Henry Flomo, AfricaNews reporter in Monrovia, Liberia
The FIFA world cup trophy has been received by Africa's first female elected president, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and is currently on display in the Liberian capital, Monrovia. The coveted 18-carat gold-plated trophy spent the night in Liberia having arrived Monday evening from neighboring Sierra Leone on tour of Africa.
Frenzy had been created for the cup by the constant texting of messages to mobile users in the country by a local mobile company, keeping track of the trophy’s location and destination for like a month before the Monday arrival. Disappointingly, local officials announced later that there would be restriction on the turnout for viewing.
Many had hoped the cup be displayed at the open stadium, rather it was taken into the conference room of the stadium with privilege few allowed. A football official, name withheld, said there were fears the cup would have been stolen if exposed to a large crowd.
The action is being criticized as many said they would have loved to celebrate with it since this is the only chance they have. The country is yet to reach the world cup finals, and there are no indications in view given the level of poor management of football in the country.
A local sport journalist, Albert Jaja, frowned on the decision. He questioned why officials will call on the citizens to line the streets to welcome the cup to the capital but deny them of attending the actual ceremony of seeing the cup.
At the Samuel Kayan Doe sport complex, the Liberian leader and chief patron of sports Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf received the cup in the full view of officials of the Liberia Football Association along with dignitaries and sport journalists with the virtual absence of hoi polloi. The Liberian leader was the only person allowed to touch the beautiful cup.
The cup, at long last touched down at the Roberts International Airport outside of the capital Monday evening. It is on its way to Burkina Faso from Liberia as part of the Coca-Cola FIFA2010 Trophy Tour.
South Africa will become the first country on the continent to host the world’s premier football tournament by next year. Liberia has never qualified for the finals.
The FIFA world cup trophy has been received by Africa's first female elected president, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and is currently on display in the Liberian capital, Monrovia. The coveted 18-carat gold-plated trophy spent the night in Liberia having arrived Monday evening from neighboring Sierra Leone on tour of Africa.
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