LFA BOSS: LONESTAR IS WITHOUT A COACH…
- Addresses National Team & Other Related Issues


by Pawala Janyan
231886400217
pawalajanyan.fcfassell@gmail.com

The Liberia Football Association President, Mr. Musa Bility, announced on Tuesday that the Country is in search of a new coach for the senior National team to replace Roberto Landi, who was fired last month.

Speaking at the March, 2012 edition of the LFA regular monthly press conference, the FA Boss stated that currently the country is without a senior coach and that plans are on the way to settle that in the soonest possible time, as we are expected to play our next match in June of this year. He further stated that this time, the decision to find a coach will be the involvements of not only the Football House, but football stakeholders, former FA presidents, coaches, former national players and the general public thru series of engagements in an effort to allow everyone have a say in the upliftment of the nation’s pride and joy.

As you may be aware, after the expulsion of the Italian tactician, Landi, just few days to Liberia qualifier match against Namibia, the national team was entrusted to an interim technical staff headed by former Lonestar players, Thomas Kojo, Kelvin Sebwe and Janjay Jacobs as Care-taker coach, deputy and trainer, respectively, to be in charge for only the February 29, 2012 fixture in Monrovia; a match which ended 1-0 in favor of the Lonestar.

Mr. Bility went on to say that they will engage the general public for their say in the matter thru a Cellcom GSM-sponsored SMS campaign and also consented to involving sports journalists, after suggestions were made in that regard.

“When we appointed Kojo, we said that he (Kojo) is an interim Coach to execute only the Liberia versus Namibia game and not beyond. So Kojo is out and Liberia is now in search of a coach. We are now consulting stakeholders, coaches, former FA Bosses, ex-Lonestar players like Amb. George Weah and James Debbah and the general public in series of arrangements to advise and guide us in what we need to do about the Coach issues. Right before this event, I, along with the FA Technical Manager, Mr. Henry Brown, were in a consultative meeting with coaches such as Josiah N. Johnson, Jericho Nagbe, Vava George, among others. To admit, we’ve received a lot of applications, but thought it wise to engage the general consensus of the people in Liberian football this time; to get their kindest opinions in this matter. Cellcom will also be involved by requesting people to SMS their opinions as well”, explained the LFA Boss.


Still on the national team, Mr. Bility also touched on issues regarding Francis Grandpa Doe and the Alex Nimely’s saga. The LFA No. 1 stated that relevant to Terengganu’s delay in releasing Grandpa Doe to represent his national team at the last qualifier in Monrovia, the Malaysian side sent in an official communication of apology to the FA and promised never to repeat same. As regards to Nimely, he said that the Liberian Football House is closing up on Alex Nimely with some promising results, and is doing her best so as hopefully in June, 2012, he will be available to wear the Liberian colors. “We are in the final stages of concluding discussion with Nimely’s family and management, which is very important right now, cos without their consents, we can’t do anything. When that is done, a formal writing communication will be addressed to FIFA on the issue as required by the football governing body”, the LFA Chief clarified.

In a related development, Mr. Bility also stated that the FA is presently engaging authorities of Virginia Township in purchasing 25 acres of land in the area for the construction of a new stadium to add up to the total number of stadiums in the Country. He said that Montserrado was chosen for this FIFA sponsored project because of the high level of population in the County and the level of financial gain it will bring to football as well.