Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, has described the life of former international football star and Liberia’s President-elect, George Weah, as similar to a fantastic film script.
He said the life of Weah is a good example to other footballers as he had shown the advantage of being committed to a mission with a strong mental ability.
It would be recalled that Weah played for Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan during a glittering career.
Arsene Wenger as coach of Monaco signed Weah on in 1988.
Disclosing that Weah had invited him to his inauguration as the president of Liberia, Wenger paid glowing tribute to him.
His words: “I have been invited by George to come to the day where he will be president. I believe I will be busy. Maybe if I’m suspended I’ll have time to go…
“What’s important is when you look at his life, and I think the life of this guy is a real film, it’s unbelievable. You can make a fantastic film.
“I remember when I saw him for the first time in Monaco, coming in a bit lost, not knowing anybody, not being rated by anybody as a player and after, in 1995, becoming the best player in the world.
“Now he’s president of his country — it’s an unbelievable story. But it’s down to the fact that one thing that was common in George’s attitude is being strong mentally, absolutely unbelievably convinced that he has a mission.”
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He stated further that, “I didn’t think at that point that he would become president of his country, but today when I look back, I must say I’ve seen him crying when war was on in Liberia.
“It’s a happy story and I wish that he has a happy presidency. I would like to say this guy is an example for everybody who plays football today, for all the players.”
Speaking on his possible inability to attend the inauguration which will hold January 22, Wenger said he expected that he would be too busy to make the trip from London.
The event falls two days before the second leg of Arsenal’s League Cup semi-final against Chelsea.
Weah, a former FIFA World Player of the Year, was elected president in Liberia’s first democratic transfer of power in more than 70 years.
Idolised in Liberia as “Mister George,” Weah, 51, will succeed Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who in 2006 took the helm of the nation first founded for freed US slaves