Former Liberian President and 1995 Ballon d’Or winner, George Manneh Weah, has praised the Grand Kru County football team despite their 2–0 defeat to Nimba County in the final of the National County Sports Meet.
Weah, who remains the only African to have won the Ballon d’Or, met with the Grand Kru players after the final and expressed pride in their journey to the championship match, describing their achievement as commendable despite falling short of the ultimate prize.
Addressing the team, Weah noted that football often rewards victory with trophies and recognition, while defeat rarely comes with tangible rewards. However, he emphasized that the massive support the team received throughout the tournament was a clear sign of belief in their potential and progress.
The former world football icon admitted that Grand Kru did not perform at their best in the final, pointing out that the team conceded two early goals and struggled to recover. While he said he was unfamiliar with the team’s tactical system, Weah revealed that the coach had earlier promised to deliver the trophy.
Despite the disappointment, Weah remained optimistic about the squad’s future, urging stakeholders to keep the team together ahead of future County Meets. He stressed that reaching the final itself was a major achievement, especially considering the challenges faced during the qualification campaign.
Weah also reminded the players that finals are often unpredictable, noting that teams may excel in earlier rounds but struggle on the biggest stage, where greater focus, belief, and resilience are required. He added that Nimba County did not necessarily dominate the match, but instead capitalized on Grand Kru’s early defensive lapses.
In a further show of support, Weah promised to organize a friendly match for the team, during which experienced players would interact with and mentor the young talents, helping them better understand the fundamentals of the game.
He concluded by challenging the players’ mindset, stating that belief and orientation were lacking on the day. In a light-hearted but motivational remark, Weah said that even at 60 years old, had he featured in the match, Grand Kru would have emerged victorious.
