By Sidiki Fofana | Truth in Ink
The son of one of the greatest footballers to ever live, Timothy Weah carries both the prestige and the pressure of being the child of Africa’s only Ballon d’Or winner, George Weah, who conquered the football world in 1995. Yet Tim, as he is fondly called, has chosen not to walk in his father’s shadow but to carve a path uniquely his own.
He did not buy into the chants or rely on the battle cries that often come with being a “child of Weah.” He did not demand special treatment because of his last name or expect life to hand him opportunities on a silver platter. Instead, Timothy fought. He worked. He forged his own destiny.
When Juventus parted ways with him, he didn’t wallow in despair or wait for someone to rescue his career. He pivoted. He found a new home with Marseille, laced up his boots, and got back to work. His determination to build his own name, not simply live off his father’s, speaks volumes not just of his character but also of his upbringing. His parents pushed him not to be “the next George Weah” but to be the best version of Timothy Weah.
And that, Liberian youth, is a lesson worth emulating.
Too many of you call yourselves “children of Weah” or “Weahicians,” looking to 2029 as the year when George Weah will deliver you. Timothy’s life teaches something else; build your capacity now, pursue your calling, use your skills and talents today, not tomorrow, not waiting for a political savior.
Yes, some may argue that Timothy was born into football royalty, but that privilege came with pressure and unfair comparisons. People watched him not for his own skill but to see if he could live up to his father’s greatness. Proud as he is to be the son of a world’s best player, he knew that wasn’t enough to keep him on the pitch.
Unlike many young people in Liberia who think their success begins and ends with his father, Timothy forged his own path. He refused to wait for 2029. He worked on himself every single day so that when one door closed, as it did with Juventus and as it did for them in 2023, he was ready for the next one that opened in Marseille.
Being in chatrooms and attacking anybody who dares offer a different view of your party provide evidence of your connection and loyalty to the ideas and objectives of your party but enhancing who you are: skills and capabilities make you ready when an opportunity evolved.
It is not just talent that keeps Timothy Weah on the pitch, it is perseverance, discipline, and courage to be himself. And that is the challenge for our youth; stop waiting for redemption to arrive on a political timetable. Get to work on your own future, now.
