George Weah

George Weah: From Liberia to Football Legend

Early Life

George Weah was born on October 1, 1966, in Monrovia, Liberia. Liberia is a country in Africa. George grew up in a poor area called Clara Town. His family did not have much money, but they were happy. He lived with his grandmother when he was young.

Life was not easy for young George. Sometimes there was not enough food to eat. But he loved to play football. He played football in the streets with his friends every day. They used anything they could find as a football - even oranges or balls made from old clothes!

School and Early Football

George went to school, but he also worked to help his family. He worked different jobs:
- He worked as a switchboard operator
- He helped in a supermarket
- He worked for a telephone company

But his real love was football. He played football:
- Before school
- After school
- In any free time he had

Starting His Football Career

George started playing for young teams in Liberia. He played for many small teams:
- Young Survivors
- Bongrange Company
- Mighty Barolle
- Invincible Eleven

People could see that George was special. He was:
- Very fast
- Very strong
- Good at scoring goals
- Smart with the ball

## Moving to Europe

In 1988, George got his big chance. Arsène Wenger, who was the coach of AS Monaco in France, saw George play. Wenger liked how George played football. He asked George to come and play for Monaco.

This was a big change for George:
- He moved from Africa to Europe
- He had to learn French
- He had to play against better players
- He had to get used to a new country

But George worked very hard. He wanted to show everyone that he was a good player.

Success in France

At Monaco, George became a very good player. He showed everyone that he was special:
- He scored many goals
- He won the French Cup
- He helped Monaco win games
- He became one of the best players in France

After Monaco, George played for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). At PSG, he got even better:
- He won more cups
- He scored more goals
- He became the best player in France
- Teams from other countries wanted him

Moving to AC Milan

In 1995, George moved to AC Milan in Italy. This was very important because:
- AC Milan was one of the best teams in the world
- The Italian league was very difficult
- Not many African players played in Italy then

At AC Milan, George did very well:
- He won the Italian league
- He scored important goals
- He showed that African players could be the best
- He won African Player of the Year many times

Special Awards

In 1995, George won many special awards:
- African Player of the Year
- European Player of the Year (Ballon d'Or)
- FIFA World Player of the Year

This was very special because:
- He was the first African to win these awards
- No other African player had been this successful
- He showed that African players could be the best in the world

His Playing Style

George was a special player. Here is how he played:
- He was very fast
- He was very strong
- He could score amazing goals
- He could play in different positions
- He helped his teammates

Coaches and other players said George was one of the best players they had ever seen. He could do things that other players could not do.

Playing for Liberia

George loved his country very much. He played many games for Liberia's national team. This was not easy because:
- Liberia was a small country
- They did not have many good players
- They did not have much money for football

But George helped his team a lot:
- He scored many goals
- He used his own money to help the team
- He tried to make football better in Liberia
- He gave hope to young players in Africa

Later Career

After AC Milan, George played for other teams:
- Chelsea in England
- Manchester City in England
- Marseille in France

He was older now, but he still played well. He helped these teams and showed that he was still a good player.

Helping Others

George always wanted to help other people. He did many good things:
- He gave money to help poor people
- He helped children go to school
- He worked with UNICEF
- He tried to bring peace to Liberia

He knew what it was like to be poor, so he wanted to help others have a better life.

Becoming President

In 2018, something amazing happened. George Weah became the President of Liberia! This was very special because:
- He went from being very poor to being president
- He showed that you can achieve your dreams
- He wanted to help make Liberia better
- Many people trusted him because of his football career

His Legacy in Football

People remember George Weah as:
- One of the best African players ever
- The first African to win big awards
- A player who opened doors for other African players
- Someone who showed that dreams can come true

Important Facts About George Weah

Here are some easy facts to remember:
- Born: October 1, 1966
- Country: Liberia
- Main teams: Monaco, PSG, AC Milan
- Big awards: Ballon d'Or, FIFA World Player of the Year
- Now: President of Liberia
- Known for: Being the first great African player in Europe

Important Words to Know

Here are some important words from the text:
- Legacy: The good things people remember about you
- Career: The work you do in your life
- Award: A prize for doing something well
- President: The leader of a country
- Success: Doing well at something
- Poor: Not having much money
- Dream: Something you want very much
- Hope: Believing good things can happen
- Trust: Believing in someone
- Peace: When people do not fight

Family Life

George has a family that is very important to him:
- He is married
- He has three children
- His son Timothy is also a football player
- His family supports his work as president

What We Can Learn

George Weah's life teaches us many things:
- Work hard for your dreams
- Help other people
- Never give up
- Be proud of where you come from
- Use your success to help others

Conclusion

George Weah's story is very special. He showed that:
- You can come from a poor place and be successful
- Football can change your life
- It is important to help others
- Africa has many talented people
- Dreams can come true if you work hard

Many people around the world look up to George Weah. He is not just a football legend - he is also a leader who tries to make the world better. His story gives hope to many young people, especially in Africa.

Reading Comprehension Questions: George Weah

True or False Questions
Mark these sentences as True (T) or False (F):
1. George Weah was born in France.
2. He grew up in a rich family.
3. He used his own money to help Liberia's football team.
4. He never played football in England.
5. He became the President of Liberia.
6. He lived with his parents when he was young.
7. He won the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
8. He only played football as a child.
9. His son is also a football player.
10. He played for AC Milan in Spain.

Multiple Choice Questions
Choose the best answer (a, b, c, or d):

1. Where did George Weah grow up?
a) Clara Town
b) Paris
c) Milan
d) London

2. Which job did George do before becoming a footballer?
a) Teacher
b) Doctor
c) Switchboard operator
d) Police officer

3. Who helped George move to Europe?
a) His grandmother
b) Arsène Wenger
c) His father
d) AC Milan

4. In which year did George win his biggest awards?
a) 1988
b) 1990
c) 1995
d) 2018

5. What did George and his friends use as footballs when he was young?
a) Only real footballs
b) Stones
c) Oranges and balls made from old clothes
d) Paper balls

Fill in the Gaps
Complete these sentences with words from the article:

1. George Weah was born in ________ on October 1, 1966.
2. He played for ________ in Italy.
3. He won the ________ ________ of the Year award in 1995.
4. He became the ________ of Liberia in 2018.
5. He worked as a ________ operator before becoming a footballer.

Short Answer Questions
Answer these questions in simple sentences:

1. Name three teams George played for in Europe.
2. How did George help other people?
3. What made George special as a football player?
4. What did George do with his own money for Liberia's team?
5. Why was winning the European Player of the Year special?

Matching Exercise
Match the word with its meaning:

1. Legacy a) The leader of a country
2. Career b) Not having much money
3. President c) The good things people remember about you
4. Poor d) Believing good things can happen
5. Hope e) The work you do in your life

Put These Events in Order
Number these events 1-5 in the order they happened:

___ He won FIFA World Player of the Year
___ He was born in Monrovia
___ He became President of Liberia
___ He moved to AC Milan
___ He moved to Monaco

Discussion Questions
Think about and discuss these questions:

1. Why is George Weah's story special?
2. What can we learn from George Weah's life?
3. Why do you think people trusted him to be president?
4. How did George Weah help make football better in Africa?
5. What do you think was George Weah's biggest achievement?

Answer Key

True or False:
1. F (Born in Monrovia, Liberia)
2. F (He grew up poor)
3. T
4. F (He played for Chelsea and Manchester City)
5. T
6. F (He lived with his grandmother)
7. T
8. F (He also worked other jobs)
9. T
10. F (AC Milan is in Italy)

Multiple Choice:
1. a
2. c
3. b
4. c
5. c

Fill in the Gaps:
1. Monrovia
2. AC Milan
3. FIFA World Player
4. President
5. switchboard

Short Answer Questions (Sample Answers):
1. Monaco, PSG, AC Milan, Chelsea, Manchester City
2. He gave money to poor people, helped children go to school, worked with UNICEF
3. He was very fast, strong, and could score amazing goals
4. He used his money to help pay for the team's expenses
5. Because he was the first African player to win it

Matching Exercise:
1. c
2. e
3. a
4. b
5. d

Put These Events in Order:
2 - He was born in Monrovia
4 - He moved to Monaco
3 - He moved to AC Milan
1 - He won FIFA World Player of the Year
5 - He became President of Liberia

These questions test:
- Basic comprehension
- Understanding of sequence
- Important facts
- Key concepts
- Deeper thinking about the text