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USL-1 Richmond Kickers

Cephas Called Up To Liberian National Team For World Cup Qualifying

August 26, 2004 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Richmond Kickers News Release


RICHMOND, VA – (Thursday, August 26, 2004) – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce that star rookie forward and team leading scorer, McColm Cephas has been called up to play for the Liberian National Team for two up-coming World Cup Qualifying matches. Liberia will first face Zambia on September 4th in Lusaka, Zambia, followed by a match against Senegal on October 8th in Cephas' hometown of Monrovia, Liberia.

African World Cup qualifying is broken down into five groups, each consisting of six teams. The winner of each group will qualify for the 2006 World Cup. Liberia is in Group One and will face Congo, Senegal, Zambia, Togo and Mali on a home and away basis for a total of 10 games. After three games played, Liberia is tied for third in Group One with four points (1-1-1), trailing Congo and Senegal by two points.

"I am excited to enhance my career by playing with the [Liberian] National Team," says Cephas. "I will be playing with a lot of experienced players and I hope and pray to do well to best represent myself and my country."

A native of Monrovia, Liberia, Cephas made his professional debut this year with the Kickers and leads the team in goals (9) and points (22). Of his nine regular season goals, Cephas has recorded four game winners. In 2004 U.S. Open Cup play, he tallied two goals against D.C. United of Major League Soccer, clinching a Quarterfinal round match for the Kickers. While at Virginia Commonwealth University, Cephas led the team and the CAA with 17 goals in 2003, the second in VCU history for a single season.

"This is a bittersweet situation", says Richmond Kickers Head Coach Leigh Cowlishaw. "We are elated and proud for McColm to represent his country but of course we will miss his services in our first playoff series. The team has been outstanding in the offensive phase of the game and Cephas has been an important part of that."

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