James Debbah
Encyclopedia
James 'Salinda' Debbah is a Liberia
n football
striker
currently Free Agent
. He also play on the Liberia national football team
.
on December 14, 1967.He is the cousin of Liberian football legend and former presidential candidate, George Weah
. However, when Weah ran for president in 2005, Debbah did not support his candidacy because of a lack of political experience.
in 1984. In 1989, he left Liberia for Union Douala
of Cameroon
, where he lasted only 1 season. In 1990, Debbah moved to the French squad Olympique Alès
. In 1991, Debbah moved up to the Ligue 1
squad AS Monaco and played the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
finals, then the year later he moved to Olympique Lyonnais
. In 1995, moved across Ligue 1 to OGC Nice
, where he lasted until 1997. In that year, Debbah moved to the Belgian League squad R.S.C. Anderlecht
. He moved back to Ligue 1 for one season with Paris Saint-Germain. After leaving Paris Saint-Germain, Debbah moved to the Turkcell Super League
squad Ankaragücü
for the 1998 and 1999 seasons, then to the Iraklis squad in Greece
. Debbah moved with Al-Jazeera Club
from 2001–2003 in Abu Dhabi
, United Arab Emirates
, then Muharraq Club
from 2003–2004 in Muharraq
, Bahrain
. Four years after leaving Muharraq Club, he moved with Indonesia Super League squad, PKT Bontang
for only one season (2008–09)
. During a July 2004 FIFA World Cup qualifying match
against Togo
in Monrovia, Debbah, as captain, refused to be substituted in the 53rd minute, instead waiting until the 68th minute to leave the pitch. The match resulted in a 0–0 draw, causing the team to leave the stadium under the protection of an armoured personnel carrier. Liberia finished in last place in their group during qualification, with only 4 points after 10 matches. The draw with Togo was their only draw during the qualification.
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
n football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
currently Free Agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He also play on the Liberia national football team
Liberia national football team
The Liberia national football team, nicknamed the Lone Stars, is the national team of Liberia and is controlled by the Liberia Football Association. Although the country produced the 1995 FIFA World Player of the Year, George Weah, they have never reached the World Cup finals...
.
Personal
Debbah was born in MonroviaMonrovia
Monrovia is the capital city of the West African nation of Liberia. Located on the Atlantic Coast at Cape Mesurado, it lies geographically within Montserrado County, but is administered separately...
on December 14, 1967.He is the cousin of Liberian football legend and former presidential candidate, George Weah
George Weah
George Tawlon Manneh Oppong Ousman Weah is a Liberian humanitarian and politician, and an ex-footballer. He ran unsuccessfully for president in the 2005 election, losing to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in the second round of voting...
. However, when Weah ran for president in 2005, Debbah did not support his candidacy because of a lack of political experience.
Football career
Debbah began his professional football career with the Liberian squad Mighty BarolleMighty Barolle
Mighty Barrolle is a football club from Liberia based in Monrovia.They are one of the founding members of football in Liberia. Their home Stadium is the Antonette Tubman Stadium...
in 1984. In 1989, he left Liberia for Union Douala
Union Douala
Union Sportive Douala is a Cameroonian football club based in Douala.-History:It was founded in 1957 and played its home matches in the Stade de la Réunification.-Achievements:*Cameroon Premiere Division: 4...
of Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
, where he lasted only 1 season. In 1990, Debbah moved to the French squad Olympique Alès
Olympique Alès
Olympique Alès is a French association football club founded in 1923, based in the commune of Alès. The Cévennes club currently playing in the Division d'Honneur Régionale – the seventh division – of the Ligue du Languedoc; the club in the past has played for six seasons in Ligue 1...
. In 1991, Debbah moved up to the Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
squad AS Monaco and played the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
finals, then the year later he moved to Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
. In 1995, moved across Ligue 1 to OGC Nice
OGC Nice
Olympique Gymnaste Club Nice Côte d'Azur is a French association football club based in Nice. The club was founded in 1904 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top-tier of French football. Nice plays its home matches at the Stade Municipal du Ray located within the city. In 2013, the club is...
, where he lasted until 1997. In that year, Debbah moved to the Belgian League squad R.S.C. Anderlecht
R.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
. He moved back to Ligue 1 for one season with Paris Saint-Germain. After leaving Paris Saint-Germain, Debbah moved to the Turkcell Super League
Turkcell Super League
The Süper Lig is a Turkish professional league for association football clubs. It is the top-flight of the Turkish football league system. It is one of the top leagues in the UEFA confederation and the winner of the competition automatically qualifies for the UEFA Champions League...
squad Ankaragücü
Ankaragücü
MKE Ankaragücü is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Ankara. The club wears a yellow and navy kit and play their home matches at Ankara 19 Mayis....
for the 1998 and 1999 seasons, then to the Iraklis squad in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Debbah moved with Al-Jazeera Club
Al-Jazeera Club
Al-Jazira Sports & Culture Club is an football club from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates...
from 2001–2003 in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
, United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
, then Muharraq Club
Muharraq Club
Al-Muharraq Sports Club , is the oldest sports club in Muharraq island in the Persian Gulf region. Al-Muharraq Sports Club has won the Bahraini Football Premier League 31 times. Al-Muharraq Sports Club also takes part in other sports than football like Basketball and Volleyball...
from 2003–2004 in Muharraq
Muharraq
Muharraq , is Bahrain's third largest city, and served as its capital until 1923. The city is located on Muharraq Island and has long been a centre of religiosity...
, Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
. Four years after leaving Muharraq Club, he moved with Indonesia Super League squad, PKT Bontang
PKT Bontang
Bontang Football Club is an Indonesian football team located in Bontang, East Kalimantan in the island of Borneo. The homebase is Mulawarman Stadium....
for only one season (2008–09)
International competitions
Debbah was part of both the 1998 and 2002 Liberian national football squads in the African Cup of NationsAfrican Cup of Nations
The Africa Cup of Nations, also referred to as the African Cup of Nations or African Nations Cup, officially CAN , is the main international association football competition in Africa. It is sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football , and was first held in 1957. Since 1968, it has been...
. During a July 2004 FIFA World Cup qualifying match
2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for Africa. 51 teams took part , competing for 5 World Cup places.The qualification was composed of two Rounds...
against Togo
Togo national football team
The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers (The Sparrow Hawks, is controlled by the Fédération Togolaise de Football.They played at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Their team bus...
in Monrovia, Debbah, as captain, refused to be substituted in the 53rd minute, instead waiting until the 68th minute to leave the pitch. The match resulted in a 0–0 draw, causing the team to leave the stadium under the protection of an armoured personnel carrier. Liberia finished in last place in their group during qualification, with only 4 points after 10 matches. The draw with Togo was their only draw during the qualification.
Sources
- Interview with James Salinsa Debbah LiberianSoccer.com
- James Debbah Zanziball.it
- James Debbah Iraklis-FC
- James Debbah psg70.free.fr