Football legend has a decent chance of becoming president of his country Liberia. Nashwa Abdel-Tawab investigates how a star can run a nation Politics and sports do mix. Several sportsmen have gone into politics after having had a successful career in the field or on court. However, no athlete has ever become president of a country but the time might be approaching. Former Footballer of the Year is hoping to lead an impoverished country which is still feeling the effects of a 14-year civil war that ended in 2003. Weah, the former Lone Star skipper, is one of several candidates hoping to be elected president to lead a nation as he once led a team and his chances of success seem better than the rest. The official results will be out 23 October. However, because of his dual nationality and poor education, Weah has already come under fire from several analysts who question both his political skills and level of education. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was "surprised and worried" by the decision of Weah, 38, to contest Liberia's elections held on 11 October. While managing French club Monaco, Wenger bought Weah from Cameroon's Tonnerre Yaounde. Wenger's tutelage set Weah on the path that earned him the African, European and World Player of the Year awards in 1995. "I'm worried... It is a dangerous country. I had as a player when there was civil war in Liberia," Wenger told the BBC. But Wenger believes that should Weah be elected, he will do his best to improve the lives of his countrymen. "I'm sure of one thing -- if he's elected he will be honest, because there was a lot of corruption in the country. He will try to do it in an honest way. On one side, I've seen this player come to Monaco with nothing and become World Player of the Year and now competing to be president of his country. It's magical, it's a fairy tale, but I hope it goes well for him," Wenger said. Weah acknowledged the debt he owed Wenger. "He taught me to persevere, to live a decent life and to play fair." Jonathan Sogbie, on the other hand, has taken a swipe at Weah, branding his former international team-mate "incapable" of governing Liberia and has opposed Weah publicly. "I know better than his opponents in the elections. Liberia has serious problems which need serious people to resolve them, both past and present," Sogbie said. Sogbie's stance adds to the raging debate about Weah's suitability for the highest office in war-ravaged Liberia. Sogbie said Weah's poor level of education would make it difficult for him to grasp the critical issues confronting the country after 14 years of war. "We are going to make a decision today for tomorrow. Therefore, we won't allow friendship to jeopardise the nation's future." Weah has admitted to being a secondary school drop-out during a presidential radio debate in Monrovia recently. He said: "I had to leave school in 1987 to take up the Tonnere Clara Club offer in Cameroon due to poverty." Former Liberia striker James 'Salinsa' Debbah also criticised Weah's decision to seek the country's highest office. Debbah, who is Weah's cousin, said he will not be supporting him because he lacks the experience for the job. "I will be doing a lot of injustice if I vote for him," Debbah said to a surprised audience at a news conference in Monrovia. Debbah's statement came ahead of the start of official campaigning on 15 August. "My disqualification of is not based on the fact that a lot of people say he's not educated," Debbah continued. "My reason is that he does not have the necessary governmental experience. He will be brought to public ridicule, as he is a political novice who would not understand the intricacies of politics. All the things he has worked for over the years could be taken away from him if he does not perform [as president]," warned Debbah. Known as Salinsa during his playing days, the long-time associate of Weah is regarded as Liberia's most popular football personality after the former Paris St Germain, AC Milan and Chelsea striker. Reacting to Debbah's statement, Weah told BBC Sport he regretted that "my cousin does not seem to understand why I am getting into politics at this time. "James knows I have the leadership ability, which was evident when I played and captained the Lone Star (Liberia's national team). If he says I'm a novice to the presidency, he should know that no one goes to the presidency with the requisite experience, except that person who has served before," Weah said. Meanwhile, the validity of Weah's candidacy is being scrutinised by the Elections Commission, following allegations by a group of opposition parties that he is a naturalised French citizen. This would bar him from seeking elected office, as Liberian laws forbid dual citizenship. Weah's final soccer touches ended in November 2004. He showed off his skills in the testimonial match featuring some of the game's biggest names. He scored a hat-trick in his farewell match for "Weah Friends" at Marseille's Velodrome stadium. Weah reached his peak with AC Milan between 1995 and 2000, and ended his European career five years ago at Olympique Marseille after spells with Monaco, Paris St Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City. He then played for Al Jazirah in the United Arab Emirates. "He's an example all over Africa," said Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba. When Weah returned to Liberia to launch his presidential bid in his war-scarred homeland, thousands lined the route of his motorcade from the airport, cheering and beating drums -- welcoming him as much as a hoped-for national saviour as an African football great. "My president is waiting!" shouted one woman, in what looked like a victory parade on the main street of the battered capital. "The politicians in this country have failed us, lied to us, killed our brothers and sisters; our youths are suffering; they have no food to eat, no work to do; so Weah can deliver the goods," she added. In 1997, Weah became a UNICEF goodwill ambassador. He has worked with the United Nations agency to help fight the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa through education and to promote vocational training initiatives to rehabilitate child soldiers from African countries, specifically Liberia. Weah left Monrovia at 20 to pursue a professional football career. But he has not stayed away, and his efforts prompted former South African President Nelson Mandela to call him the "African pride." Besides his anti-war efforts and trying to help child soldiers, Weah has served as the Liberia national coach, star player and sponsor, providing charter flights for the team's matches, and player payments. Could former sports star run Egypt? Al-Ahram Weekly put the question to Al-Ahram's sports editor and prominent columnist Hassan El-Mistikawi. "Weah is much different from any other sports figure," El-Mistikawi said. "He is the product of poor circumstances in his country but overcame them as a person and became the country's legend. He also carried the worries of the nation with him. On and off the pitch, Weah is the model to follow by the young generation and a figure to respect by older people." El-Mistikawi adds that the case in Egypt is different. "Our players do not have something to live for and a target to reach. So there is no way a current star can be a presidential contestant. Any star -- singer, actor or religious figure, cannot be a president just because he is a star. He has to be respectable and have a cause in this life to achieve." Ages ago human beings were divided into two: the mind and the muscles. The Greeks divided the country into Sparta and Athens. Sparta stands for fighters and muscles whereas Athens represents philosophers and the mind. "This classification is wrong," El-Mistikawi said. "It's not just politicians. No, all people have a mind and muscles and can think for themselves." Thus, the day might not be too far off when an Egyptian footballer runs for president. Weah has opened the door.
