LFA to Unveil J. Kaytu Smith As National Team Head Coach Today

                                       Coach J. Kaytu Smith

Liberiansoccer.com understands that Kaytu Smith will today be unveiled as national team head coach. Musa Bility, President of the Liberia Football Association (LFA), is expected to name Smith at the May edition of the LFA/Swal (Sports Writers Association of Liberia) monthly press conference at 12:00 noon.

Mr. Smith, fresh from the United States of America where he has been coaching at a lower level, coached Baccus Marines and LPRC Oilers in the LFA national league before his departure to America. He and LFA Technical Director Henry Brown guided the national under-13, 14 and 15 teams to the Gothia and Dana Cups in Sweden and Denmark.

When question about the lack of information about Coach Smith the LFA PRO Henry Flomo stated that J. Kaetu Smith, License Level A: 27293, valid from 2010 to 2014. The we need to search his name. Searching the internet there was nothing relevant to football found about this coach.

With the experience of playing professionally and the positives results that Kojo and Kelvin produced we find this selection a negative to the advancement of Liberian Football.

In either 1997 or 1998, Smith’s quest to guide Liberia against Togo in an Under-17 qualifier ended in shambles after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) disqualified 14 of his players for being over-aged.

Disappointed with the news, Smith resigned less than 72 hours to the match, leaving Sunday Sieh (one of those disqualified) and Jenkins Doe to take charge of the team. Holding all things constant, Smith will be assisted by Kelvin Sebwe as Deputy Coach, Janjay Jacobs as trainer and Sebastian Collins as Administrative Manager.

Thomas Kojo, who supervised things from the dugout when Liberia beat Namibia 1-0 in a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium on February 29, was left out of the arrangement.

But Smith’s confirmation will certainly be overshadowed by media reports that Brown (his personal friend) masterminded things within the corridors of power. Mr. Brown has admitted to FPA that he only recommended Mr. Smith to the technical and executive committees, which could have been turned down.

Our reporter also gathered that Smith’s recruitment split an executive committee meeting down the middle before a compromise was reached. If confirmed by Bility, Smith will be paid US$5,000 (five-thousand United States dollars) in addition to other amenities.