James Debbah

Infobox Football biography
playername = James Debbah


fullname = James Salinsa Debbah
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1969|14|12
cityofbirth = Monrovia
countryofbirth = Liberia
height = height|meter=1.84
nickname =
position = Center-forward
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1984-1989
1989-1990
1990-1991
1991-1992
1992-1995
1995-1997
1997
1998
1998-1999
1999-2001
2001-2003
2003-2004
2008-
clubs = Mighty Barolle
Union Douala
Olympique Alès
AS Monaco FC
Olympique Lyonnais
OGC Nice
R.S.C. Anderlecht
Paris Saint-Germain
Ankaragücü
Iraklis
Al-Jazeera Club
Muharraq Club
Bontang PKT
caps(goals) =
21 (6)
12 (2)
80 (18)
57 (22)
7 (2)
12 (0)
2 (0)
45 (17)
9 (3)
nationalyears = 1988-2004
nationalteam = Liberia
nationalcaps(goals) = 072 (42)
pcupdate = 23:45, September 13 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate =

James 'Salinsa' Debbah (born 14 December, 1969 in Monrovia) is a Liberian football striker currently playing for Indonesian League club Bontang PKT. He also plays on the Liberia national football team.

Personal

Debbah was born in Monrovia on December 14, 1969. 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. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/4138198.stm Debbah slams Weah's Liberia bid] BBC Sport, 10 August, 2005]

Football career

Debbah began his professional football career with the Liberian squad Mighty Barolle 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 to the Liga Indonesia squad Bontang PKT.

International competitions

Debbah was part of both the 1998 and 2002 Liberian national football squads in the African Cup of Nations. 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. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/3866647.stm Liberia stoned by fans] BBC Sport, 5 July 2004] 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.

References

ources

* [http://www.liberiansoccer.com/Debbeh20051.htm Interview with James Salinsa Debbah] LiberianSoccer.com
* [http://www.zanziball.it/en/4/1b46.html James Debbah] Zanziball.it
* [http://www.iraklis-fc.gr/eng/squad/season/2000/squad_33.jsp James Debbah] Iraklis-FC
* [http://psg70.free.fr/DEBBAH.htm James Debbah] psg70.free.fr