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MARKET BUYING AND SELLING RATESLIBERIAN DOLLARS PER US DOLLAR

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News Extra pg. 12

NEW KRU TOWN TOPS POWER THEFT

LEC RED ALERT“As I said over 300 meters were removed from over 40 light poles, this translates into 90 percent of revenues loss. And each day in New Kru Town, LEC losses almost US$ 4,000.00 and our meters get damaged

in the process.” Vamunyah Sheriff Executive Director, LEC

BANDA OFFICIALLY OUT

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Paynesville City Council Provides Free Medical Care for Residents at Sixteen

Medical Centers

GIVING BACK

LIBERIA OUT OF AFCON

Lesotho capitalizes on home advantage to advance with 2-0 win over Liberia; 2-1 aggregate

Peter Mutharika has been sworn in as Malawi's president after the High Court rejected a request for a recount following allegations of vote-rigging.

MITTAL DEDICATES

SCHOOL IN BASSA

Page 2 | Frontpage Monday, June 2, 2014

Rodney D. Sieh, rodney.sieh@frontpageafricaonline.com

Monrovia -

Just days before the start of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, The Sunday Times of London has unleashed leaked secret documents detailing how Mr. Mohamed Bin Hammam, who was the President of the Asian Football Confederation

and a member of the FIFA Executive Committee at the time of the vote for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup in December 2010, utilized a systematic campaign to win support for Qatar 2022 in Africa to the tune of more than $5 million from slush funds.In the wake of the scandal, Bin Hammam was booted out of FIFA in a bribery scandal involving then-Concacaf president Jack Warner as he sought to win support in the Caribbean for his bid to unseat FIFA president Sepp Blatter. Bin Hammam sought to secure support from the African voters, lobbying them on junkets at which he showered them with gifts, lucrative benefits, private jet travel and extraordinary hospitality. Emails, faxes, accounts and dozens of bank transfer slips show he bought support across the continent by handing out hundreds of thousands of pounds in cash to African football officials and making payments directly into their personal bank accounts. The money was paid from a series of slush funds controlled by his Kemco construction company, including his own and his daughter’s bank accounts.Buying support across Africa, according to the report, was central to Bin Hammam’s strategy because the members of CAF exerted collective influence over how its block of four Exco members should vote. Several of the officials he paid held seats on CAF’s ruling executive committee and another nine currently sit on standing committees of the Fifa executive.In Liberia, Izetta Wesley, then candidate for the LFA presidency received US$10,000 from Bin Hamann and showed her appreciation to after Qatar won the bid: “I had a wonderful time and was previledge [sic] to sea [sic] that part of the world,” she wrote in a leaked email. “I will always cherish these memories. Thanks for all the beautiful gifts.” Similar amounts were also paid to football associations in Africa. The funds were paid directly into her account.The damning part of the report in the Times, appearing behind a paid subscription wall, obtained by FrontPageAfrica, details how a "senior figure" inside the football’s world governing body decided to "blow the whistle" on Qatar 2022. The leaked documents include emails from Liberia’s football legend George Weah, the only African international to win the Ballon d'Or, and Lenn Eugene Nagbe, a former Secretary General of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change and current minister of Youth and Sports to bin Hammam's assistant, providing Weah’s banking account information -- a Bank of America account in Pembroke Pines, Fla.Weah writes in an email dated January 25, 2010: “I write because after meeting with the President [bin Hammam], he told me to pass on my contact and bank details information to you urgently.”

The Nagbe communication(unedited) reads: Follow-up-up to the conversation with George Weah & Eugne NagbeFrom: Eugene NagbeTo: Najeeb ChirakalCc: George WeahSent: January 25, 2010 9:20:50 PMMr. President:I really was a pleasure speaking with you earlier today through Mr. Weah. Since we last me in Doha a couple of years ago, I was pleased to have spoken to you again.Regarding the matter you discussed with Weah, please be assured that all of us, mostly Mr. Weah, hold you in a very very high esteem and will remain loyal to you because of all you have done for the development of football in the world. George gas repeatedly spoken of his support for our future plans in world football and we all look forward to your ascendency.On the issue with the Liberia FA, we will do what we have to do to support the candidate, Mr. President, the FA elections has been so much politicized that various political factions and parties support and candidate. The issue with the incumbent is that the other leading candidate has launched a very high profile campaign which has put her on the back foot and her campaign is suffering. With George’s influence, we will have to work very fast as the elections is less than couple of months away.I spoke to George further today and informed him that we will need to inject additional cash into the lady’s campaign if we are to make the impact we need to make. Conservatively, an amount of about USD 50, 000 will be needed additionally to lock the election down because Izetta was really behind the candidate which being supported by the political party of the government. George will also have to fly to Liberia at least twice before the elections.Please be assured Mr. President, that this is just a step in the bigger scheme of things to come. George have lined up most of the other former stars and the federations in Africa and South America so that when we are ready, your victory will be assured.I suggest that since George is in Doha with you, both of you conclude on this so that we can start moving right away as time is not on our side.

Look forward to seeing you again.Thanks,EugeneWeah, who was due back in Monrovia Saturday, was not available for a response as his phone was switched off. But Nagbe, when contacted Sunday, provided FrontPageAfrica with an email response he says he also provided to the Sunday Times but which he says was not included in the Times report.Nagbe acknowledges MeetingsThe Times inquired from Nagbe whether he requested $US50,000 for Izetta Wesley's campaign to be re-elected as president of the Liberian Liberia Football Association(LFA). “A sum of the same amount was subsequently deposited in Mr. Weah's account. Did you consider such a payment inappropriate or even corrupt? I am writing for Sunday's newspaper and would be grateful for a response by the end of today,” the Times senior reporter, Jon Ungoed-Thomas wrote.

In his response, Nagbe explained that in 2009, he and Weah and had a series of discussions with Mr. Bin Hammam, centering on Mr. Bin Hammam's desire to contest for the Presidency of FIFA and his request to have Mr. Weah support this ambition. Nagbe said Weah acquiesced and promised to canvass when Mr. Hammam puts himself forward.Noted Nagbe: “I did send an email to Mr. Hammam on behalf of Mr. Weah for him to support Mrs. Izzetta Wesley's campaign to get re-elect as Presisent of the Liberian FA as part of a grander scheme to harness the support of progressive, reform minded individuals in furtherance of Mr. Hammam's quest to ascend to the helm of FIFA and effect positive change there. The request for support to Mrs. Wesley was never a part of any scheme to get Qatar awarded the 2022 World cup. Subsequent events have proven that as neither Mr. Weah nor Madam Wesley cast or influenced the vote for the award of 2022 to Qatar.”

~ FIFA SCANDAL UNRAVELS ~

 SEE page 3

FrontpageMonday, June 2, 2014 Page 3

“I write because after meeting with the President [bin Hammam], he told me to pass on my contact and bank details information to you urgently.” – An email

communication from George Weah to bin Hammam's assistant, Najeeb Chirakal

~ FIFA SCANDAL UNRAVELS ~

 

US$10K FOR WESLEYIn Liberia, Izetta Wesley, then candidate for

the LFA presidency received US$10,000 from Bin Hamann and showed her appreciation to after Qatar won the bid: “I

had a wonderful time and was previledge [sic] to sea [sic] that part of the world,” she wrote

in a leaked email. “I will always cherish these memories. Thanks for all the beautiful gifts.” Similar amounts were also paid to football associations in Africa. The funds were paid directly into her account.

 

SCANDAL HIGHLIGHTS

The files, compiled by analyzing an electronic database of hundreds of millions of emails, accounts and other documents, unlock the mystery of how a tiny desert state with no football infrastructure won the right to host the world’s biggest sporting tournament. This week they reveal how Bin Hammam:• Used 10 slush funds controlled by his private company and cash handouts to make dozens of payments of up to $200,000 into accounts controlled by the presidents of 30 African football associations who held sway over how the continent’s four executive (Exco) members would vote• Hosted a series of lavish junkets for football presidents across Africa at which he handed out almost $400,000 in cash and met delegates privately to offer further payments while pushing for their support for the Qatar bid• Paid out at least €305,000 in legal and private detective fees for Reynald Temarii, the disgraced Oceania Exco member, after he was suspended for telling undercover reporters that he had been offered $12m for his vote. Temarii

refused to resign as an Exco member, thus preventing his planned replacement from voting for Qatar’s rival Australia in 2022 and England in 2018• Funnelled more than $1.6m directly into bank accounts controlled by Jack Warner, the Exco member for Trinidad and Tobago, including $450,000 before the vote• Used his position in charge of Fifa’s Goal Programme funds to channel $800,000 to the Ivory Coast FA, whose Exco member Jacques Anouma agreed to “push very hard the bid of Qatar”. He also signed off two payments of $400,000 each to the federations of two other voters• Hosted Issa Hayatou, the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), on a lavish junket in Doha at which delegates were lobbied over the 2022 bid. A month later the Qatar bid committee announced an exclusive $1m deal to sponsor CAF’s annual congress in Angola, preventing rival countries including Australia from lobbying key figures from the continent.

 

Nagbe however said he was not aware that the request for financial support to Mrs. Wesley's campaign was ever made to Mr. Weah. I have spoken to Mr. Weah who has informed me that he had availed all records of his finances to an earlier inquiry by FIFA and that he has always acted with integrity and prudence. George Weah is a genuine hero of the world and African game. He is a legend and a quintessential iconic footballer whose contribution to the global

game on and off the pitch has remained exemplary and irreproachable. It is my worry that your investigation of the award of 2022 to Qatar is now being skewed towards a vainglorius assailment of the reputation of this great football legend purely to fit a pre-designed narrative that England was cheated by and through a grand conspiracy.” Fifa’s rules ban bid committees, or any of their associates, from “providing to Fifa or any representative of Fifa ... any monetary gifts

[or] any kind of personal advantage that could give even the impression of exerting influence, or conflict of interest, either directly or indirectly, in connection with the bidding process ... and any benefit, opportunity, promise, remuneration or service to any such individuals, in connection with the bidding process”.The revelations threaten to engulf Fifa as it prepares to gather for its annual congress in Brazil on June 10 ahead of the World Cup.

Much of that investigation is confirmed in the Sunday Times investigation as it determined bin Hammam used AFC accounts to access cash and his private construction company, Kemco, to funnel money to African officials seeking handouts.

Bin Hammam's goal was to gain a groundswell of support in Africa for the Qatar 2022 campaign so that the four executive committee members would have no choice but to support Qatar 2022. Before

the vote, Amos Adamu of Nigeria was suspended after being caught in a Sunday Times sting operation. The other three Africans were Cameroonian Issa Hayatou, Egyptian Hany Abu Rida and Ivorian Jacques Anouma.The Sunday Times said the Qatari bid committee was aware of the efforts to court African delegations on trips to Doha though it was not clear how much it knew about payments beyond travel expenses.Qatar won the vote of the FIFA executive committee by 14-8. It has pushed ahead with its plans for the 2022 World Cup though FIFA has yet to decide when to hold the tournament -- summer or winter.Despite suggestions of a re-vote on the 2022 host, few believe it will take place without compelling evidence that the Qatar 2022 bid committee was directly involved in payoffs to members of the executive committee. FIFA investigator Michael Garcia is scheduled to meet with Qatar 2022 bid committee officials this week. It is not clear whether that meeting will go ahead in light of the new revelations.The scandal is already heightening calls for the World Cup bid to be taken away from Qatar. Football chiefs, politicians and anti-corruption experts, according to the Times are calling for the competition for the 2022 World Cup to be rerun. Alexandra Wrage, a former member of Fifa’s independent

governance committee, said the evidence was a “smoking gun”.John Whittingdale, chairman of the Commons culture committee, said: “There is now an overwhelming case that the decision as to where the World Cup should be held in 2022 should be run again.”The disclosures come as the Qatar 2022 bid committee is facing a showdown with Fifa’s top investigator, Michael Garcia, in Oman. Sources say Garcia will interview the Qatar bid committee face to face for the first time during his two-year investigation into alleged corruption in the bidding contests for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.Facing pressure to rerun the bid, Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president, admitted last month that it had been a “mistake” to hand the tournament to Qatar after Fifa’s technical assessors had said a Doha World Cup would be “high risk” because the searing desert temperatures of up to 50C could be harmful to the players.Bin Hammam declined to respond to correspondence and calls last week. His son emailed The Sunday Times to say that he and the family would not comment. Members of the Qatar bid committee denied any link to Bin Hammam and said he had played no secret role in their campaign. They said they had no knowledge of any payments he had made and they had no involvement in any improper conduct,” the Times reported.

Page 4 | Frontpage Monday, June 2, 2014~ FIFA SCANDAL UNRAVELS ~

Jon Ungoed-Thomas, The Sunday Times of London

Anyone strolling on the lawns in the tropical sunshine might have seen the neat figure of Mohammed Meshadi — one of the Qatari football chief’s most trusted aides — slipping through the palms at the entrance to the glinting glass-fronted AFC building.Click on the hyperlinks to read the supporting documents

Follow all the breaking news and reaction to this story on Sunday hereMeshadi was there to collect a package containing $100,000 in crisp banknotes withdrawn from expense accounts controlled by Bin Hammam in his role as president of the AFC.Insiders say Bin Hammam ran the AFC like a personal fiefdom and had no qualms about draining its coffers of cash when the occasion demanded it. And this was a special occasion.The debonair Qatari had invited the leaders of 25 African football associations to come to Kuala Lumpur on an all-expenses-paid junket and he was determined to make a favourable impression.Accounts seen by The Sunday Times show a total of $200,000 was withdrawn to provide “cash advances for CAF guests” in the 48 hours before the visitors arrived.CAF is the Confédération Africaine de Football, the sport’s governing body in Africa, which is dominated by Francophone west African countries such as Cameroon and Togo.The visitors, who received their spending money and gifts as they arrived, were treated to a trip to the exquisite Malaysian coastal resort of Malacca.Even Izetta Wesley, the formidable Liberian Football Association president — known to her colleagues as the Iron Lady — was uncharacteristically gushing in her appreciation afterwards.“I had a wonderful time and was previledge [sic] to sea [sic] that part of the world,” she wrote in a leaked email. “I will always cherish these memories. Thanks for all the beautiful gifts.”Cash handouts and gifts were not all that was on offer. The correspondence shows that after the delegates left, Bin Hammam ordered his finance staff to transfer direct payments to Anjourin Moucharafou, the president of the Benin FA and a CAF executive committee member, and three other delegates.Qatar’s bid to host the World Cup in 2022 was not due to be submitted formally until March 2009, but it was vital to shore up support behind the scenes well in advance.Another junket was organiZed in Kuala Lumpur only four months after the first. This time the African football chiefs were invited to bring their wives and daughters.Meshadi was dispatched to AFC headquarters to collect another stack of dollar bills. Internal spreadsheets show that the visitors and their companions were to be presented with $5,000 each when they arrived, amounting to $195,000 in total.A set of gifts was also prepared for each guest and packed up in Nike holdalls that were left in their five-star hotel rooms.Among the guests on the list in line for Bin Hammam’s beneficence was Lydia Nsekera, who was then the president of the Burundi FA and is now the first female member of Fifa’s powerful executive committee (Exco).Forty guests were treated to a private cruise on the blue expanse of Putrajaya Lake, south of Kuala Lumpur. Moving among them was Amadou Diallo, a French-speaking west African who acted as Bin Hammam’s trusted bagman. Time was made for each of the delegates to have a private meeting with the Qatari.Moucharafou of Benin was there again and the thank you email he sent to Bin Hammam afterwards brings to the forefront the role of Issa Hayatou, the powerful Cameroonian who had been president of CAF since 1987 and was one of Africa’s four Exco members with votes on who would get the 2022 World Cup. Hayatou has repeatedly shrugged off allegations of corruption and remains in office today.“Your engagement in a partnership that is of profit to Africa next to President Issa Hayatou is for me a positive reinforcement of our future actions,” Moucharafou wrote.Soon afterwards, Hayatou’s vice-president at CAF, General Seyi Memene of Togo, was paid $22,400 by Bin Hammam to fund a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia for himself and his wife.Requests continued to roll in. The president of the Swaziland FA and former senator, Adam “Bomber” Mthethwa, emailed Bin Hammam to thank him for an “unforgettable” visit to Kuala Lumpur.He went on: “I am in dire need of finance in the region of $30,000. This arises from the fact that I’ve just retired from politics and my gratuity will only be paid to me when I reach the age of 55 in 2010.” The documents do not record the Qatari’s response, though he forwarded the email to be dealt with by his private staff.Bin Hamman’s next step was to build on the goodwill he had bought. In February 2009 he travelled to the CAF congress in Lagos, Nigeria. The emails show special care was taken to ensure that bagman Diallo was accommodated “in the same hotel where the delegates [are] staying”.A month later the Qatari football association formally registered its bid to host the World Cup, entering the race against the US, Australia, Japan and South Korea.The rewards of the groundwork Bin Hammam had so carefully laid in Africa with Diallo’s help were apparent as soon as the bid became public. Fadoul Houssein, the president of the Djibouti football association, emailed Bin Hammam the same day, ready to sign up for the fight and to bring east Africa onside.“I was very pleased with you when I heard this news with our brother Diallo,” he wrote. “I am ready to go with you to the end. I’m sure that Somalia, the Comoros ... Sudan, Yemen [not a member of CAF] and Djibouti will support us. Count on me. I am already starting the war and I am sure you will win.”He was right: the football leaders of those countries all became close allies of Bin Hammam and were rewarded for their loyalty. Houssein himself solicited payments of more than $30,000 to fund expensive medical treatment for his association’s general secretary.The Somali football association had $100,000 paid into its bank account. When Sudan’s association asked for help paying for its general assembly, Bin Hammam’s staff asked it to provide bank details.The Yemeni football association was paid just under $10,000 and emails show Bin Hammam’s staff arranging another bank transfer to the Comoros, the island group off east Africa that, like Djibouti, is a former French colony.WHEN Bin Hammam turned up at Fifa’s annual congress at Nassau in the Bahamas in June 2009, he was ready to step up his campaign to cement the loyalty of his African brothers. The emails show he met a string

LIBERIA LINKED

 

The story of Mohamed bin Hammam’s secret campaign to bring the World Cup to the Gulf began on a humid June morning in 2008, at the headquarters of the Asian

Football Confederation in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.

of CAF delegates in private to discuss their financial needs. After the congress, Seedy Kinteh, the president of the Gambia football association, emailed Bin Hammam: “I really need your brotherly help again as per discussed in Bahamas and I hereby provide you with the full bank details that you can use for any transfer.”Just 10 days later another email dropped into Bin Hammam’s inbox from Kinteh. “Many thanks indeed for your recent mail disclosing to me the transfer of $10,000,” the Gambian wrote. “I must first of all express my profound gratitude to you for this very wounderful [sic] brotherly gesture that you have once again demonstrated.”Kinteh said he was sure the money would go a long way to develop the skills of Gambia’s players — although the payment had gone into his own bank account. He signed off: “I have every reason to be grateful and indeed my President and Brother I AM !!!!”Manuel Dende, the Sao Tome FA president, emailed Bin Hammam after meeting him in Nassau, asking for $232,000 to be paid into his personal bank account, ostensibly to build artificial football pitches in his country.Perhaps the request for so much money was considered a touch audacious as Bin Hammam faxed a copy of it to his staff with the scrawled instruction: “I want to transfer $60,000 to this federation.” The money was not immediately forthcoming and when Dende was eventually emailed with news that he had been paid only $50,000, his response was curt.“Ok, tks,” he replied.Liberia’s Iron Lady was more easily gratified. She received $10,000 into her personal bank account and responded: “I’ve received the transfer. Please convey my thanks and appreciations to Mohamed. May the Almighty Allah replenish his resources a hundred fold. I am so happy that I have a brother and friend that I can always depend on.”The Ivory Coast football association — fiefdom of Jacques Anouma, a key figure as he had a vote on Exco — received £22,000 from one of Bin Hammam’s private slush funds, while the president of the Moroccan association, Said Belkhayat, received a payment straight into his personal bank account. The document trail does not show what this money was spent on.Back in Qatar, the official team for the 2022 bid campaign was taking shape.Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani, the young son of the emir, had been anointed as chairman of the bid committee, while Hassan al- Thawadi, 31, the rake-thin, general counsel of Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, had been brought in as chief executive.His more rotund deputy was Ali al-Thawadi, described by those who have met him as surlier than his silver-tongued namesake.When their appointment was announced in September 2009, Ali al-Thawadi had just returned from Kuala Lumpur where he and three other members of the bid team had been entertained by Bin Hammam as “special guests”.The Qatari grandee — several decades older than the bid’s fresh-faced leaders — had evidently impressed the younger men with his efforts to curry favour with his African brotherhood.One of the committee’s first moves was to set the ball rolling for another lavish junket for the CAF presidents hosted by Bin Hammam — this time in Doha, the Qatari capital, in December 2009.The emails show how Bin Hammam’s team worked closely with the official committee in organising the junket.Hassan and Ali al-Thawadi were with Bin Hammam in November 2009 at the Asian Champions League final in Tokyo.The following month Ali al-Thawadi emailed Najeeb Chirakal, Bin Hammam’s right-hand man at his private office in Doha, asking for “a list of all CAF federation’s [sic] visiting doha [sic] high lighting the ones who confirmed up to date and updating it on a daily basis as confirmations are received from them”.Chirakal and “bagman” Diallo arranged for 35 African football association presidents and three key Exco voters to fly to Doha business class in groups throughout December and stay at the pyramid-shaped Sheraton hotel on the shores of the Gulf in the city’s exclusive West Bay area.Just before the guests began arriving, Bin Hammam’s staff paid $50,000 straight into the bank account of Kalusha Bwalya, the president of the Zambian football association. The former Zambian winger had written to Bin Hammam in October to ask for “about 50 thousand dollars for my football association and personal expenditures”.Hayatou, the Cameroonian overlord of African football, was the first to arrive with his wife on December 6, followed by Amos Adamu, the Nigerian Exco member. Five days earlier, payments of $400,000 each had been channelled to their national federations from the Fifa Goal Programme fund controlled by Bin Hammam. The money was earmarked for works on their headquarters.Jacques Anouma, the Exco member for Ivory Coast, also arrived and was not left out of the Goal Programme spending spree: his federation had already received $400,000 and was granted another $400,000 the next year.Payments came from an account in the name of Bin Hammam’s daughter, AishaBin Hammam is likely to face questions about the conflict of interest in his position as chairman of the Goal Programme fund while secretly lobbying recipients of the cash to support the Qatar bid.Ali Al-Thawadi presided anxiously over the arrangements for the Doha junket, repeatedly asking Chirakal in Bin Hammam’s office to send him the latest list of delegates who were expected, wanting to know the details of the programme arranged for them and instructing him to forward the invoices for all the flights and hotel rooms to the bid for payment.“Please forward me the final list of CAF delegation arrival and departure. The full cost of their flight expenses and accommodation. The full program that has been arranged for them in their visit in Qatar,” he wrote on December 16.He wrote again at the end of the month: “Please provide us with the invoices regarding the African [sic] FA’s visit last week from the accommodation and the travelling expenses in order to not delay those payments.”It is clear evidence of the closeness between Bin Hammam’s secret operation and the official Qatari bid committee. The leaders of the bid will now be called upon to explain how much they knew about Bin Hammam’s covert campaign to buy support for the 2022 Qatar World Cup.They deny all knowledge of payments he made and say they were not involved in any such conduct and had no secret role in the bid.Very little detail has survived about the hospitality the delegates enjoyed on the junket.What the documents do show beyond doubt is that Bin Hammam used the junket to hold a series of private meetings with the delegates at which he lobbied them to throw their support behind Qatar’s bid at the same time as offering them handsome payments.David Fani, president of the Botswana football association, emailed Bin Hammam afterwards to say how impressed he had been by Qatar’s preparations for the 2022 bid.“I have no doubt that your country will be ready for the 2022 Fifa World Cup and, even without a vote, I pledge my support to you in this respect. If there is anything that I can do, no matter how small, to assist your course, I would be happy to oblige,” he wrote.“I will write to you in the new year concerning assistance to Botswana Football Association as per our discussion of 21st December 2009.”John Muinjo, president of the Namibian football association, also emailed Bin Hammam to express his enthusiasm for the Qatar bid — at a price.“Kindly take note that Namibia football association will always be behind you in its unequivocal support at all times,” he wrote. He then added: “Dear President, allow me to sign off by humbly requesting you for the 2022 bid committee to consider as we discussed the legacy of putting up an artificial turf in the densely populated area of the north of Namibia which will positively score you points in the final analysis as you embark upon the mammoth task of securing the bid for vibrant Qatar in 2022.“We would want to be assisted with a once off financial assistance to the tune of U$50-000 for the 2010 season to run our second division leagues that went crippled by the prevailing global economic melt down.”Bin Hammam responded personally: “I really appreciate your kind support to Qatar Bid for 2022 World Cup ... As far as the request made by Namibia Football Association, I will see that it will be delivered as soon as possible.”Anouma of Ivory Coast was just as enthusiastic. His secretary-general, Idriss Diallo, wrote to Bin Hammam after the junket: “My president Jacques Anouma ask me to think about a strategy to help his very good friend President Bin Hammam. So ... I send you in this mail a proposal to push very hard the Bid of Qatar 2022.”Anouma followed up with his own email: “After my recent stay in Doha at your invitation, I would like to express all my thanks and gratitude for the fraternal welcome you reserved for my wife and I and members of our federation.“I want to tell you how much I appreciate your availability and your attention vis-à-vis African federations hereof. It is no doubt that the Doha meeting will contribute to tighten the bonds of friendship and brotherhood between, first, the African federations and your confederation, and secondly, between yourself and leaders of African football.”He went on: “I would like to assure you of my desire to ensure that the discussions we had together during this stay translate into concrete action. I would ask you to convey to His Highness the Emir of Qatar my sincere

SEE page 5

FrontpageMonday, June 2, 2014 Page 5~ FIFA SCANDAL UNRAVELS ~

 

thanks and expression of my deep respect." THE extent to which Bin Hammam and the Qatari bid committee had beguiled Africa’s football barons became clear immediately.Amos Adamu, the Nigerian member of Fifa’s executive committeeOn January 7, 2010, just days after the last of the delegates had returned home from the Doha junket, CAF announced that it had struck a $1m deal for the Qatar 2022 bid committee to sponsor its annual congress in Angola at the end of the month. The secretary-general emailed to all the other bid committees: “Kindly note that CAF has signed an exclusive sponsorship agreement with Qatar 2022 for the CAF Congress 2010, which as a consequence means that no other bidding nations for the Fifa World Cup will be allowed to make any presentations at the Congress.“However, your delegation and representatives will be allowed to attend as ‘observers’, but without the possibility to organise press conferences, distribute any promotional material or erect stands to that effect within the venue and its vicinity on that day.”The announcement sparked fury among the other bidding nations which had intended to attend in order to promote their own proposals for the 2022 Cup. It was a masterstroke by Qatar in its strategy to use its financial muscle to lock down the four African votes.Bin Hammam travelled to the congress in Angola with his bagman Diallo and the entire Qatar 2022 bid committee including Ali Al-Thawadi, who was also looking for proposals to buy favour.He offered $1m to Samson Adamu, the son of Nigeria’s Exco member, to host a dinner in South Africa for African football legends.As The Sunday Times later revealed, the deal would have allowed the recipient to cream off a huge profit on a dinner that would have cost only about $200,000 to host. However, the Qataris claimed they never actually paid the money after consulting Fifa’s rules, and Adamu said that the deal had fallen through.This newspaper’s evidence was passed to Michael Garcia, Fifa’s chief ethics investigator, and forms part of his continuing probe into vote-buying.The Fifa files prove that the Legends Dinner was not the only deal on offer at the time of the Angola congress. George Weah, the former Liberian and English Premier League striker and one-time Fifa world footballer of the year, emailed Chirakal his bank details on the eve of the conference: “I write because after meeting with the President, he told me to pass on my contact and bank details information to you urgently.”Later that day Bin Hammam received a personal email from one of Weah’s associates, Eugene Nagbe, a prominent Liberian politician.“George has repeatedly spoken of his support for our future plans in world football and we all look forward to your ascendency,” he wrote, adding that “conservatively, an amount of about USD 50,000 will be needed ... to lock the election down” for Liberia’s Iron Lady, Izetta Wesley.“Please be assured Mr President, that this is just a step in the bigger scheme of things to come. George have lined up most of the other former stars and the federations in Africa and South America so that when we are ready, your victory will be assured.”The next month $50,000 was paid into Weah’s personal bank account by one of Bin Hammam’s slush funds, ostensibly for his “school fees”.Other delegates contacted Bin Hammam after the congress in equally gushing terms hoping for payoffs.Muinjo, the Namibian FA boss, wrote: “Your delegation and their presentations left a lasting impression on the African continent. I have gathered from my many colleagues and I can confirm that too.“I have also congratulated the Bid 2022 Ceo, Mr Hassan Al-Thawadi afterwards through e-mail correspondences. Mr President, I am drafting these few lines as a follow up to our discussion with regard to the financial assistance please.”Seedy Kinteh of Gambia, who wrote to say he was having problems paying for his federation’s annual congress, received a remittance slip from Chirakal showing a transfer of $10,000 into his personal bank account from Bin Hammam’s daughter’s account.Ahmed Darw, the president of the Madagascar football association, said Bin Hammam had “promised to give me a help” with his own re-election. Asked by Chirakal how he would like the money paid, he provided two options: “by bank swift or I can take it in Paris with ... Diallo”.The next big event on the horizon was the World Cup in South Africa in June-July 2010. With under six months to go before the 2022 winner would be chosen, Bin Hammam’s generosity increased. Flying in to Johannesburg with his henchmen Diallo and Meshadi, he instructed his staff to pick up the bill for all his guests. One email shows that Bin Hammam bought 60 tickets costing about $3,800 and had them delivered to Hayatou, Cameroon’s Exco member, at the five-star Michelangelo hotel in Johannesburg. Records of Bin Hammam’s spending in the city show that he splurged $3,482 for “dinner for Exco members” and a further $4,331 on “rooms for Exco member”.During the tournament, Abdiqani Said Arab, Somali football’s general secretary, emailed Chirakal his federation’s bank details. Sure enough, $100,000 was paid from Bin Hammam's daughter’s account.Diallo, staying with African delegates as usual, put in a request for $50,000 to be paid to the Niger FA from the same account just after the tournament, and €10,000 was sent to Aboubacar Bruno Bangoura, then Guinean FA president.Bin Hammam’s loyal champion, Houssein of Djibouti, asked him to foot the bill for his wife and children to spend Ramadan in Doha and Chirakal was duly instructed to book them a suite in a hotel overlooking the Gulf. All the charges were to be settled by the Qatar FA. The month after their return, Houssein emailed Bin Hammam: “I think we have very good chance for to win the organisation WORLD CUP 2022 IN CHALLAH [sic].”ONCE the blare of the World Cup vuvuzelas had died away in South Africa, Bin Hammam embarked on an even harder push to assure himself of the support of Africa’s four Exco voters in a rapid succession of direct secret meetings.He flew Adamu of Nigeria and his Egyptian Exco colleague Hany Abu Rida to Doha by business class on August 15 and paid for their executive suites at the five-star Sheraton hotel. Anouma of the Ivory Coast was due to join them but was detained at the last minute by a political crisis at home.Less than a fortnight later Bin Hammam flew on the emir’s private jet to Cairo to collect the African kingpin, Hayatou of Cameroon, and bring him back to Doha.Then, on September 3, he arranged for the leaders of the Qatari bid committee to fly with him on the royal jet to the Cameroonian capital, Yaoundé, to meet Hayatou again on his home ground.Yet another private meeting was set up between Bin Hammam and Hayatou in Cairo on September 15. Days later Bin Hammam was secretly catching up with Anouma in Doha.However, while the football diplomacy forged ahead, a shock awaited the Qataris. In mid-September, less than three months before the crucial vote, Fifa inspectors visited Qatar to assess its suitability to host 2022.The president of Fifa, Sepp Blatter, with vice-president Issa Hayatou (MOHAMED MESSARA)The emirate’s ambitious $50m proposal to build collapsible air-conditioned stadiums that would shut out the searing summer heat would finally be put to the test.The visit was a disaster. The inspectors slammed Qatar as a “high risk”. The technical assessors balked at the challenges of having to build nine stadiums from scratch and said the fierce desert sun posed a “potential health risk” to players.It was not the only misfortune to befall the Qatari bid that month. Adamu of Nigeria had promised his 2022 vote to Qatar, but Sunday Times undercover reporters caught him offering to sell his 2018 vote for $800,000 and he was suspended by Fifa — knocking out a guaranteed backer for Qatar.The Qataris were undeterred. They batted off the criticism of their bid, insisting their air-conditioned stadiums would shut out the fierce heat, and rolled out the red carpet for their African brothers one last time. The venue was a friendly match between Brazil and Argentina in Doha on November 17. Diallo made the arrangements on Bin Hammam’s behalf and the guests were luxuriously accommodated in the Ritz Carlton.After the match Bin Hammam’s inbox was flooded with messages from his guests. Houssein of Djibouti was particularly eloquent: “If god wills it we will win, president. Thank you for protecting us from all that is bad.”The long wait was nearly over. Bin Hammam’s two-year campaign of munificence was about to pay its dividends.The leading lights of world football were descending on Zurich to hear who would host the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. The bidding nations fielded glittering entourages of football stars, celebrities and statesmen. David Cameron joined David Beckham and Prince William for England’s last push for 2018.Chirakal had arranged for the Qatari bid committee and their entourage to stay in magnificent style at the Baur au Lac, Zurich’s finest five-star hotel, running up bills of more than $340,000 which were charged to Hassan Al-Thawadi at the bid committee. The emails show that Bin Hammam was with them, attending to the final preparations for the bid’s last stand before the votes were cast.Qatar’s final presentation to a packed auditorium in Zurich was a slick affair with high-budget promotional films and polished performances from a crisp-suited Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani — figurehead of the Qatari bid — and his elegant mother, Sheikha Mozah.

Hassan al-Thawadi, the bid chief executive, made a final effort to dismiss the safety concerns raised by Fifa’s inspectors. “Heat is not and will not be an issue,” he promised.They had no need to break into a sweat, however. As Bin Hammam filed out of the main auditorium to cast his ballot in secret with his 22 fellow Exco voters, he could congratulate himself on a job well done.He was confident of African votes — and he had good reason to feel relaxed about the other eight votes that he would need to win, as we will reveal in coming weeks.When the the result was announced to a stunned crowd, Bin Hammam was inscrutable. Some in the room, however, were in on his secret — and his correspondence afterwards shows how his friends across Africa were only too quick to queue up for their rewards. Seedy Kinteh of Gambia emailed Bin Hammam the day after the vote to congratulate him.Two days later, he followed up with an email to Bin Hammam’s assistant: “I write to find out about the progress of my appeal concerning the Vehicle. I have already got in my possession a colosal [sic] sum of ten thousand US dollars ... and any assistance will be of immense value to me.”Kinteh said that he needed the car to travel to football projects in the Gambian countryside. Three months later, $50,000 was paid to him directly from Bin Hammam’s daughter’s account.Nicholas Musonye, the general secretary of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa), wrote to Bin Hammam: “This is a glorious moment to all of us in our zone and we congratulate you for the hard work and all the efforts you put in this bid.“Your many years of hard work have been rewarded and you will go down in history books for what you have achieved for Asia and the people of Qatar.”Two days later he forwarded Cecafa’s bank details to accompany a request for $200,000 to fund a tournament in Tanzania. The money was paid.The requests kept rolling in, but Bin Hammam did not lose patience. He responded to each email from the African football bosses, thanking them in turn for their “invaluable” support, and he kept the money flowing. After all, it had been worth it.When Izetta Wesley got in touch in the new year with the message, “CONGRATULATION for winning your World Cup Bid”, Bin Hammam's response said it all.“Thank you very much for your kind greetings,” he wrote to the Iron Lady. “I would not have succeeded if not for the support from friends and believers like you.”

Mountain of proof

The Fifa files contain hundreds of millions of secret documents leaked from the heart of world football by a senior figure inside the sport’s governing body who decided to blow the whistle..They include emails, faxes, phone records, flight logs, documents and accounts that chart the activities of Mohamed bin Hammam, the Qatari Fifa vice-president, before and after his country’s 2022 World Cup bid.The documents originate from several organisations including Bin Hammam’s private office in Doha, his private construction company Kemco, Fifa itself, the Asian Football Confederation, the Qatar FA and the offices of the Qatar 2022 bid team.The Sunday Times Insight team has spent two months examining tens of thousands of gigabytes of data using forensic search technology and a network of offshore supercomputers.

Web of secret funds used to buy supportBank transfer slips showing dozens of transactions have exposed the 10 secret slush funds used by Mohamed bin Hammam to buy up support for Qatar’s World Cup bid.The Qatari Fifa executive committee (Exco) member made payments to football officials across Africa out of a network of bank accounts administered by staff at his private construction company, Kemco.Most of the payments were made from an account in the name of Bin Hammam’s adult daughter, Aisha, while money was also transferred from his own account.Leaked correspondence shows that Bin Hammam regularly instructed staff at Kemco to transfer money to African football officials from the slush funds, using the reference “business promotion”.The bank slips show the payments were spread widely between accounts earmarked for a variety of uses at Kemco, including “travel”, “real estate”, “creditors”, “overheads” and “retention”. Bin Hammam has been the sole owner of Kemco since 1985.The Fifa files reveal how Bin Hammam used the “sundry” accounts of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), where he was then president, to make payments to senior football officials including Jack Warner, the Exco member for Trinidad and Tobago.The sundry accounts were also used to withdraw cash to lavish on influential guests at a series of junkets and to buy gifts such as tailored suits, a camera, World Cup tickets and luggage for key voters.An audit of the AFC’s accounts by PwC in 2012, after the downfall of Bin Hammam, found that he had used the accounts interchangeably with his own funds.The report concluded: “It appears that Mr Hammam routinely instructed a significant number of purportedly personal receipts and payments to and from the AFC’s bank accounts.”

Handful of votes can secure victoryQatar’s successful attempt to host the World Cup in 2022 was one of the most controversial coups in footballing history. Does the voting pattern tell us anything about its success?In the secret ballot in Zurich on December 2, 2010, 22 members of Fifa’s executive committee (Exco) chose between Qatar, Australia, Japan, America and South Korea.The voting system is known as an “exhaustive” ballot in which a bidder must obtain an absolute majority. For any voting round where there is not an absolute majority, the bidder with the lowest votes drops out. The remaining bidders then enter a new round.Qatar secured 11 votes in the first round, the highest of all the bidders. Australia got just one vote and dropped out.In the next round Qatar again received the highest number of votes (10). Japan got the lowest (2) and dropped out. In the third round Qatar had 11 votes, America 6 and South Korea 5. In the fourth and final round Qatar won 14 votes and the US had 8. Qatar was declared the winner.The way each Exco member voted is secret, so it is impossible to know for sure who backed Qatar. But how many votes does a country need in its pocket in order to be sure of victory? Not necessarily a majority.Theoretically, the vote could be swung by just a small number of members who have been unfairly influenced.The crucial point is to have enough assured support to avoid elimination in the first round and block rivals in later rounds as voters swing towards the frontrunner.If in the final round against America, a minority of eight members genuinely favoured Qatar’s bid — and some did — it would have needed only another four votes to win.

Page 6 | Frontpage Monday, June 2, 2014

The race for Montserrado continues to heat up as elections

day draws near. The newest sensation that has shaken the political balance to its core is, Mr. Christopher Neyor. Mr. Neyor is a well-respected engineer who has worked in several high level positions both in the private and public sectors. He has been head of the Liberian Electricity Cooperation (LEC), senior energy policy advisor to President Sirleaf, CEO of NOCAL and is currently a high flying consultant to multinational companies and other global bodies. "I can tell you for sure that if Mr. Neyor contests he will definitely win. He is not the talking type but he is well loved by our people." Those were the words of a senior official of Government who begged to not be mentioned. The official said Mr. Neyor played a major role in securing the President's re-election, a role that is currently being down played by the President to please her son. The official went on to tell me of the strategies Mr. Neyor used to increase the President's share of the Montserrado votes."His ground game is magical; he has contacts everywhere and at all levels of the communities. Mr. Neyor can call a street seller, community leader or Pehn~pehn boy at any time you need one. He has been running a micro loan

program for years now and the market women love him. If it wasn't for the charm and philanthropy of Mr. Neyor, UP would not have managed to narrow the gap between it and the CDC as we did in 2011. Neyor is a silent giant backed by the grassroots, so never write him off." The official concluded.That official was not the only one who spoke to me about the potency of a Neyor bid for the Montserrado senatorial seat; other highly placed sources I spoke to also confirm the Neyor's contribution to the President's reelection bid.I also went on to talk to ordinary citizens about the chances of a Neyor victory in 2017 and I was surprised by the responses I got especially from women and people. One Pehn~pehn rider said in response to my question, who would you vote for this year and why? ~"I am going to vote my papay, Neyor, because I am tired of these politicians." When I inquired why he did not see Neyor as a politician, he (The Pehn~pehn rider) simply said to me: "Mr. Neyor can fulfill his promises. He promised me school fees and he has never failed to provide it. That man love people so I like him." It is very significant that voters do not see Mr. Neyor as a politician, in Liberia; politicians are seen as liars and a self-serving bunch that never deliver on their promises. 85 percent

of the people I spoke to for this article had good things to say about Mr. Neyor and promised to vote for him to become senator this year.I was shocked and taken by surprise to find this base of support for Mr. Neyor who pundits have written off as a boring technocrat with zero political skills.As it turns out, there is a Neyor undercurrent in Montserrado that, although not visible on newspaper and radio headlines could make the charming, intelligent and unassuming engineer senator of Montserrado. The slate of candidates also increase Mr. Neyor's chances as well, George Weah who is supposed to be the clear favorite, is increasingly being seen as a failed messiah who has settled for peanuts from an unpopular President Sirleaf. There are very loud rumors that Mr. George Weah is considering an offer from Robert Sirleaf to exit the race in exchange for badly needed cash. If that deal goes through it will make the race a Sirleaf-Neyor race something that would work very well in favor of Mr. Neyor as Mr. Sirleaf is seen by many Liberians as a man who have exploited his privileged position as the President’s son to enrich himself at the expense of the country. One caller on my show had this to say about a possible Robert Sirleaf senatorial bid: “Does he think this country belongs

THE UNDERCURRENT Why Christopher Neyor will win Montserrado

FrontPagev

CommentaryEDITORIAL

IN 2006, AFTER the end of the election of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia became a hot ground for investors seeing the influx of individuals some claiming their willingness to invest billions in the dormant Liberian economy, which has not seen buoyancy for more than a decade. HASTILY CONCESSIONS were ratified by the 52nd National Legislature a body that came under continuous allegation of taking bribes to pass every agreement before the body.THE OWNER OF ONE of the biggest investments in Liberia, Anil Agarwal, founder of Vedanta Resources PLC which includes the fraudulent Elenilto deal, recently publicly mocked some African countries in this case Zambia for giving its rich copper mine on sale for cheap.IN A RECENT YouTube video, Agarwal was seen mocking the Government of Zambia over concessions he was granted in that country’s rich copper mines.THE VIDEO SHOWED Agarwal mocking the Zambian government on how he was sold Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) at a cheap price of US$25 million similarly to how Liberia received the short end of the stick in the controversial Elenilto deal for the coveted Western Cluster.THE MOCKERY BY the Indian shows how African leaders are corrupt and sellout the resources of the continent to foreigners for cheap. In the end, the resources from Africa make western countries better while Africans live in abject poverty.AGARWAL MOCKERY DRAWS parallel with Liberia where the Indian man and his company managed to have a bid already announced annulled and turned in their favor.DELTA MINING ANOTHER foreign mining company had earlier won the bid for the western cluster in 2007, but after bidding process, it was characterized by bribery with senior officials of government including leaked emails from former Minister of State Willis Knuckles pointing to bribery in the bidding and awarding process. ELENILTO IN 2009 turned out to be winner of the bid and later signed a 25 years mineral development agreement (MDA) with the Government of Liberia in August 2011 but now here comes the owner of the company mocking Africans about selling their resources for cheap.LIKE THE CASE of Zambia shortly after Elenilto signed the agreement with the Government in 2009 in August of 2011 and on the same day it signed the MDA sold 51 percent of it to Sesa Goa Verdanta, an Indian company listed on the London Stock Exchange for 90 million dollars. In less than six months after the initial sale, Elenilto bailed out by selling the remainder of the Western Cluster for U.S $33.5 million in cash to the Vedanta Resources PLC companyNOW THE BIG QUESTION lingering is how this Indian his company sailed through Liberia which is known amongst some of the corrupt countries in the world, signing such big deal with the Government and later trading on the stock exchange for much higher price.THIS IS JUST A classical example of how African resources have become a curse with the continent’s population living desperate life in the midst of abundant natural resources. NOW THE FIGHT in Liberia has turned to the sale of oil blocks after already signing all the agreements for concessions in the mining and forest sector.THE OIL BLOCKS WILL once again be sold out to these foreign investors for cheap who will in turn sell and reap the benefit while sitting in luxury at the expense of the suffering Liberian population.A WHILE AGO, the Wologizi Mountain was the center of attraction for another Indian investor, Jindal and although the deal is yet to be finalized but from all indications, getting concessions signed in Liberia is no big work anyway, as a few dollars can get the work done with Jindal hoping to use the techniques used by other investors to make its way to the Wologizi belt.ARCELOR MITTAL FAST-TRACKED the signing of its concession agreement after providing each member of the 52nd National Legislature a pickup which does not even cost US$40,000 on the world market and the company is today shipping iron ores out of Liberia. YESTERDAY IT WAS THE time of the 52nd National Legislature now it is the 53rd and they are also signing and ratifying oil agreements with fast speed, majority of Liberia’s offshore oil blocks have all gone to foreign companies.WHAT MORE, CAN BE done to safe Africa including countries like Liberia from the greed and cruelty of its leaders in selling out our resources for cheap and allowing western countries to develop using our resources while our African countries remain underdeveloped and its people impoverished.

COMMENTARY

MOCKING CORRUPT AFRICAN

LEADERSIndian Investor revelation Not

Strange to Liberia

to him and his mom? We will not vote for any Sirleaf again! He, Robert Sirleaf have sold all our resources to foreigners and enriched himself with no benefit for us the ordinary people. We will not vote him period!”Mr. Neyor can sell himself as a competent energy professional that opened up the oil sector to reform and public scrutiny. He (Neyor) never gave away single oil block when he was CEO of NOCAL, because, as he puts it: “The sector needed to be cleaned up properly”. Contrasted with Sirleaf or Weah, Mr. Neyor seems to be the best of the lot.But Mr. Neyor is not without his critics, most of them say the former CEO of NOCAL under suspicious circumstances. But I spoke to top level sources at NOCAL and below is what I was told under conditions of anonymity: “Christopher Neyor was a visionary who wanted a world class petroleum program and invested heavily in building the human resources to achieve that. Mr. Neyor insisted on reform and said it was an absolute pre-requisite to moving forward and that was the source of tension between him and the President. As you may already know, this place (NOCAL) is run as the personal company of Robert Sirleaf and he (Neyor) did not play along those lines so Neyor had to go. Thais all, but I can tell you for sure Neyor did an excellent job here and was not one of the looters.” Another former colleague who worked with Mr. Neyor in the 1980s at the LEC said: “Neyor is an honest and hardworking man who does not take bribes. I can tell earnestly that he has the moral rectitude to hold any public office. I am not a politician but I can tell you that Neyor has all it takes to properly represent this county (Montserrado).”Neyor has entered politics at a great time and with all the advantages he brings to the table, it is hard to see why voters will not choose him.

FrontpageMonday, June 2, 2014 Page 7

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WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT OUR STORIES ON THE

WORLDWIDE WEB

THE BUS IS TOO OLD TO LEAD THE PASSENGERS

(LIBERIANS); IS TIME FOR A NEW BUS

"LET OUR PEOPLE GO BACK HOME"

The Reader's Page

WADIAH J MASSOUD · TOP COMMENTER · TECHNICIAN AT LA-Z-BOYDuring the days of LAMCO,BONG MINES BOMI HILLS,LIberia had royalties and percentages as part of the deal in the form of finance, goods and services that was visible to all Liberians. Of course the ruling elites at the time were stealing the monies for themselves and sending their children to schools abroad but ordinary Liberians were benefiting too as employees because their children had schools, hospitals and company housing. Today, the stealing is more obvious minus nearly all the amenities and apparently the new concession owners are not able and willing to help relieve the deplorable plight of Liberians. These Indians and Chinese miners are very inexperienced and operate cheaply even to their own people. Mittal Steel is not a Mining Company but a steel production company. There is a difference. That is why she tend to subcontract her operation. Our officials are in it for the money not the development of the country.JOHN GBOMO· TOP COMMENTER (SIGNED IN USING HOTMAIL)How in the world the government came from $400M price tag to $25M with no justification? How did the government arrive at the initial price to begin with? Unless the government just pulled the $400M figure from a hat and threw it out there hopping it would stick. If actual analysis was carried out to arrive at the $400M figure, the government would not have settled for the final price of $25M. But then again, this is Africa where anything goes…the anger of the government is not because Zambia was duped in the deal; it was because the deal (done in the dark) has been exposed. I don’t think the Zambians are that gullible as they’ve been sounding the alarm, but it in the DNA of most African leaders to always settle for the tail of any deals for self-aggrandizement. The thing here is if you are going to do such a deal, do it with grand respect to you and go for the maximum, but to settle for peanut is an insult to the nation… Liberia is no exception to this rush to privatization of every sector by government. Sadly, these concession agreements are being done in the cover of darkness, and even if the intent were good from the government prospective, which is remote by the way, they are prone to errors and mistakes because of lack of transparency. Though we are deep into this deal with Vedanta, but it is time for government to open its eyes based on the recent revelation and proceed cautiously…The government ought to learn from its past mistakes and prepare for future concessions. Quite frankly if all these errors are due in part to lacking the experience of the art of negotiations, then the government ought to hire seasoned veterans in negotiation to negotiate all concession agreements with the maximum benefit to the country rather than doing it ourselves with dismal results. JOHN WILLIAMS · TOP COMMENTER · EASTERN UNIVERSITY, ST. DAVIDS, PALet Zambian officials stop pretending that they don't know or have an idea of the profit Vedanta makes yearly. The ore is mined in Zambia and shipped from Zambia. Citizens have always complained that foreign companies, including Chinese, have been raping the country; just the same way Liberians are complaining that government is not seeking the interest of the country. If Mittal Steel exports 1 billion dollars worth of iron ore and claims it only exported 10 million dollars of ore, who would you blame? Initially the Zambians were asking for $400 million but they gave the mines for 25 million. Great job! African leaders will never to cease disgracing us! Sometimes you just don't really know what to do to these people. I am sure many people are making fun of Liberia all over the place also. A Nigerian once told me that Liberians are stupid because some Nigerian crook made millions out of an oil deal in Liberia. I told him Liberians were learning from Nigerians. But he told me I was wrong. He said Nigerians would rather give such crooked deal to another Nigerian so that the money would remain with Nigerians. We laughed about it but it really pained me. I can therefore understand how many Zambians are feeling right now. Thank God Liberians already know that people accepted bribes to sign contracts. It may therefore be less painful the day they "play their video". I hope they have video recordings of some clowns demonstrating their wickedness to their own people.JAY WION · TOP COMMENTER · WORKS AT NPRCMY TURN: Why suddenly during this politically motivated, revenge-driven, vendetta-prone, Krahn-bashing, native-witch hunt, congua-payback trial did I hear the prosecution talk or introduce any evidence to back up its cooked-up claims of a coup-plot and treason manufactured trumped up lies by former MODEL rebel fighters to overthrow the Ellen regime, backed by Krahns in the US who sent money home and had assepmbled 400 former fighters in Toe Town, Grand Gedeh County, and were to be transported to Monrovia in April 2012, , go to the South Beach Gulag Prison, throw grnades to scare away guards to free those on trial now? And then you are talking about peace talks in Monrovia between Krahns on one side and Gios and Manos with the Krahns branded as "Chicken Rogues" or trouble makers in Liberia and the Congua as as sinless and pure? Keep playing with fire Ellen. I urge the Krahns to boycott the socalled peace talks. Ellen and company who confessed to funding the war are not part of any peace talk. We will see who born dog one day.

The Editor,

I read in the FrontPage Africa newspaper of Liberia this morning an analogy made by her Excellency, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the republic of Liberia. In her speech to the nation before leaving for the United States of America on a sequestered visit. In that communication, the president made some points, I will like to analyze as a political commentator. President Sirleaf in that discourse mentioned changes in officials, prosecutions of offenders, challenges to partners, as well as reforms in policies and actions. She equated this challenge to driving a bus while at the same time repairing its many deficient and dysfunctional parts.

The point I gathered from the above analogy made by the president include the following. The “BUS” is too old to lead the (Liberian) people to a safe destination. It is time for a new bus. The contraption of the bus, massive corruption, nepotism, bad governance, human right abuses, lack of leadership and failure to listen to the cries of the citizens. Can no longer allow the bus to move a mile ahead. An attempt to move the bus any further will cause a national catastrophe.

The bus is stranded, because the driver of the bus failed to play a major role in the repair of the bus. The diagnoses of the bus are clear. The passengers on the bus, the civil society organizations, political commentators, intellectuals, student leaders, political party’s chairpersons, common citizens are pointing out the problems to the driver. The “pig-headedness” driver has already caused the lives of some of the travelers. To the extent that one of the passenger’s stopped on the highway in Bong County, wasted gasoline on himself, light himself on fire and burned to death. I meditate this should signal the driver, about the looming danger ahead. More commuters will die.

The driver in the past told the customers about her plan to take the bus to the shop. To the surprises of the passengers, it is now (8) eight years and the driving is still talking about repairing the bus. Three more years for the expiration of the bus. When will this bus be repair?

My fellow (Liberians) Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has spoken. The bus can no longer lead the Liberian people to a safe destination. Ellen must resign! Ellen must GO! Ellen must leave! Liberians must protest!Dashward A. Wumah, commonly call political dash approve this communication

DASHWARD A. WUMAHpoliticaldash@yahoo.com

The Editor,

The immediate launch of a resettlement program for the hundreds of thousands of Liberians still internally displace in the country is the biggest impression President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf can leave on the Liberian people before the end of her term.

The Red-light Market District, Duala on Bushrod Island and other parts of Monrovia are currently experiencing an unimaginable over population growth with previous residents of up country communities who are anxiously awaiting government assistance to go back to their respective villages and towns in Liberia.

Most of these people recently asserted their willingness to return but only with sustained government support and the provision of considerable amount of farming logistics, sanitation facilities, hand-pump water systems, district health and educational facilities to cater to both the health and education needs of their children and families. The would be resettled people emphasized that such a program must include a monthly supplementary financial assistance to all returning and productive farmers .

The Liberian Capital, Monrovia, which is now host to about a million of these people who were all driven from their respective up country towns and villages by the Liberian war stands the risk of over population in a very short time as such, something must be done quickly by government to advert the outbreak of an uncontrolable illment that tend to be common in over populated communities around the world.

The President recent Zuba Town farming outreach in the suburb of Monrovia (frontpageafricaonline.com) from where she called on Liberians to go back to the soil will only yield good result if villages in the countryside including BankOrma in Bong,Behwalay, Kpablee Chiefdom in Nimba, Sapaima in Bopolu, Gbarpolu and Gorlu in Lofa Counties amongst many other villages and towns are repopulated again with the hundreds of Liberians who are in dire need of returning back to their farms. Government in doing this, must ensure that the returnees are given materials support in metal zinc, nails, bags of cements to enable them make their war ravaged villages and towns livable again.

The Red-light community where God is currently blessing the construction of the first Information Technology Literacy Institute for the Blind (ITLiB), is known to be host to the largest of internally displace people who have expressed willingness to return to their once happy hamlets but said they are being deterred by the lack of government will to help them make life livable up country in post war Liberia and rebuild their houses that were destroyed as a result of the war. Many of the would be returnees say, transportation assistance from Monrovia to their once nice villages and towns and a sustain monthly monetary provision that would enable them take care of their daily activities of living and as well prevent them from using their seed rice for food is one major request they will make to President Sirleaf for their immediate departure from the Liberian capital to embark on what they say is a great thought by the Liberian leader.

Thoughts are that government support to such a quick impact resettlement and reintegration program for internally displace Liberians would bring an end to the recurrence of the shortage of other basic food commodities in homes and Liberia's staple, rice on the market in a timely manner while resources are being organized

VEDANTA RAPES ZAMBIA IN COPPER DEAL: LIBERIA

‘STUPID’ TOO?

for a long term approach to make villages and towns habitable again and support the food production needs emphasized by the President.

Meanwhile, Mr. Jask says, he is willing to assist the President with expert advise in the management of such program including public education and project monitoring and reporting through an info technology systems that would help advert corruption in the process while at the same time providing update information about progress and achievements. if requested.

AlVIN JASKalvinjask@gmail.comMinnesota, USA

Page 8 | Frontpage Monday, June 2, 2014

Fixed Soccer Matches Cast Shadow Over World CupREFEREES FOR SALE

A New York Times investigation of match fixing ahead of the last World Cup gives an unusually detailed look at the ease with which professional gamblers can fix matches.By DECLAN HILL and JERÉ LONGMAN

JOHANNESBURG —

A soccer referee named Ibrahim Chaibou walked into a bank in a small South

African city carrying a bag filled with as much as $100,000 in $100 bills, according to another referee traveling with him. The deposit was so large that a bank employee gave Mr. Chaibou a gift of commemorative coins bearing the likeness of Nelson Mandela.Later that night in May 2010, Mr. Chaibou refereed an exhibition match between South Africa and Guatemala in preparation for the World Cup, the world’s most popular sporting event. Even to the casual fan, his calls were suspicious — he called two penalties for hand balls even though the ball went nowhere near the players’ hands.Mr. Chaibou, a native of Niger, had been chosen to work the match by a company based in Singapore that was a front for a notorious match-rigging syndicate, according to an internal, confidential report by FIFA, soccer’s world governing body.FIFA’s investigative report and related documents, which were obtained by The New York Times and have not been publicly released, raise serious questions about the vulnerability of the World Cup to match fixing. The tournament opens June 12 in Brazil.The report found that the match-rigging syndicate and its referees infiltrated the upper reaches of global soccer in order to fix exhibition matches and exploit them for betting purposes. It provides extensive details of the clever and brazen ways that fixers apparently manipulated “at least five matches and possibly more” in South Africa ahead of the last World Cup. As many as 15 matches were targets, including a game between the United States and Australia, according to interviews and emails printed in the FIFA report.Although corruption has vexed soccer for years, the South Africa case gives an unusually detailed look at the ease with which professional gamblers can fix matches, as well as the governing body’s severe problems in policing itself and its member federations. The report, at 44 pages, includes an account of Mr. Chaibou’s trip to the bank, as well as many other scenes describing how matches were apparently rigged.After one match, the syndicate even made a death threat against the official who tried to stop the fix, investigators found.“Were the listed matches fixed?” the report said. “On the balance of probabilities, yes!”The Times investigated the South African match-fixing scandal by

interviewing dozens of soccer officials, referees, gamblers, investigators and experts in South Africa, Malaysia, England, Finland and Singapore. The Times also reviewed hundreds of pages of interview transcripts, emails, referee rosters and other confidential FIFA documents.FIFA, which is expected to collect about $4 billion in revenue for this four-year World Cup cycle for broadcast fees, sponsorship deals and ticket sales, has relative autonomy at its headquarters in Zurich. But The Times found problems that could now shadow this month’s World Cup.A letter from Football 4U International to the South African soccer federation offered to provide referees for South Africa’s exhibition matches before the World Cup.■ FIFA’s investigators concluded that the fixers had probably been aided by South African soccer officials, yet FIFA did not officially accuse anyone of match fixing or bar anyone from the sport as a result of those disputed matches.■ A FIFA spokeswoman said Friday that the investigation into South Africa was continuing, but no one interviewed for this article spoke of being contacted recently by FIFA officials. Critics have questioned FIFA’s determination and capability to curb match fixing.■ Many national soccer federations with teams competing in Brazil are just as vulnerable to match-fixing as South Africa’s

was: They are financially shaky, in administrative disarray and politically divided.Ralf Mutschke, who has since become FIFA’s head of security, said in a May 21 interview with FIFA.com that “match fixing is an evil to all sports,” and he acknowledged that the World Cup was vulnerable.“The fixers are trying to look for football matches which are generating a huge betting volume, and obviously, international football tournaments such as the World Cup are generating these kinds of huge volumes,” Mr. Mutschke said. “Therefore, the World Cup in general has a certain risk.”Mr. Chaibou, the referee at the center of the South African case, said in a phone interview that he had never fixed a match, and he denied knowing or having ever spoken to Wilson Raj Perumal, a notorious gambler who calls himself the world’s most prolific match fixer and whom FIFA called one of the suspected masterminds of the South Africa scheme.“I did not know this man,” Mr. Chaibou said. “I had no contact with him ever.”Mr. Chaibou said FIFA had not contacted him since his retirement in 2011. He declined to answer any questions about money he may have received in South Africa.The tainted South African matches were not the only suspect ones. Europol, the European Union’s police intelligence agency, said last year

that there were 680 suspicious matches played globally from 2008 to 2011, including World Cup qualifying matches and games in some of Europe’s most prestigious leagues and tournaments.“There are no checks and balances and no oversight,” Terry Steans, a former FIFA investigator who wrote the report on South Africa, said of the syndicate’s efforts there in 2010. “It’s so efficient and so under the radar.”As players from South Africa and Guatemala gathered for their national anthems, Mr. Chaibou stood between the teams at midfield. He was flanked by two assistant referees who had also been selected by Football 4U International, the Singapore-based company that was the front for the match-rigging syndicate.They were present because of a shrewd maneuver the fixers had begun weeks earlier to penetrate the highest levels of the South African soccer federation.A man identifying himself as Mohammad entered the federation offices in Johannesburg carrying a letter dated April 29, 2010. The letter offered to provide referees for South Africa’s exhibition matches before the World Cup and pay for their travel expenses, lodging, meals and match fees, taking the burden off the financially troubled federation. “We are extremely keen to work closely with your good office,” the letter read.It was signed by Mr. Perumal,

the match fixer, who was also an executive with Football 4U.The offer sounded strange to Steve Goddard, the acting head of refereeing for the South African Football Association at the time. An amiable, heavyset Englishman who sometimes used a table leg for a walking stick, Mr. Goddard had had an eclectic career in and out of soccer. He sang in Welsh choirs and worked as a sound engineer for an album made at Abbey Road Studios. He knew that FIFA rules allowed only national soccer federations to appoint referees. Outside companies, like Football 4U, had no such authority.Several days later, Mr. Goddard said, Mohammad returned and offered him a bribe of about $3,500, saying he was holding up the deal. Mr. Goddard said he declined the offer.Nevertheless, other South African executives moved forward with Football 4U. At least two contracts were drafted, giving Football 4U permission to appoint referees for five of the country’s exhibition matches. The FIFA report called the contracts “so very rudimentary as to be commercially laughable.”One contract, unsigned, bore the name of Anthony Santia Raj, identified by FIFA as an associate of the Singapore syndicate. The other contract was signed by Leslie Sedibe, then the chief executive of the South African soccer federation.In an interview, Mr. Sedibe said that someone from Football 4U had lied to him about the

company’s intentions, and that the FIFA report belonged “in a toilet.”“It is the biggest load of rubbish,” he said.Mr. Santia Raj could not be reached for comment.Investigators found that South African soccer officials performed no background checks on “Mohammad” or Football 4U. The company was already infamous: It had attempted to fix a match in China about eight months earlier. Mohammad turned out to be Jason Jo Lourdes, another associate of the Singaporean match-fixing syndicate, according to the FIFA report. Mr. Lourdes could not be reached for comment.The report said the South African soccer officials were “either easily duped or extremely foolish.”But their behavior “inevitably leads to the conclusion” that several employees of the federation “were complicit in a criminal conspiracy to manipulate these matches,” the report said.Fixers are attracted to soccer because of the action it generates on the vast and largely unregulated Asian betting markets. And if executed well, a fixed soccer match can be hard to detect. Players can deliberately miss shots; referees can eject players or award penalty kicks; team officials can outright tell players to lose a match.Most fixed bets are placed on which team will win against the spread and on the total

 

Ibrahim Chaibou, second from left in Nigeria in 2011, the referee at the center of the South African case, was seen depositing a “quite thick” wad of $100 bills before a suspect exhibition match, according to FIFA.CreditSunday Alamba/Associated Press

~ FIFA SCANDAL UNRAVELS ~

SEE page 9

FrontpageMonday, June 2, 2014 Page 9number of expected goals. Gamblers often place large bets in underground markets in Asia. By some estimates, the illegal betting market in Asia amounts to hundreds of billions of dollars annually.The South African federation, troubled by financial difficulties and administrative dysfunction, was a ripe target. Once Football 4U had insinuated itself, the syndicate was able to switch referees at the last moment, and it had access to dressing areas and the sidelines.According to an email from Wilson Raj Perumal to Ace Kika, a South African federation official, the Singapore syndicate asked to provide referees for matches.“The situation was ideal for the criminal organization using Football 4U to exploit these vulnerabilities and to offer money to SAFA staff, who were themselves suffering financial hardship,” the FIFA report said.Mr. Perumal did not respond to requests for an interview. But he wrote a memoir, published in April, that captured his brazenness and provided details consistent with FIFA’s report. He wrote that his group offered $60,000 to $75,000 to Mr. Chaibou and his crew for each exhibition match they would fix.“I can do the job,” Mr. Chaibou replied, according to Mr. Perumal’s memoir, “Kelong Kings.” (“Kelong” is Malay slang for match fixing.)The memoir says Mr. Chaibou was paid $60,000 for manipulating the South Africa-Guatemala match.The day of the match, Mr. Chaibou walked with Robert Sithole, a South African member of the officiating crew, to a Bidvest Bank in Polokwane, about three hours northeast of Johannesburg, Mr. Sithole said in the report.Mr. Sithole told investigators that he watched as Mr. Chaibou deposited a “quite thick” wad of $100 bills, perhaps as much as $100,000, though Mr. Sithole could not be certain of the amount. Mr. Chaibou said he wired the money to his wife in Niger, according to the report.A woman at the bank gave Mr. Chaibou a gift of coins bearing the likeness of Mandela, an apparent reward for “having deposited a huge amount of money on this account,” Mr. Sithole told FIFA investigators.Hours later, Mr. Chaibou arrived at Peter Mokaba Stadium for the match. Another referee from Niger was scheduled to officiate.Instead, Mr. Chaibou took the field.Questionable CallsThat night, only seats in the lower bowl were full, but the crowd of about 25,000 was noisily expectant.As the match began, FIFA’s Early Warning System, which monitors gambling on sanctioned matches, began to detect odd movements in betting. Gamblers kept increasing their expectations of how many goals would be scored, a possible sign of insider betting.Before the match, the betting line had been 2.68 goals, an ordinary number, said Matthew Benham, a former financial trader who runs a legal gambling syndicate in England. By kickoff, the expected goals rose drastically, to 3.48, and then to more than 4 during the match, Mr. Benham

said.The questionable calls began early. In the 12th minute, South Africa scored on a penalty kick after a Guatemalan defender was called for a hand ball even though he was clearly outside the penalty area. At halftime, the two assistant referees from Tanzania “looked shivering, nervous,” Mr. Sithole said in the report. He was part of the officiating crew.In the 50th minute, Guatemala was awarded a suspicious penalty kick for a hand ball, even though a South African defender stopped a shot in front of the goal with his chest, not his arm.Mr. Goddard watched from the grandstands, where he noticed others seemed just as incredulous about the refereeing. A South African broadcaster kept looking in his direction in disbelief. A fellow South African soccer official repeatedly turned to Mr. Goddard with open arms, as if to say, “What about that?”In the 56th minute, another debatable penalty kick was awarded to South Africa, which resulted in the team’s fourth goal in a 5-0 rout.The FIFA report stated plainly that “we can conclude that this match was indeed manipulated for betting fraud purposes.”‘We’re Going to Eliminate You’South Africa had one more warm-up match, against Denmark on June 5, before it opened the World Cup. While expectations for the team soared, some officials in the South African soccer federation had grown concerned about the refereeing.The night before the match with Denmark, several South African officials delivered a stern lecture to the appointed referees, who were from Tanzania and had been selected by Football 4U. Nothing inappropriate would be tolerated, they were told.Ace Kika, one of three South African federation officials present, was vehement. He later complained to investigators that men connected to Football 4U had consistently tried to enter the referees’ dressing room at halftime of the exhibition matches.The morning of the Denmark match, the scheduled chief referee withdrew, citing a stomach bug, although the report described him as “clearly alarmed.” A substitute referee was needed — fast.Given the officiating in the Guatemala match, Mr. Goddard already had another referee on standby. “I was prepared for anything to happen that afternoon,” he said in an interview.He persuaded Matthew Dyer, a respected South African referee, to officiate, even though it was unusual for a referee to work a match involving his home country.But when Mr. Goddard arrived at the stadium, he found a familiar figure already there — Mr. Chaibou.As the teams prepared to take the field, Mr. Dyer was hidden away in an unused room to perform his warm-up exercises. Mr. Chaibou received a massage and completed his own warm-ups, but that was as far as he got.As Mr. Chaibou waited in a tunnel to lead the teams onto the field, Mr. Goddard said, he put his hand on Mr. Chaibou’s shoulder and told him: “I am kicking you out of the match. You are joining

me in the grandstand.”Another South African soccer official said he locked Mr. Chaibou in the referees’ dressing room while Mr. Dyer took the field instead.PhotoSouth Africa won, 1-0. In Mr. Perumal’s memoir, he wrote that the fixers had wanted three goals in the match, and that $1 million “went up in smoke.” He also wrote that Mr. Goddard was “a big troublemaker.”After the match, as Mr. Goddard drove away from the stadium, his cellphone rang. It was Mr. Perumal, who had once been convicted of assault for breaking the leg of a soccer player in an aborted match-fixing attempt.“This time, you really have gone too far and, you know, we’re going to eliminate you,” he said, according to Mr. Goddard. Mr. Perumal later bragged about the episode, the report said. But in his memoir he said that he had threatened only to sue Mr. Goddard for breach of contract, not kill him.Goddard testified that Mr. Perumal threatened his life.The South African officials made no written report of the threat and did not alert FIFA or the police at the time.But Mr. Goddard said he took the threat so seriously that “to save my life,” his colleague, Mr. Kika, suggested that they allow the Singapore syndicate to pick the referee for the next day’s exhibition match between Nigeria and North Korea. Under duress, Mr. Goddard said, he agreed.“That was basically to save my neck,” he said in an interview.That night, at 8:26, Mr. Kika sent an email granting permission for Football 4U executives to appoint the referee. Mr. Kika declined a request for comment.The referee in the Nigeria-North Korea match made several questionable calls. FIFA investigators could not confirm whether it was Mr. Chaibou, but they said the referee was definitely not the Portuguese official who had been assigned.The referee took “a very harsh stance” in giving a red card for a seemingly lesser infraction, and he later took “a very liberal stance” in awarding a suspicious penalty kick, the report said. Nigeria won, 3-1.

If the Singapore syndicate was not shocked by the result, many bettors were. “We were absolutely trashed in that game,” said Mr. Benham, the professional gambler. “It made no sense at all in the betting market.”As South Africa faced Denmark on June 5, the United States defeated Australia, 3-1, in another exhibition. According to an email from Mr. Perumal to Mr. Kika on May 24, the Singapore syndicate asked to provide referees for the match. In an interview, Mr. Goddard said that Football 4U proposed using three referees from Bosnia and Herzegovina who, according to the FIFA report, would later receive lifetime bans from soccer for their involvement in match fixing.Mr. Goddard said he had warned American and Australian officials of Football 4U’s intentions. Ultimately, South African referees officiated the match.United States soccer officials said they did not recall receiving any warnings about fixers or a change in referees. The FIFA report gives no indication that the game was manipulated.“We’ve never heard anything about this before and have no reason to doubt the integrity of the match,” said Sunil Gulati, the president of the United States Soccer Federation.Even if it could not place referees in the United States match, Perumal wrote in his memoir that the Singapore syndicate walked away from the South African exhibitions “with a good four to five million dollars.”Shrugging at the EvidenceMr. Perumal remained in South Africa until June 30, 2010, deep into the World Cup, according to the FIFA report. Mr. Perumal wrote that he offered a referee $400,000 to manipulate a World Cup match, but that the referee declined because he thought Mr. Perumal had a “loose tongue.”After the World Cup, a freelance journalist, Mark Gleason, reported suspicions among some African soccer officials that exhibition matches had been rigged. FIFA did nothing at the time.In fact, FIFA did not investigate the suspicious games for nearly two years, until March 2012.

By then, Mr. Chaibou had reached FIFA’s mandatory retirement age, 45. FIFA has said it investigates only active referees, so its investigation of Mr. Chaibou stopped. “It took a while to get around to it, longer than we would have liked,” Mr. Steans, the author of the report, said in an interview.At the time, FIFA’s investigative staff amounted to five people responsible for examining dozens of international match-fixing cases, he said. The group has no subpoena power or law enforcement authority.Investigators spent only three days in South Africa and never interviewed the referees or the teams involved, the report said. An unsuccessful attempt was made to interview Mr. Chaibou at the time, according to Mr. Steans.FIFA officials in Zurich received the report in October 2012 and passed it to the soccer officials in South Africa; it had little meaningful effect there. A few South African officials were suspended but later reinstated. And no one was charged with a crime even though FIFA had found “compelling evidence” of fixed exhibitions and apparent collusion by some South African soccer officials.“We never got to speak to the referees, which was sad,” said Mr. Steans, who operates his own sports security firm. “It would have tied up a lot of loose ends. I’m sure they would have given us some relevant information.”Mr. Sedibe, then the chief executive of the South African soccer federation, shrugged off the report as a politically motivated witch hunt. “Why is it taking so long to get to the bottom of this?” he said. “Why not refer this matter to the police to investigate and bring closure to it?”Three months after the suspicious South African matches, Mr. Perumal was linked to another daring scheme. In September 2010, he organized a match in Bahrain in which the opponent was a fake squad claiming to be the national team of Togo, in West Africa. The referee for that match? Mr. Chaibou.The presence of Football 4U and Mr. Chaibou made soccer organizers uneasy. In 2011, a South African official, Adeel

Carelse, said that after being misled by some in his national federation, he learned that Mr. Chaibou was about to referee an under-23 age-group match in Johannesburg. Mr. Carelse said he raced across the city with a car full of South African referees to replace Mr. Chaibou’s crew at the last minute.Mr. Chaibou retired to Niger in 2011.Mr. Perumal was arrested in Finland in 2011 and found guilty of corruption. He was given a two-year sentence, although he was released early. He was arrested again in Finland in late April for his continued role in match fixing.Since the South African episode, Mr. Steans has left FIFA. He said the investigative staff in Zurich had a docket of about 90 match-fixing cases worldwide. along with other security duties. To seriously combat match fixing, Mr. Steans said, FIFA needs at least 10 investigators working full time on monitoring the manipulation of games, and two offices in each of its six international soccer confederations.“You need the local intelligence and local knowledge on the ground,” Mr. Steans said. “You need to be talking to sources face to face to get live information that helps you counter match fixing before the fix happens.”A FIFA spokeswoman said Friday that the Zurich staff now included six investigators and that FIFA worked with a broad network of law enforcement officials including Interpol. Delia Fischer, the spokeswoman, said that for the World Cup, 12 security officers would be assigned to each stadium, with the monitoring of potential match fixing among their duties.In addition, Ms. Fischer said, a security staff of 18 will be on hand from FIFA headquarters in Zurich. Mr. Mutschke, FIFA’s security chief, said on the organization’s website that a primary concern about fixing is the third and final game of the group phase of the World Cup, when a particular team has been eliminated or has already qualified for the second round.CONTINUE READING THE MAIN STORY140COMMENTS“Prevention is not something where you can see easy success stories the next day,” Mr. Mutschke said in the FIFA.com interview. “So we are investing in long-term solutions, and we certainly need the help of our member associations as well to be successful in the end.”In late 2012, an elite anticorruption police unit, called the Hawks, said it was investigating potential corruption linked to the match-fixing scandal inside South Africa’s soccer federation, including a possible bribe of about $800,000. But in March, President Jacob Zuma of South Africa said he would not form a commission to examine charges of match fixing, leaving the matter to FIFA.“I’m disappointed for South African football,” Mr. Steans said. “I’m disappointed for football in general because when these things happen to the game, they need to be investigated and the truth found. And two years, well, four years since this happened was way too long.”

 Steve Goddard, the acting head of refereeing for the South African Football Association in 2010, said he had refused a bribe from Football 4U International, a front for a match-fixing

syndicate, over the appointment of referees. CreditJoao Silva/The New York Times

~ FIFA SCANDAL UNRAVELS ~

Page 10 |Frontpage Monday, June 2, 2014

Announcement In keeping with the vehicle and Traffic Law; Title 38, approved May 9, 1972, and published in 1978, the Government of Liberia is pleased to announce the approved rates for Third Party Compulsory Motor Insurance Policy in Liberia. These rates take effect January 2, 1996.

Approved Rates Sticker Price No. Category of Vehicles Price

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E-mail: liberiacaa@liberiacaa.com / www.liberiacaa.com

LIBERIA CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY (LCAA) VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

(This Ad is being re-advertized because none of the applicants met the basic requirements)

Liberia Civil Aviation Authority is accepting applications from qualified and experienced professionals with background in Mathematics or Physics to serve as Air Traffic Controller within the Air Traffic Management Department of the CAA.

Job Title: Air Traffic Controller Place of Work: Liberia Civil Aviation Authority / Robertsfield, Liberia Reports to: Manager (ATMD), Liberia Civil Aviation Authority Position Summary: The Air Traffic Controller shall under the supervision of Senior Air Traffic Controller be responsible to ensure the safe, orderly and expeditious movement of Air Traffic in the lower airspace of the skies of Liberia by providing Air Traffic Services (ATS) and Aeronautical Information Services to ensure the safe, orderly and expeditious movement of Air Traffic in the lower airspace of Liberia. The Air Traffic Controller shall report to the Manager Air Traffic Management Department.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Prevent collision between aircraft arriving at or departing from Roberts/Spriggs and aircraft transiting the Roberts’ Terminal Control Area/Control Zone (TMA/CTR) below 10,000 feet/Flight Level 100;

Prevent collision between aircraft on the maneuvering area and obstructions on that area; and Expedite and maintain safe and orderly flow of air traffic. Prepare on-shift duty report prior to turnover. Respond to emergency distress calls and other unexpected events.

Required Education & Qualification

A BSc Degree in Mathematics or Physics Must have at least 3 years experience in either of the above fields

Knowledge The Air Traffic Controller must have proficient knowledge in the following areas:

P.O. Box 68, Harbel Margibi County, Republic of Liberia

Tel: 231-76998848/49 eFax: +1(404) 506-9617

E-mail: liberiacaa@liberiacaa.com / www.liberiacaa.com

- English grammar fluency and composition; - Communicate fluently and distinctly to airmen within Liberia’s territorial airspace; and - Must have knowledge in Microsoft word-processing, Excel and Power-point.

Skills The Air Traffic Controller must be able to demonstrate the following skills:

- Team building; - Professional competence and independent judgment; - Use of analytical discretion problem-solving; - Firm in decision-making; - Articulate and proficient oral communications skills; - Computer literacy in Microsoft - word-processing; - Possess stress and time management skills. - Ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure. - Be self-disciplined

Personal Attributes

- The Air Traffic Controller must maintain strict confidentiality in performing duties assigned. - Be honest, respectful and trustworthy. - Be culturally aware and sensitivity. - Must be flexible and demonstrate sound work ethics.

Employment Opportunity

Liberia Civil Aviation Authority is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applicants on the basis of merit.

How to Apply

Please send your applications, along with your Resume and references attached to:

Human Resource Section Liberia Civil Aviation Authority Robertsfield, Liberia.

Deadline for submission of application is June 10, 2014.

ONLY SHORLISTED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED

FrontpageMonday, June 2, 2014 Page 11

Page 12 |Frontpage Monday, June 2, 2014

Al-Varney Rogers alrogers2008@gmail 0886304498

Massa F. Kanneh masskanneh@yahoo.com or 0886848625

ALPHA DAFFAE SENKPENI, daffae82@gmail.com

FRONTPAGE COUNTY NEWS

FRONTPAGE NEWS EXTRA

Harlandville, Grand Bassa County –

Arcelor Mittal and the Arcelor Mittal Foundation have dedicated a school

building to the citizens of the township of Harlandville, Grand Bassa County as part of its social corporate responsibility to the people of Liberia.Speaking at the dedication of the school building, Arcelor Mittal Liberia CEO, Antonio Carlos Maria said the project is the first of many more projects that are underway for Liberia because it is part of the company’s social responsibility. CEO Maria reassured that the steel giant is here in Liberia to stay for a long time to help, develop, provide employment and support for Liberians.He thanked the Arcelor Mittal international volunteers who traveled from different parts of the world to help provide services to the people of Liberia and called on them to come back again to Liberia and continue the good work for Liberians. According to Arcelor Mittal head of communications the project cost US$70,000 and will be fully completed in the next two weeks mentioning that the dedication ceremony had to be rushed because the 14 volunteers who have worked so hard to achieve the project’s progress were about to travel back to their respective countries.Hesta Barker Pearson told reporters after the program that Arcelor Mittal Foundation is a charitable arm of Arcelor Mittal Global, explaining that every two years Arcelor Mittal

Foundation organizes projects around the world in countries that the company operates and looks at these various projects.Said Baker-Pearson: “The foundation is responsible for sending volunteers from within Arcelor Mittal to all of the different sites around the world, so it’s a project that is funded by Arcelol Mittal but there’s a separate foundation that is totally responsible for charitable and philanthropic work around the world.”Baker-Pearson disclosed that the foundation has also constructed a school in Nimba County couple of years ago and decided to come to Grand Bassa County this year with the aim of funding project that will benefit children because children are tomorrow which coincide with the company’s brand slogan, ‘Transforming Tomorrow’. She added that the foundation was opting to do a project that will be long term for tomorrow, stressing that ‘there’s nothing more long term than education’.With a section of the project already completed, the project engineer disclosed that it is a primary school complex comprising of four sections which may cost a quarter of a million United States dollars, while adding that the project design is the approved Ministry of Education’s diagram for public schools in the country. Grand Bassa County’s District Five Representative, Hon. Robertson Siaway and the County’s Assistant Superintendent for Development, Adonis Greaves both lauded the company for the initiative with Hon. Siaway describing the project as a

‘permanent good’ while recalling how the community also contributed to achieve the progress because it will ensure that the dwellers protect the project with a sense of ownership. The Lawmaker also pleaded with the company to help rehabilitate a dilapidated school located in the Benson River community at the suburb of Buchanan City.For his part, Development Superintendent Greaves said the desire of the Arcelor Mittal Foundation and its volunteers to not only look after themselves but the young kids will go a long way. He said the county will take ownership of the project and will make sure that people of Grand Bassa use the project for the intended purpose. He called on locals to be grateful for the leadership of Arcelor Mittal Liberia CEO who he said passion for providing help and empowerment for Bassa citizens is more practical. “This is why we think there’s a need we should use this occasion to call on the people of Grand Bassa County to support Arcelor Mittal, protect Arcelor Mittal and take Arcelor Mittal as your own,” the Development Superintendent stressed.Harlandville Township established since 1907 has lack a proper school building and with its first public school established in 1914, the school principal says the community has move the school from one makeshift building to the other as they seek relevant intervention over the decades. But with the recent impact from

Monrovia-

About a week ago the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) shut down its power

supply to the people of New Kru town on the Bushrod Island.Speaking at a news Conference Friday at its West Point power station, the Executive Director of LEC Vamunyah Sheriff said that New Kru Town alone accounts for 90 percent of power theft and other power related crimes.“Just within two weeks, of audits, we have removed over 300 meters by-passed or illegally connected to our electricity grid,” said Sheriff.“As I said over 300 meters were removed from over 40 light poles, this translates into 90 percent of revenues loss. And each day in New Kru Town, LEC losses almost US$ 4,000.00 and our meters get damaged in the process.” The LEC stated that it is with the current limited 22Mega Watts power grid that the corporation is still trying to provide electricity to its customers.“So the issue of power theft is

Monrovia-

Under a heavy downpour of rain, women and children were seen in their numbers making their way to the Paynesville Town Hall to access free medical care provided under the auspices of the Paynesville municipality.

The free medical care was provided to the locals as part of a Health Fair organized by the Paynesville City Corporation. At the fair all of the sixteen institutions had separate centers in the hall with their staffers seen willing to receive people who came to seek free medical care. Melvin Harding who is visually impaired benefitted from the Health fair; he believes that the fair was "inclusive" adding that such initiative is a welcoming venture."This fair is inclusive because it gives people with disabilities the same opportunities like anybody,” he said.“We were contacted by the PCC to form part of this fair, so we appreciate this health fair, no discrimination and I did not pay any money for treatment." Harding continued: "Well the process is fine, I came to check my health status, some treatments were given to me, they treated me and referred me to JFK." The Head of the Family Health Center Chessor Samukai said her center formed part of the fair as a way of giving back to the community."We are offering free services today, people are coming and they are coming to us, we are checking their malaria; their diabetes, this is something that is very, very important to do for the community”.Dr. Samukai said it is important for people to know their health status adding that this will not be the last time for her center to partake in such a fair."This will not be the last time because last year we had a health fair and we had a great time. This is our second health fair, so this will not be the last time I just want to say this is a great idea I think we should have this more often," she said.Samukai explained that blood pressure, diabetes and malaria are the three major tests offered at her center.According to the head of Family Health Center those receiving treatment at the fair who have illness that need follow-up will receive fifty percent discount on their medical bill at the Family Health Center.Dr. Samukai asserted that there is a need for more awareness on the health fair adding that with this people will know what kind of treatment they will be getting.Dr. Samukai continued: "The health fair is meant for screening if we diagnose anything we treat it, we need to do more awareness on the health fair so when people come, they know the services they will be getting and know what to follow up with the doctor about." Another beneficiary Martha Kollie 42 said the health fair is good because it helps people to know their health status.Martha said, she was treated, given medications and advised to do a follow up at a local hospital. " You see it is difficult for us to do our check up when we fall sick, so you see I did not know that my blood pressure was this high."She added: "I want to thank the people who are providing these services especially the Paynesville City Corporation, I have lived in Paynesville for years but this is my first time hearing that the City Corporation has organized a health fair."She said it is her hope that such initiative continues adding that the fair should be done on a regular basis.The City Mayor of Paynesville Cyvette Gibson said the reason behind the fair is to ensure that people have access to proper medical care.Gibson said: "We decided to have a health fair because we wanted to make sure our citizens have access to proper healthcare, one of the reasons we found this necessary is because we want to build a municipality of healthy citizens, we have sixteen institutions that are here with us they are actually rendering their services free of charge."Mayor Gibson said in organizing the fair health centers contacted were "receptive" adding that they [Medical Centers] are screening and providing treatment for the people.Gibson continued: "I wouldn't say there wasn’t any difficulty, they were very receptive; we didn't run into any issue at all. One of the things that we really wanted here was to have the Ministry of Health doing vaccination in this area; unfortunately they weren't able to do that."The Paynesville Mayor named dental care, diabetes and high blood pressure as some of the medical problems addressed by the service providers."People are coming and providing their services free of charge, we are targeting as many as we can,” she said.Gibson said, she would have love to decentralize the health fair adding that due to the lack of funding it's difficult for PCC to engage in such endeavor. "We do not have the ability to reach out in all of the communities; currently there is budget shortfall that means we’ll be downsizing our activities. Well I'm happy with the turn out, we have people that are continuously trickling in, so I’m happy with it,” Gibson added.

GIVING BACKPaynesville City Council Provides Free Medical Care for Residents at Sixteen Medical Centers

causing a major loss of revenue; it is a setback for the company because it would make it difficult to order new equipment from overseas to replace the damaged

ones,” said Sheriff.He maintained that the disconnection of New Kru Town remains enforced until LEC completes audit of the Borough

New Kru Town Tops Power Theft

LEC RED ALERTbut failed to state how long it would last for.LEC gave out numbers for hotlines that it intends to use for the community to help it fight power theft. These numbers are: 0207778889, 077444156, 0207777779 and 0776085238.The LEC said the first of four Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) plants would be dedicated by December this year. Mr. Sheriff said there are plans underway to electrify Monrovia.However, many customers subscribing with LEC have complained of instability in the electricity supply, which sometimes lead to damages. But LEC said it has insufficient capacity to keep everyone going for 24hours so it does it on a rotational level

ARCELOR MITTAL FOUNDATION DEDICATES SCHOOL TO GRAND BASSA TOWNSHIP

Arcelor Mittal and the Arcelor Mittal Foundation, the school Principal, Joseph Payne, emotionally told the gathering during the program how delighted he was considering that his community has got a new school building.“For me today, if joy was something to count I was going to count it. I just only want to thank Arcelor Mittal and my good volunteers for what they have done for us, may God continue to multiply his blessings upon you,” Principal Payne said.Meanwhile, the Arcelor Mittal communications Manager disclosed that the foundation also brought in doctors to cater to a lot of people with dental (teeth sickness) and eye problems. The volunteer doctors reportedly treated more than 600 people in 10 days, providing 600 glasses for people with eye problems. Asier Marquina, Arcelor Mittal Foundation’s regional manager for Africa and Western Europe said the foundation is implementing 500 projects across the world indicating that the projects include education, health, water and sanitation, and support for children who cannot afford school fees.He thanked his colleague for the services they rendered while in Liberia and promised that the foundation will continue its work with Arcelol Mittal Liberia and they will not forget their experience in Liberia.“When you help someone and you do not expect anything in return you really feel certain joy inside you that you cannot express,” Marquina said emotionally.The foundation Regional Manger said they now know some of the problems that affect Liberia’s population; he disclosed that the organization will work on starting a visual habilitation for blind people which will train blind people and integrate them.The 14 volunteers include engineers and doctors who hailed from Belgium, France, Canada, Brazil, German, Mexico, and Spain. Some were quite emotional as they spoke during the program highlighting their respective experiences with the contractors, locals and children of the area. Some of the volunteers that also included Liberians were certificated for their work toward the success of the school project.

FrontpageMonday, June 2, 2014 Page 13

REGULATOR STILL IN LACC DRAGNET Commission on Higher Education Director General long Corruption talePeter Mutharika has been sworn in as Malawi's president after the High Court

rejected a request for a recount following allegations of vote-rigging

SUDANESE WOMAN MERIAM IBRAHIM SENTENCED TO DEATH

FOR APOSTASY 'TO BE FREED'

IN BRIEFOBAMA FIGHTS FOREIGN

POLICY CRITICS, PLEDGES AID TO SYRIA GROUPS

SOUTH AFRICA MINES MINISTER VOWS TO BREAK

STRIKE DEADLOCK

EGYPT POLLS OPEN FOR 3RD DAY, FEW VOTERS SHOW UP

 WASHINGTON (Reuters) -

President Barack Obama fought back against critics of his foreign policy

on Wednesday by insisting U.S. reliance on diplomacy over military intervention was working to resolve global crises like Ukraine and Iran, and he pledged to ramp up support for Syria’s opposition.In a commencement address at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, Obama laid out a broad approach to foreign affairs for the remainder of his presidency that shifts the fight against terrorism from Afghanistan to more diffuse threats elsewhere in the world.Obama's tendency to rely on diplomacy and steer clear of foreign entanglements has drawn fire from opposition Republicans in Congress and various foreign policy pundits, who would prefer a more robust approach.One of those areas is Syria. In his speech, Obama defended his decision not to intervene militarily there and expressed a willingness to expand assistance to Syrian opposition groups who are trying to oust President Bashar al-Assad.

CAIRO (AP) —

Egyptian authorities scrambled to rescue the country's presidential election from the

embarrassment of low voter turnout, but few people trickled to the polls Wednesday even after the balloting was extended for a third day.A low turnout will likely rob the all-but-certain winner, former army chief Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, of the overwhelming show of public support he sought in the vote.Turnout is key for el-Sissi, because he is looking to prove to critics at home and abroad that his ouster last July of the nation's first freely elected president, the Islamist Mohammed Morsi, reflected the will of the people.

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -

South Africa's new mines minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi said on Wednesday that the

deadlock in the country's crippling 18-week platinum strike would soon be broken as movement has been made on both sides.Ramatlhodi appointed a government team on Wednesday to try and resolve the wage stoppage by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) at the world's top platinum producers. The team will meet the companies and union on Thursday at an undisclosed location."We will break the deadlock. I can say there has been movement on both sides," Ramatlhodi, who was sworn in on Monday, told Reuters.

   

 

FRONTPAGE WORLD NEWS

BANDA OFFICIALLY OUT

The elections were chaotic and several irregularities were reportedThe leader of the

Democratic Progressive Party urged the 11 other presidential candidates to "join me in rebuilding the country".Outgoing President Joyce Banda had alleged ballot fraud but has now admitted defeat.Malawi is one of the world's poorest nations.It is heavily dependent on aid, which provides 40% of the government's budget.A protester died on Friday as police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse an angry crowd demanding a recount of last week's ballot in the south-eastern town of Mangochi.Mr Mutharika is the brother of the late President Bingu wa Mutharika, who died in office in 2012, and had served as his foreign minister.He obtained 36.4% of the vote, according to the electoral commission, and said he felt "very humbled" to become Malawi's fifth president."It's obvious we are facing serious problems in this country. All of us together, let us build the country which is almost on the verge of collapse," he said.Former preacher Lazarus

 

Sudan appeared to be bowing to international pressure on Saturday night to free a woman

sentenced to death for apostasy. A foreign ministry spokesman said that Meriam Ibrahim would be released and not face further charges.But lawyers for 27-year-old Ms Ibrahim expressed scepticism that she would be freed so quickly.“It’s a statement to silence the international media,” said Elshareef Ali Mohammed. “This is

what the government does. We will not believe that she is being freed until she walks out of the prison."He said he had even heard reports that the spokesman was in the UK on medical leave when he told the BBC she would soon be freed.“If they were to release her, the announcement would come from the appeal court, and not from the ministry of foreign affairs. But at least it shows our campaign to free Meriam is rattling them. We must keep up the pressure.”

 

Chakwera came second in the election with 27.8% of the vote. He represented the Malawi Congress Party, which governed from independence in 1964 until the first multi-party poll in 1994.'Cashgate'Mrs Banda, who came to power after the death of Bingu wa Mutharika two years ago, was third with 20.2% of the vote. Her administration had been hit by a corruption scandal dubbed

"cashgate", which led donors to cut aid.Mrs Banda had attempted to have the polls declared "null and void" on the grounds of "serious irregularities". Malawi media comment"The wish-list for Malawians is very long," says the Malawi News, a privately owned daily. "Being accountable seems to be a good starting point," adds

the paper, emphasising the need for improving services and infrastructure."We can only have one president at a time," says the UK-based Nyasa Times, urging Malawians to leave behind "rancour and electoral vindictiveness".But she made no mention of this in a statement congratulating Mr Mutharika on his victory in a "closely contested election" and urging "all Malawians to support

the newly elected president... and his government as they take on this foundation of progress and endeavour to develop Malawi even further."The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) had asked for a 30-day extension to declare the results so that a recount could be carried out.However, the High Court refused to delay the release of results and ordered the commission to make its announcement on Friday.

DEATH ANNOUNCEMENTThis is to announce with

deep sorrow the death of Samuel Benedict Cooper Jr.

This sad event took place in the ambulance en route to St. Joseph’s Catholic Hospital, on Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 12:40 pm.

This is a tremendous loss for the Cooper family and for countless others that affectionately referred to him as Ben Cooper, Papa Zulu, Jolly Pappy, or JP.

Funeral arrangements will be as follows:Removal of Ben’s body from the Stryker Funeral Home:

Friday, June 6, 2014 at 4 PMWith the wake keeping to follow at Trinity Cathedral, Broad Street.Funeral Service will be held at Trinity Cathedral, Broad Street:Saturday, June 7, 2014 at 10:00 AM

This announcement was brought in by the Cooper Family.

 

Samuel Benedict Cooper, Jr June 22, 1944—May 15, 2014

Page 14 |Frontpage Monday, June 2, 2014

AUSTRALIA'S 'CHANGING OF GUARD' IN FULL SWING WITH MILE JEDINAK IN POLE POSITION TO LAND CAPTAINCY

Crystal Palace midfielder looks set to fill Lucas Neil’s captaincy shoes as Australia coach Ange Postecoglou puts final touches to vision It has the biggest audience of

any team sport competition and only weeks remain until the football public

shifts focus to living, eating and breathing the world game for an entire month. In Australia the game of football or soccer is often referred as “The Sleeping Giant” but the game’s strong and rapid growth could soon see it referenced to the 1970’s colloquially-titled General Motors advertisement “Football, Meat pies, Kangaroos and Holden Cars”. With the final squad announcement due this week, the Socceroos side has gone about a well-documented “changing of the guard” as coach Ange Postecoglou’s future vision beyond the World Cup starts to take shape. Some well-timed pre-emptive taps on the shoulder by Postecoglou has seen the revolving door close on Socceroos stalwarts Brett Holman and Lucas Neil’s international careers. The move wasn’t swift by the new gaffer, but with wonderful service given to the national shirt, respect was shown to two very popular Socceroos veterans. Sadly Neil has been left stranded just four games shy of recording 100 caps for his country. In typical stoic Neil fashion he has given strong assurances to play on in a vain hope of gaining selection for January’s Asian Cup tournament. The talk this week has centred on goalkeeping incumbent Maty Ryan, who has been linked with Spanish giants Real Madrid of all places. Ryan’s career has gained plenty of momentum after securing a starting role with Belgium side Club Brugge this season, but the Madrid move is purely speculation. Ryan has been on the radar of many European clubs but a final decision on his future seems unlikely until after Brazil. His debut season saw him impress with 13 clean sheets from 37 matches. The local Australian A-League competition wrapped up in style last weekend in Brisbane with the Premiers Brisbane Roar hosting the Western Sydney Wanderers in front of over 51,000 passionate fans. The Roar claimed a third Grand Final win together with two premierships and look likely to provide Ivan Franjic and Matt McKay with spots in the 30 man Socceroos squad. Postecoglou has not been hurried in his quest to name a captaincy replacement, but it is looking likely that Crystal Palace based midfielder Mile Jedinak has the runs on the board to fill Neil’s shoes. Other notable contenders could be veteran Tim Cahill or experienced defensive midfielder Mark Milligan. Unfortunately for Jedinak he was forced from the field in Palace’s final match with a groin strain that could see him miss the final Socceroos hit out at home against South Africa on May 26. The possible “bolters” for a ticket to Brazil include Newcastle Jets

10 Days to go: All the action leading up the BrazilCOUNTDOWNWORLD CUP

 

 

Adam Taggart after a stellar year in the A-League after winning the coveted “Golden Boot” trophy for netting 16 goals. Fortuna Dusseldorf based winger Ben Halloran is also gaining plenty of attention with a fine season in the Bundesliga 2 league with six goals and 23 games this season in Germany. Australia’s first opponent sees them with their best or some say only chance of snatching a point in the tournament. In what will give some hope to fans Down Under, no Australian team has ever returned home from the World Cup pointless since their

opening campaign back in 1974. Chile’s Fifa ranking of 15 places them well above the Socceroos on 63, but with news of injury concerns to Chile’s Arturo Vidal, could mean a welcome reprieve for the Aussies before Chile play their remaining pool matches against Spain and the Netherlands. They will still have the likes of Barcelona star Alexis Sanchez and the talented David Pizarro to cope with. The giant battle for midfield possession and strengthening the obvious defensive frailties will be Postecoglou’s biggest challenges. He will be hoping the Socceroos's

proud unbeaten record against the Dutch can continue. Although with Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben anchoring their attack the “Clockwork Orange” will again be at the peak of their powers and one of the favoured sides to progress towards the semi-finals. The ultimate test will be saved for last when Ange’s men take on football super powers and current European and World Cup Champions Spain in Curitiba. With last year’s 6-0 defeats to Brazil and France still etched in the memories of many, fans will be hoping for nothing more than a competitive showing over an

unrealistic and euphoric upset victory over "The Red Fury”. This World Cup has garnered unprecedented interest from Australian football fans here and abroad but not for a high expectation of success. You can be certain the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema will be filled not just with the green and gold of Brazil but a healthy splattering of Socceroos jerseys and Aussie football tragics. February has been a massive month for the Socceroos. The unveiling of a new eco-friendly kit, controversial squad announcements, and a UK-based run out against Ecuador have dominated headlines in a land "girt" by sea. Football fans love a new kit unveiling. In our socially mediated world the big surprise is often deflated by a million tweets, mentions and retweets before a single camera flashes in excitement. So it was no surprise when Nike launched the new "Green and Gold" kit in the shadow of the Sydney Harbour Bridge but, unlike the Scots, the kit has garnered very positive endorsement. The cutting edge design (consisting of 18 recycled plastic bottles) shouts sustainability as it pays tribute to the trailblazers of the nation's first World Cup finals campaign. The retro-styled adaptation has the quote, "We Socceroos can do the impossible", from the side's '74 Captain, Peter Wilson, woven into a stylish tab. Ange Postecoglou announced a youthful squad for the Ecuador match. As he seeks to construct the next generation, long-serving captain Lucas Neil was the most noticeable, though expected, absentee given his stalled on-field career. Postecoglou hasn't ruled

out his inclusion in the final squad, but signalled a preference for solid club form over reputation. Harry Kewell was another exclusion and, despite finding recent form with Manchester City's A-League side, Melbourne Heart, is long odds to be involved. He might be turning the "shrimps on the barbie" with Neil while their young colleagues are shaking their maracas on the Copacabana. The match itself was one of mixed emotions. The clash between the Aussies and the 24th Fifa ranked Ecuador at Millwall's "The Den", a ground many Socceroos have called home, started with plenty of promise. Newly-appointed captain Mile Jedinak oversaw veteran Tim Cahill become the country's all-time top scorer with a handy brace. Cahill has never really been a "footballer" in the true sense of the word preferring his more reliable cranial asset to that of his feet. Australians hope his trademark corner-post sparring session will be seen on more than one occasion in Brazil, but with Group B opponents Netherlands, Chile and Spain, not conceding will be the priority. Belgium-based Maty Ryan had an impressive clean sheet in the first-half between the sticks, before making way for the much less successful Mitchell Langerak in the second. It was an unhappy night for the Borussia Dortmund back up as his sloppy Kung-Fu style challenge, and ensuing red card, saw the momentum shift to Ecuador. Despite four unanswered goals handed to Ecuador in a cliché-riddled game of two halves, Postecoglou remained upbeat when he noted the friendly was more about blooding youth than the final result. Playing a man down certainly educated the squad in what scenarios can be thrown up in the tough competition of international football. The Socceroos face South Africa in a farewell friendly at the Olympic Stadium in Sydney on May 26. The game will finish a week-long squad camp, and a great opportunity to continue Postecoglou's 'rebuilding' phase. The "Bafana Bafana" may not be an ideal opponent given their recent 5-0 drubbing from tournament hosts Brazil, but it could provide the Socceroos with a much-needed shot in the brand new shirt-sleeve before their trek across the Pacific. The final World Cup squad will continue to divide opinion and spark plenty of debate amongst supporters. But despite our tough Group B predicament, a record contingent of Aussie fans travelling to Brazil will be an encouraging aspect to what has been described as the Socceroos toughest World Cup campaign to date.

FrontpageMonday, June 2, 2014 Page 15

Danesius Marteh, danesius.marteh@frontpageafricaonline.com

Lesotho capitalizes on home advantage to advance with 2-0 win over Liberia; 2-1 aggregate

SportsSPORT BRIEFSPAIN GAMBLES ON COSTA IN 23-MAN

WORLD CUP SQUADMADRID (AP) —

World Cup holder Spain included Diego Costa in its 23-

man squad for Brazil despite lingering worries over a leg injury to the striker.Costa has been hobbled for weeks by a right thigh muscle problem, but coach Vicente del Bosque is prepared to gamble that the Atletico Madrid forward will be fit to lead the defending champion's attack.Costa, who is a Brazilian-born Spanish national, is expected to start ahead of Fernando Torres and David Villa, who were also in the squad.As expected, winger Jesus Navas was left out while Juan Mata was included despite a mixed Premier League season.

OKLAHOMA CITY --

San Antonio fought off Father Time, the league MVP and an injury to its best player to return to

the NBA Finals.The Spurs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 112-107 in overtime Saturday night in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals to set up a rematch with the Miami Heat.San Antonio will host Game 1 on Thursday night and will try to avenge last year's heartbreaking loss. San Antonio led Miami 3-2 before losing Game 6 in overtime, then dropping Game 7."People keep talking like we weren't close to winning, but we were ready to win last year," Spurs center Tim Duncan said. "We're happy it's the Heat again. We've got that bad taste in our mouths still."

MOURINHO TO CHOSE EITHER REMY, LUKAKU OR BONY TO

PARTNER COSTA AT CHELSEA

SPURS OUTLAST THUNDER IN OT, GET FINALS

REMATCH WITH HEAT

Swansea’s Ivory Coast hitman Wilfried Bony, QPR’s French ace Loic Remy

and the Blues’ own Belgium star Romelu Lukaku are the trio being monitored by the Stamford Bridge boss.Mourinho and Chelsea have already agreed a £35million deal for Atletico Madrid top scorer Diego Costa.But the Special One has yet to decide whether to bring Lukaku, who spent last season on loan at Everton, back into the fold - or find a new forward for his squad.Lukaku and Mourinho clashed this time last year when the Portuguese coach refused to guarantee him regular first-team football at Chelsea.

Lesotho recorded one of the most impressive results in their history when beating Liberia

2-0 to qualify for the second round of 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.Having lost the first leg 1-0 in Monrovia, the small highland kingdom won through 2-1 on aggregate.Two first-half goals were enough to comfortably ensure the Crocodiles' first Nations Cup qualifying win in seven years, with their last success coming against Niger in 2007.Lesotho have never appeared at a Nations Cup final and face Kenya in the next round.Tanzania , meanwhile, are looking to qualify for their first Nations Cup since 1980 and they ensured they stay in contention for January's finals in Morocco when drawing 2-2 in Zimbabwe on Sunday.Mart Nooij's side progressed 3-2 on aggregate, and will next meet Mozambique - meaning a return to Maputo for the Dutch coach, who led the Mambas to the 2010 Nations Cup.Botswana 's sole Nations Cup qualification was in 2012 and they maintained hopes of reaching only their second finals when winning 1-0 at home to Burundi - to qualify by the same aggregate scoreline.Joel Mogorosi, part of the 2012

LIBERIA OUT OF AFCON

 

UNANNOUNCED TRANSACTIONS

 Nations Cup squad, scored the vital goal just ahead of the hour mark.Claude LeRoy is a coach who won the Nations Cup as long ago as 1988 and the Frenchman guided his Congo (Brazzaville) side into the next round with a

comprehensive 3-0 home defeat of Namibia .The win took them through 3-1 on aggregate and the Red Devils, who won the Nations Cup in 1972 but who have qualified for just one finals in the last 20 years, will now face Rwanda.

Kenya aside, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Rwanda and Uganda also progressed after qualifiers on Friday and Saturday.After the second round of qualifying ends in August, the third and final group stage - which features 28 teams trying

to take the 15 places available - will get underway in September before finishing in November.The 2015 Africa Cup of Nations starts in Morocco on 17 January, with the final taking place on 8 February.

With less than two weeks to kick-off, will Liberia be represented at

the World Cup in Brazil?That is highly likely with Liberia Football Association (LFA) President Musa Bility expected to lead a delegation made-up of vice presidents Musa Shannon and Cassell Kuoh. They will attend the 64th congress in Sao Paulo from June 10-11 before watching some matches, including the opener between Brazil and Croatia on June 12. In keeping with its tradition, Fifa allocates a certain quota of tickets among its 209 member

associations with the 32 finalists given a higher quota.But how did Liberia sell its tickets for the World Cup remains the major question hanging over Team Bility’s departure. For the previous World Cups, approximately 33 million tickets were available for sale and similar amount has gone on sale with 75-percent targeted to go to fans in and out of Brazil. Each of the 32 finalists has a reserved ticket allocation of eight percent for each of their respective matches through a dedicated sales tool to directly their fans. That makes 16-percent of the inventory per match, which is available for the fan groups of the

two participating nations. The remaining ticketing allocation groups include the public, member association and their citizens, consumer affiliates, hospitality rights holders, media rights licensees, as well as complimentary tickets for media and other guests.This means that Liberia, like other members, were allocated a certain quota of tickets, which the LFA should have made public for interested Liberians (at home or abroad) to purchase in order to avoid the rigorous and complicated process of obtaining tickets via the internet. But as it was done in 1998, 2002 and 2010, the LFA sold the tickets on the black market in order to

maximize profits.Then The News newspaper sports editor Siebo Williams first broke the news about ticket allocation to Liberia and how it may have been sold on the black market, forcing then LFA president Edwin Snowe into providing clarity at a reactionary press conference. LISCR FC president Mustapha Raji, who had written the FA about purchasing tickets, was forced to buy tickets outside of Liberia’s quota. And Bility was apparently furious when our reporter phoned him about the FA’s unannounced transaction. “Danesius, I don’t owe you transparency. You believe that we are not transparent. I called you to give you information [on what you said you gathered from Fifa]. You don’t have anything. “You just have rumors and misinformation. As a journalist, if you have something to say that I got proof that LFA received tickets [from Fifa], then we [can] talk but you just go around collecting and writing bullshit,” Bility angrily responded. Press with a confirmation from Zurich that Liberia received tickets to be sold to Liberians, Bility flipped over: “We are not tickets distributors. We look at the Fifa allocation and the ones we had money for we bought it ourselves. The people who want tickets, they

know how to go buy tickets.

“If you want ticket, you [can] come to the LFA. You put in your demands and we will sell it to you. I am not denying what Fifa is saying but it is not free. Now, I am sure you are not telling me that Fifa told you that it [the tickets] is free.”How did Liberia sell its quota of tickets for the World Cup in Brazil?“It is about allocation. They [Fifa] will tell you for the finals we got one ticket [for Liberia]. Then they will tell, Liberia for the semifinals we will give you two tickets. I am president of the LFA, the game I am going to watch, I bought my ticket because Fifa only gave me one free ticket. “And that is the opening match. Nobody else got any free ticket. So before I go and talk to the public [about tickets], can’t I take care of myself first.I beg you mehn,” Bility hanged-off while threatening to file a lawsuit, as was done by former Agriculture Minister Christophe Toe, should our reporter air or transcribe his telephone interview on May 28. So the LFA is tightlipped on Liberia’s allocation for Brazil but the truth of the matter is those tickets were sold on the black market with Bility’s loyal servant and kinsman serving as a middle man.

How did Liberia sell its tickets for the World Cup in Brazil?

 

 LFA president Musa Bility Fifa president Sepp Blatter

www.frontpageafricaonline.com SportsFrontPagePRICE L$40VOL 8 NO.606 MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

CLIMATE CHANGE DOING CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO MONROVIA’S BIGGEST SLUMMonrovia -

Not expecting it, at least not for now, residents of Monrovia’s biggest slum, West Point, were awakened early Friday Morning at around

3:00am when the ocean slammed into their shacks with a hard throb and the salty water began to wash away their homes and businesses.A visitor who went to see the area on Saturday was shocked when she saw the condition these people who seem to be at the bottom of Liberia’s economic ladder were living in. There had been left homeless.There was rusty aluminum zinc everywhere, which exemplified the footsteps of the ocean as it retreated after causing that much damage. There were also people squatting, doing their regular thing (toileting) and there was human feces everywhere shaped in all sizes; small, medium, large and extra-large. The stranger almost yelled ‘wuku’ when she saw one that was extremely large beyond what you may call an extra large one.But on a serious note, the ocean continues to warn us that West Point is at risk with communities being that close to the sea. It is either the government gets prepared to so do something about moving this community somewhere else or the ocean might just one day decide to do it and it would be a big disaster.

‘THE SEA VEX WITH WEST POINT’Spot NewsFrontPage

 

LIBERIA OUT OF AFCONLesotho capitalizes on home advantage to advance with 2-0 win over Liberia; 2-1 aggregate

10 Days to go: All the action leading up the BrazilCOUNTDOWNWORLD CUP