The former coach  the Lone Star, Josiah N. Johnson

By Julu M. Johnson, Jr.

After the appointment of Antoine Hey three months before the Lone Star's first match in the 2010 FIFA World and Nations Cup qualifiers, Liberian soccer veteran Josiah N. Johnson alias 'JNJ' has expressed fear for the German tactician.

Speaking at the weekend during the Herbert Grigsby Memorial Forum of the Sport Writers Association of Liberia (SWAL), JNJ said he was in sympathy with the Lone Star head coach for being appointed three months before the qualifiers begin.

The former Lone Star player and coach blamed the delay in appointing the coach on the disagreement between the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Liberia Football Association (LFA). At the time, the LFA declared that it was seeking the applications of qualified coaches to take over the Lone Star, while the Sports Ministry was saying that there was no vacancy at all.

"So, the coach is faced with a serious challenge. Even if we had failed to win in Sudan, I would have considered it a success still," argued JNJ.

However, being part of those that interviewed the Lone Star head coach before being appointed, Mr. Johnson indicated how proud he was about the victory in Sudan.

He attributed the success of the national team to the good works of the panelists that selected the coach.

Mr. Johnson predicted good prospects for the coach but he demanded that mistakes of the past such as asking players to buy their own tickets and be reimbursed later should be aborted.

Claiming that past governments are still indebted to players on the ticket issue, the Mighty Barrolle Vice President for Technical Affairs contends that as a way of professionalism, tickets should accompany a fax to any player.

Despite the appointment of the entire technical staff of the Lone Star with the head and deputy coach from Germany, JNJ insists that former national skipper Joe Thunder Nagbe still has a role to play on the team.

"Joe has some impediments but he can be used along with the German coach. Joe has played 12 years of professional football. He went to Brazil and acquired a paper.

"I am not against the deputy being a foreigner, but Joe needs to come on board to be a liaison between the technical staff and the foreign-based players because he has good rapport with them. Players hold loyalty to certain people," JNJ cried.

Mr. Johnson believes that Coach Hey has a serious challenge at hand, reason for which JNJ thinks the country has to put all the mechanism together.

JNJ: "This is a crack program. We can't leave the task with the coach alone. He is a stranger and needs to be guided by someone that knows the town. Coach Hey needs guidance by being assisted by people who know the problem."

At the same time, Mr. Johnson declared that despite political differences, former soccer star George Weah is needed to play a part on the Lone Star.

"Football internationally is contact. Weah is capable to do that. If you have Weah, Nagbe and JNJ, then we are in the World Cup," Mr. Johnson boasted.

Also speaking at the occasion, Deputy Sports Minister Marbue Richards explained that the coach is coming to prove himself and as well improve the talents that are available.

"In order to succeed, we felt it necessary to hire a foreign coach. The level of discipline and commitment is a good sign under the new coach.

"Our win over Sudan is a good start. We have to draw from this exercise to motivate our players and citizens. He has something to prove. Our ultimate target is Angola and South Africa. All is not lost because the pros did not come," Mr. Richards mentioned.

According to the Deputy Sports Minister, the appointment of a foreign coach has given the country a better chance than before.

He named the challenges the team is faced with ahead of the qualifiers as timing, recruitment, money and public supports.

He disclosed that some corporate entities have agreed to sponsor the national team. He, notwithstanding, did not gave names.

A former Lone Star striker, Jonathan Sogbie alias 'Boye Charles' also addressed the forum.

He too said the coach has a lot to prove, as there is a long way to 2010.

"We are taking the right step in the right direction. We must give him a pat on the back."

Sogbie informed the gathering that his concern is the direction the team would take after the coach leaves. For this, he sees it as a big challenge with the appointment of Hazel Gray, Trainer, and Kasimu Sillah, Goalkeeper Coach, for the Lone Star. "Empowering our people will lead to the poverty reduction strategy," said Boye Charles.