|
Another imbroglio has erupted between the
Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) and the
Liberia Football Association (LFA) over who
should take charge of the National Team -
the Lone Star - for its remaining batch of
matches in the joint 2006 Nations’ Cup and
World Cup qualifiers.
In a communication sent to the Ministry
on the 27 May, the local football house
appointed Frank Jericho Nagbe as the new
head coach of the national team.
 |
|
Frank
Nagbe - Just appointed |
Jericho was preferred over five other
coaches who also applied for the position of
head coach of the Lone Star.
The communication, which was signed by
the FA’s Vice President for Operation,
Pennoh Bestman, informed the Ministry that
the position of deputy coach and
administrative Assistant will be filled in
later date.
But in the quest to stamp its authority
the Ministry rejected the appointment of
Jericho on grounds that it was not the
responsibility of the FA to appoint a coach.
In an interview with our sports desk
yesterday, the Director of Sports Navarro
Saykie said that it was the prerogative of
the Ministry to appoint coaches upon
recommendation of the FA.
Mr. Saykie said there was no CV attached
to the letter, and the FA as a subordinate
institution showed disrespect to the
Ministry.
He further stated the yard stick for
appointment of coaches should be based on
achievements and experience.
“The appointment of a coach should be
based on the quality of training acquired”,
he added.
Mr. Saykie made it clear that the
football house did not meet the time frame
set aside for coaches’ appointment.
The Director of Sports claimed the FA was
mandated to find a coach and a deputy in a
period of one week, but that surprisingly
took three weeks before announcing a coach.
Commenting on the issue of the current
coach Kofi Bruce, Mr. Saykie noted the
contract of Kofi has since expired. He
refuted claim by the LFA that Kofi Bruce
would take the team to Mali this week for
its match against the Eagles of Mali.
On the way forward, Saykie accused the FA
of a breach of contract, and asserted that
the Ministry has technicians who could take
over the team if the football house remained
recalcitrant.
But the FA chief scribe, Yanqueh Borsay,
responding to questions on the issue
yesterday said the decision of the FA to
appoint Jericho as head coach of the
national team is “irreversible”.
He said it was unfortunate that the
Ministry would go contrary to earlier
arrangement made with regards to the coach
appointment.
Mr. Borsay stressed that this was a
special arrangement which mandated the FA to
appoint coaches to handle the national team.
“For the Ministry to differ with the LFA
was astonishing,” he averred.
The LFA Chief Scribe observed that, out of
the six coaches who had initially applied,
Frank Jericho Nagbe, Wilfred Tijani Lardner
and David Nimely were favorites. But, after
perusing their documents and granting them
interviews Jericho ended as the best man for
the job.
He also said Kofi Bruce was still in charge
and would be the one taking the team to Mali
as was discussed in the meeting between with
Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) and
Liberia Football Association (LFA) chaired
by Vice Chairman Wesley Johnson at the
Executive Mansion couple of weeks ago.
He however noted that a scheduled meeting
between the two institutions is expected to
take place soon. |
