former Lone Star skipper, is one of several candidates hoping to be elected President after next month's landmark elections.

But his ambitions for political office have not cut any ice with Sogbie, currently in Monrovia on holiday from the United States.

Sogbie is the second former Liberian international to oppose Weah publicly after the 1995 World Footballer of the Year's cousin, James Debbah.

Sogbie told a news conference in the capital that his former national team captain was incapable of governing Liberia.

He said: "I know George Weah better than his opponents in the elections. Liberia has serious problems which need serious people to resolve them, both past and present."

Sogbie's stance adds to the raging debate about Weah's suitability for the highest office in war-ravaged Liberia.

The football legend has already come under fire from several analysts who question both his political skills and level of education.

Weah has admitted to being a secondary school drop-out during a Presidential radio debate in Monrovia recently.

He said: "I had to leave school in 1987 to take up the Tonnere Clara Club offer in Cameroon due to poverty."

Sogbie said Weah's poor level of education would make it difficult for him to grasp the critical issues confronting the country after 14 years of war.

"We are going to make a decision today for tomorrow. Therefore, we won't allow friendship to jeopardise the nation's future."