FED: Govt refuses Liberian soccer team entry

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-1999
FED: Govt refuses Liberian soccer team entry

Immigration officials have stopped a young west African soccer team from coming to
Australia despite the players being invited to a special reception by Governor-General Sir
WILLIAM DEANE.

The Millenium Stars, a team of teenage boys from war-torn Liberia, were due to arrive in
Sydney tonight to attend an international conference on sport and human rights.

The 12 team members, aged 13 to 17, had also been invited by Sir WILLIAM to a reception at
his Sydney residence Admiralty House.

Catholic overseas aid and development agency Caritas Australia had sponsored the visit by
the boys, several of whom had been forced to fight as child soldiers during Liberia's civil
war.

But the team has been refused visas because immigration officials consider the purpose of
the visit isn't genuine and that the players might try to stay in Australia.

The Millenium Stars, who have the backing of Liberian soccer star GEORGE WEAH, were to have
taken part in soccer clinics in Sydney and Newcastle, trained with the Sydney Swans and toured
the Sydney Olympic site.

AAP RTV sc/rat/rat

KEYWORD: LIBERIA AUST (CANBERRA)

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