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The issue of the National Team “The Lone Star” is something
rarely discussed nowadays as sporting authorities are
accused of running football in a lackadaisical manner thus
hurting the team and making football remain at low ebb in
the country.
The Lone Star is no doubt sinking with out trace, for it has
now become a minnow on the continent.
Wleh Bedell
has been following recent
developments and
reports that another decision has been reached that would
either improve the standing of the team or exacerbate things
in its already dwindling state.
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Liberia's
wonderful Lone Star Squad |
At long last the wrangling between the Ministry of Youth
and Sports and the Liberia Football Association over
who should take charge of the National Team is now over,
with the latter’s choice Joseph Sayon alias Kofi Bruce
standing as head.
But, under condition and would only remain if the team does
well or could get the sack if the team form become
impressive. So, Kofi Bruce survival will largely depend on
the result of every match, while the former choice Wilfred
Tijani Larder stands as deputy.
At a meeting chaired by Land and Mines Minister Jonathan
Mason at his office, representatives of the Ministry of
Youth and Sports (MYS) and the Liberia Football Association
(LFA) unanimously agreed on the decision which they termed
as good for the sake of the game. Navarro Sackie was also
appointed to the position of advisor to the National Team.
Minister Mason who is a member of the government fund
raising committee to pay the US$21,000 fine imposed by CAF
for crowd trouble at the Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex during
the Liberia Senegal match on October 10 last year, played a
key role in resolving this coach issue between the two
parties.
And, the team has begun practice though without the deputy
who is said to be bereaved. Minister Mason has however
provided ten bags of rice and eating utensils for the
exercise, gesture observers considered as patriotic.
The Lone Star’s fate is uncertain, as they are second from
bottom in their group. After the meeting, Mr. Sackie who
now doubles his role of advisor of the team and Sports
Director at the Ministry said the Ministry had to give in on
the coach selection for the sake of peace.
For his part, Acting Sports Minister Peter Vuku admitted
that though Kofi Bruce is “not competent” for the position
of head coach, but quickly added that they had to find a
compromise for the sole idea of carrying the game forward.
With this latest development, pundits are taken aback by
such a decision, where competence would be ostracized for
incompetence.
They described this as another mockery to the progress of
the global leather.
Minister Mason, a long time advocate of the merit system
was part of a decision which many believe is eyebrow
raising.
The question on everyone’s lips is what was the yardstick
used in making such decision? What are the achievements of
both coaches? What are their track records?
Kofi Bruce, deputy under Kadallah Kromah has been an
underachiever, as his performance can be rated as below par.
His recent sacking by premiership relegation survivor
Alliance Football Club for poor string of results is a
pointer.
He was unconvincing at Watanga Football Club then in the
second division who parted company with him for dismal
performance. Mighty Barrolle, a club he played for during
his heydays as a player is another club that parted company
with him due to lackluster showing.
His major coaching course was a one-week FIFA FUTURO Course
in 2000, where former French Technical Director Phillip
Redon served as instructor.
Wilfred Tijani Lardner is inarguably Liberia’s most
accomplished coach, as he became the first tactician to take
the National Team to the Nations Cup at South Africa in
1996, having had training in Brazil, Germany and France. On
the domestic scene, Coach Lardner transformed Cedar United
to a formidable force in the 80’s.
Invincible Eleven’s (I.E) famous victory over George
Alhassan led Accra Great Olympic at the Accra Sports Stadium
in the 1991 African Cup Winners Cup competition is another
monumental achievement. Also the Invincible Eleven (I.E)
conquering of Sierra Leone in 1992 is still fresh on
people’s mind.
The hard working tactician guarded Junior Professionals in
winning the LFA Knockout Crown in 2000.
Taking into account all of these, it sounds too prone to
believe that Minister Jonathan Mason a role model would
chair a meeting to contribute to such a shocking decision.
But, apparently the Minister was taking into consideration
the FA’s huge influence especially its link with world
football governing body FIFA which always caution national
governments to keep off from making decisions to the
discontentment of the FAs, because as one Sports Ministry
official put it, “If we had become recalcitrant on the
matter, the FA would have had nothing to loose.
Even, without the Lone Star they would have carried out
their local league and make their money. Then, we could be
termed as failure for not completing the Lone Star remaining
batch of matches.”
The Minister proper Madam Wheatonia Dixon Barnes is
reportedly due in the country on Wednesday, and only the
heavens know what frame of mind she is in concerning this
development of the coach selection.
But, with Kofi Bruce now in charge, and the National Team
resuming training where some players being selected are
either not starters or unconvincing for their respective
clubs here on the local scene, and the country unable to
rely on any high profile foreign based player because of the
modest league they are playing, one can only pray for God’s
mercy as the crest fallen Lone Star prepares for the deadly
Teranga Lions of Senegal on March 25 in Dakar.
Liberia is placed in Group-2 of the joint 2006 Nations Cup
and World Cup qualifiers along side the Eagles of Mali, the
Aiglons of Togo, Chipolopolo of Zambia, Congo Red Devil and
the Teranga Lions of Senegal.
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