MONROVIA, Montserrado – LISCR FC’s management has defended the club’s decision to allow key players to leave at a time when they are most needed.

Less than a month to their crucial CAF Champions League match, Liberia’s first division champions made an unexpected announcement of the departure of their star striker, Christopher Jackson, to Belarusian top-flight club FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk for trials. Jackson’s departure meant that three players had left the club since preparations began for their CAF Champions League match. He joined Terrence Tisdell who moved to Costa do Sol in Mozambique on a two-year loan and striker Trokon Myers who left for Cameroon for trials with Union Douala.

Since the players left, LISCR FC’s management has been heavily criticized by some of the club’s diehard fans and close followers of Liberian football for their decision to allow the top players to leave at a crucial period.

With the club preparing for the 2018 CAF Champions League preliminary round, where they hope to reach the first round, the fans have been calling on the team to build a strong squad for Al Hilal.

Amid the criticism, the club’s president, Mustapha Raji, admitted that while those players would have played important roles in LISCR’s upcoming matches, the club remains committed to helping young Liberians gain international contracts.

“Players owe loyalty to the club and the club considers each and every one of its player’s interest first,” he said. “Even though our club is engaged in an upcoming crucial CAF competition, the future of our players and Liberia is greater in our opinion. Our acceptance to release the players at this critical stage was all based on capacity building and opportunity to develop players for the Liberia national team with international experience. We will continue this drive to help young Liberians gain international contracts and become independent to support their families and friends. We are determined to promote and cooperate with many clubs and agents worldwide.”

Raji said many other players have been able to further their careers because the club put their interest first.

“Over the years, we’ve helped lots of players seek greener pasture. We’ve done that with Gizzie Dorbor, George Baysah, Anthony Laffor, Patrick Wleh, the late Patrick Doeplah, and many more. We remain committed in helping players succeed,” he concluded.

The club continues its build up to their CAF Champions League match against the Sudanese team Al Hilal on February 11, with their regular training sessions at the George Weah Technical Center in Careysburg.

Featured photo by T. Kla Wesley Jr.