Football great Weah maintains huge support as Liberian vote looms

Tens of thousands of Liberians paraded through the streets of capital Monrovia Saturday, displaying their support for football-star-turned-politician George Weah, one of the four main presidential hopefuls for next week's general elections in the turbulent country.

Dressed in white T-shirts with portrait of Weah, the seemingly endless queue of supporters marched miles from outskirts of the city to his party's headquarters to hear a speech of their "next president" to climax a seven-week campaign.

"Politicians, where are you? Weah is in the Mansion (state house)," supporters chanted, depicting the result of next Tuesday's presidential election as a full-gone conclusion.

"Weah is the only man who has this country at heart. He will make a good president," a supporter confidently spoke of the former FIFA World Player of the Year.

Weah, 39, was born in the slum of Clara Town near Monrovia and grew up playing football in poor neighborhoods and eventually turned his talent into a professional career. In 1995, he became the first African to win the prestigious World Player of the Year award when he played for Italian club AC Milan.

He is seen as a patriot and one who would work to pull his country out the rubbles of 14-year civil war from 1989 to 2003 that claimed about 250,000 lives.

At first, many politicians took him for a joke when Weah announced his intention for the presidency. But as he managed to yield huge support, his opponents criticized him as not suitable for the job because he didn't complete high school. However, Weah himself and his supporters do not think this as a problem.

"No issues of education, but just who can do for the country," said 30-year-old Herry Bombo, outside the headquarters of Weah's party, the Congress for Democratic Change.

Another supporter, Angnstini Sasay, 62, took the example of former Liberian president Samuel Doe, saying "though he is not educated, he brought development to the country."

Liberia will hold its first post-civil war elections next Tuesday, and some 1.3 million Liberians of the 3-million population are expected to cast their votes to elect their president from among 22 presidential candidates.

Weah, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, a former World Bank economist, Charles Brumskine, former senator and Varney Sherman, a lawyer are considered front-runners.

Poll results are expected to be announced within 15 days from the date of the ballot.

A presidential candidate with more than 50 percent votes would be declared winner, if not, there would be a run-off within three weeks to choose a president between the two candidates with the highest number of votes.

Source: Xinhua