Many parts of the African continent often have little cause for joy . . . the ravages of poverty, drought, floods and political turmoil cast a relentless pall over everyday life.
Football, though, as in other impoverished parts of the world, acts as a pick-me-up of indispensable value - and several countries boast heroes on the soccer pitch to eclipse those in any other field.
Cameroon has worshipped the ageless qualities of Roger Milla, Ghana the spectacular strikes of Tony Yeboah and Abedi Pele, and hardly a South African township-dweller is unfamiliar with the name of the legendary Jomo Sono.
Then there is Liberia . . . and its greatest ever 'export', George Weah, kingpin of Italian glamour club AC Milan and World, European and African Player of the Year for 1996.
He is truly a messiah-like figure in a country so cash-strapped that his millions have sometimes been tapped to ensure the fair health of the national team.
Liberia is like many West African countries - not far from the equator, blisteringly hot and humid a lot of the time, and having a population made up primarily of farmers who can usually raise only enough food to cater for the needs of the village. About a quarter of Liberians are literate.
Weah is its pride and joy - a superstar by any global standards and yet not one so overcome by dizzying success as to sacrifice the virtue of humility. His face is on four Liberian postage stamps, but he denies suggestions he eventually wants his country's presidency.