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George Weah has won a seat in Liberia's senate. AP/Press Association Images

Remember George Weah? He's just won a seat in Liberia's senate

The former AC Milan star declared himself a “born winner,” after trouncing the son of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

FOOTBALL LEGEND AND Liberian opposition leader George Weah declared himself a “born winner” Monday, after trouncing the son of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in a Senate election in the Ebola-ravaged country.

In his first victory at the polls since he went into politics 15 years ago, Weah won by a landslide in Montserrado county, the most populous in the west African country, taking 78 percent of the vote in a race against Robert Sirleaf.

“I am a born-winner,” the ex-AC Milan goal ace told AFP. “I have always defeated Madam Sirleaf in Montserrado. The son could not do what the mother did not.

“I have always won the elections, but my victories were stolen from me,” he claimed.

The only African to take the Ballon d’Or as European footballer of the year, Weah won the first round of the 2005 presidential election, but lost the runoff to Johnson Sirleaf. He lost out again to her in 2011 when he was the vice-presidential candidate on the opposition Congress for Democratic Change ticket.

“It is time now to work for the people of Montserrado and that is my priority,” he said.

Weah, a popular figure in Liberia since his days as a deadly centre-forward, told AFP in May that he intends to run again for president in 2017.

Robert Sirleaf, who took only 10.8 percent in the much-delayed December 20 poll to fill half the seats in the Senate, conceded defeat on national radio.

“I congratulate Mr. Weah for his victory. I thank all those who voted for me. I will continue to do what I have been doing for the people of Montserrado,” he said.

Among other winners in the poll — put back three times by the epidemic which has killed 3,384 in Liberia — was Jewel Howard Taylor, a former wife of ex-president Charles Taylor (1997-2003), who has since been convicted of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in neighbouring Sierra Leone. She was reelected in the central Bong district, which she has held since 2005.

The country’s electoral commission said it had received complaints from candidates in three counties. But spokesman Joey Kennedy said: “That does not stop the process. The winners will be certificated on Saturday.

“The cases of protests will go to the Supreme Court. Any decision from there is what we will go by,” he added.

© AFP 2014

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    Mute dabuyincojen
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    Dec 19th 2014, 9:35 AM

    If he does live Dortmund. Think Liverpool would suit him. He seems to be able to achieve alot with limited resources and young players. Could be what the pool needs. Don’t want to see Rodgers go but Klopp would be a good replacement. YNWA

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    Mute Mark Lillis
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    Dec 19th 2014, 10:10 AM

    If he was to go to Liverpool and do what he has done at Dortmund, Liverpool would have a few good seasons before becoming a feeder club to teams with more money. They would end up in the relegation zone before he moved on to do the same in Spain or Italy.

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    Mute Derek Mahon
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    Dec 19th 2014, 10:10 AM

    Klopp could do a lot better than us, and that’s coming from a liverpool fan.

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    Mute Paul Mallon
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    Dec 19th 2014, 1:37 PM

    I still think arsenal would be mad to let wenger go. Much harder to win the English league than the German one. I think if arsenal do let wenger go they’ll only realise what they’ve lost afterwards.

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    Mute Harry Redmond
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    Dec 19th 2014, 8:23 PM

    I don’t think Klopp is the right choice for Arsenal and maybe not Liverpool. The reason they’re doing well in the CL and horrifically in the league is because they have one gameplan and domestic opposition and copped onto it. They sit back and hit on the counter to negate Dortmund’s high energy attacks. They’re afforded more time on the ball in the CL and that means they’re doing well but Klopp hasn’t adapted at all with Dortmund, Guardiola has worked out how to adjust his plan for different opponents and completely deserves the continued domination in Germany whereas Dortmund have fallen away.

    I am not at all saying that Klopp is a bad manager, but seeing fans beg for their manager to be sacked and to have him placed as a saviour for any team in need simply isn’t correct.

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