The ManicaPost
Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister, has reacted to the emergence of George Weah as the President of Liberia. The ex-minister while congratulating the former world footballer of the year, said Weah’s victory was well deserved.
In a tweet via his social media handle, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain said Prophet T. B. Joshua’s prayers helped in paving the way for Weah. Fani-Kayode wrote: “I congratulate George Weah on his election as the President of Liberia.
“I thank God for his life and for that of Prophet T.B. Joshua who prayed for him and assured him of victory when he visited him in his Church in Lagos a few weeks back. This is a well deserved victory!”
The 51-year-old former World Footballer of the Year won 13 out of the 15 counties with his 73-year-old opponent Joseph Boakai getting only two counties. Boakai has been vice-president for the last 12 years Weah was the first African to win the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year. Jubilant Weah took to Twitter to confirm the victory. Weah becomes the 25th president of Liberia.
The former Chelsea man is not known for his political nous but his clout as a footballing icon garners him significant support amongst the youth of Liberia, where 60 percent of the population is under the age of 30. Weah topped the first round of voting in October but didn’t secure the 50 percent needed to win outright. The run-off was delayed twice after allegations of voting fraud and irregularities but Weah’s popularity won out in the end.
He will take over from Nobel Peace Prize winner Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who beat Weah in an election back in 2005. Weah’s lack of education was seen as the main reason for his loss. Weah was signed by Chelsea in 2000 on loan and had an immediate impact, scoring a header on his debut in a derby game against Tottenham. He scored five goals in 14 matches for the club, starting the 2000 FA Cup final against Aston Villa as they beat the Midlanders 1-0.
He also played under Arsene Wenger at Monaco, calling him a “father figure” and attributing his considerable success to the Frenchman. Moving to Europe in 1988 he went on to spend 14 remarkable years playing for Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan before short stints at Chelsea and Manchester City, finishing his European career in Marseille.
It was during his five years at the Rossoneri from 1995 to 2000 that he confirmed his reputation as one of the world’s most fearsome strikers, winning the Ballon d’Or in 1995 and FIFA World Player of the Year in 1996. The Liberian powerhouse was known for his work-rate, instinctive ability and athletic attributes and was seen, along with Ronaldo and Romario , as a modern breed of striker who could finish and run with the ball effectively.
A highly decorated professional, he won African Footballer of the Year three times, the Serie A twice, Ligue 1 once and a smorgasbord of domestic cups in France and Italy. Back in October, Arsenal boss Wenger mistakenly congratulated Weah on the presidential victory.
“I would like to congratulate one of my former players, who became president of Liberia,” the Frenchman said in his pre-Watford press conference on October 12. It is not often that you have a former player who becomes a president of a country. Well done George and I would say just for him to keep his enthusiasm and his desire to learn and to win.” — Mirror UK/Online.
