Liberian football administrator and President of Watanga FC, K. Jlayteh Sayor, experienced a deeply emotional moment during a recent academic visit to the headquarters of AC Milan in Italy.
Sayor, who is currently enrolled in the prestigious FIFA Master Program, toured the club’s historic museum and offices as part of the Sports Management module at the SDA Bocconi School of Management in Milan.
While walking through the museum, Sayor encountered a display that carried powerful meaning for Liberia — the iconic number 9 jersey worn by George Manneh Weah during his legendary time at the club.
Displayed alongside the jersey was the famous Ballon d’Or trophy that Weah won in 1995, making history as the first and only African player to ever claim the award.
Seeing the jersey and trophy preserved inside one of football’s most storied clubs filled Sayor with pride, reminding him of the remarkable journey of a young boy from Clara Town who rose to the pinnacle of world football.
Beyond the emotional experience, the visit also provided valuable academic insight. Students in the program learned about the governance structure, commercial strategy, and operational management behind a global football powerhouse like AC Milan. For Sayor, the moment reinforced the importance of building stronger football systems in Liberia so that future generations can follow in the footsteps of the nation’s greatest football icon.
