Lone Star Qualification Seemingly Impossible

                               Lonestar Head Coach Kaytu Smith and LFA Boss Musa Bility
 

By Wleh Bedell
bedellblessing@yahoo.com
 +2316106293
The Senior national team of Liberia the Lone Star is seeking its third nations cup finals appearance as it waits for the July 5, final qualifier draw by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) that will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa.

After their blank score line match with the Brave Warriors of Namibia, the red, white and blue outfit got the license to join the other teams in being picked for the final showdown that will take place on a two-legged basis on the weekend of September 7-9 and on the weekend of October 12-14. By the way, the 0-0 away draw to Namibia was the Lone Star’s first away draw in 15 years as far as qualifier is concerned not finals as the draws against Mali and Algeria at AFCON 2002 finals are not counted. It can be recollected that the team on February 25, 1997 held the Taifa Stars of Tanzania to a 1-1 draw away in a 1998 AFCON qualifier.

But, while the team’s faithful might be itching to see it at the AFCON finals in South Africa, 2013, it is an undoubtful truth that a lot is lacking which leaves many to be cautiously optimistic, to see the glass half empty order than half full, as far as qualification to the biennial African event is concerned.

With the likes of top guns Zambia, Ivory Coast, Mali, Ghana, Tunisia, Gabon, etc. all looking to pounce on the Lone Star and other smaller teams as far as the ranking as well as rating in the 2008, 2010 and 2012 AFCON finals are concerned, the Lone Star faces a daunting task with five reasons that make the Lone Star’s qualification to the continent’s flag ship competition seemingly impossible indicated below.

1. Lack of Organization
Liberian football remains disorganized with the LFA that is running the game still lacking in many areas as far as the organization of the game is concerned. There is a very unattractive national league, poor state of grass roots football, no well structured youth program, etc. Thus, such continues to affect the Lone Star as the selection of players and in fact the running of the team remains disorganized and unprofessional.

The camping facilities leave a lot to be desired. The too much interference with respect to players’ selection, eyebrow raising decisions to expel players (Anthony Laffor, Dioh Williams & Francis Doe) when according to the LFA’s own release the Coach had recommended suspension, is another example. The FA had claimed the players violated the code of conduct they signed, something one of the players who was expelled Anthony Laffor, have since refuted noting there was nothing like Code of conduct signed as reported by the FA.

This does not in any way however mean that the players are being encouraged to engage in whatsoever act they may wish, but, the FA has so far failed to give a convincing reason for the players punishment, and how can they talk about expulsion when the Lone Star will remain and the current FA might soon leave depending on the elections of 2014, or in fact will not remain forever as the “Lone Star is forever” with new coaches and administrators coming who could call back these players.

In fact, a code of conduct that should be an ethical compliance in bringing to the fore checks and balances is yet to be viewed by the sporting populace with regards the LFA drafting it, but insist it has signed such document with players. Let it be noted here that no player is indispensable and must not or must not be backed for misconduct. But, the explanation or reasons given for their expulsion leaves a lot to be desired. To make matter worse, the LFA claim to have a technical director in the form of Henry Brown who in almost six months on the job is yet to put forth a blue print program or policy for the development of the game or the national team. What really has he brought to the FA remains unknown with the major thing one can remember from a Henry Brown perspective is only to recommend his close friend Kaytu Smith to coach the Lone Star and make trips with the national U-17 to Niger for the qualifier and with the senior national team to Senegal and Namibia in separate qualifiers as well. The problem is enormous as the team is without a specific kit and relies on players including the likes of Zah Krangar or just anyone to give them kits or jerseys, reminiscent of an organization relying on charity.

2. Tactically Maladroit Coach
From a very tactical standpoint, less than five months old coach kaetu Smith seemingly lacks the magic wand cum tactical panacea in taking the team to its third AFCON as his tactics so far are awkward. The Coach whose appointment raised eyebrows since previous coach Thomas Kojo had already had it smooth sailing and in fact won a match against Namibia in the first leg of the qualifiers was dropped for no apparent reason to accommodate a new man in the form of Kaetu Smith.

Kaytu who spend a decade or so coaching kids in the neighborhood in the United States and even U-18 girls in the same country, got at the helm of the team. So far, he has become winless in three matches, a loss and two draws. (Though some may argue that he managed to qualify the team to the final round of the qualifiers. Previous Thomas Kojo must however get the credit as he won the first leg 1-0 at the SKD which gave the team the slender lead it qualified with).

Under his tutelage, the team firstly lacks profligacy, scoring just once in 270 minutes with a plethora of misfiring attempts. Also, his decision to be a bit negative in ignoring duplicity of function where he is comfortable with two holding midfielders which makes the team’s game to lack penetration, the lack of width in his team’s style where the full backs are rarely adventurous, the lack of regularity in fighting as the team generally lacks aggression and is soon tired as the game progresses, are just some of the many reasons the former Fulani gaffer is not the right man.

With him relying on others to select players since he still does not know the players coupled with over all poor tactic where he would score a goal away and still attack like in the Senegal game where he failed to stifle the midfield when the team was in pole position, and be playing at home and opt to defend like the case with the Angola game where he did like for like substitution with a holding midfielder replacing anther holding midfielder when the team at the time needed another forward minded player in propelling the team to get on the front foot to get the much needed goal, and his arrogance in responding to journalists during press conferences where he often says “do I care to know them”? Responding to question as to whether he knows the opponents. If a coach does not know an opponent or does not care to know his opponents why then is he going to play? How can one go to war and don’t know the enemy? Is what Kaetu and his employers need to answer.

3. Home Invincibility Lacking
In the qualifier, a basic formula is to win the home matches before even thinking about the ones away from home. But, the Lone Star in all fairness lack home invincibility as it is in no way a formidable home side. The team is not rampant, and don’t attack on all cylinders to get the goals. In a two leg scenario like the one to come in September and October to mark the AFCON final round of qualifier, the Lone Star been a lowly rated side or less fancy opponent should play at home first. Thus, the team will need at least a 3-0 win to have some hope of qualifying. But, with the team lacking consistency in goal scoring as it has never won with a two goal margin in more than 35 competitive games played by this current generation of players, the Lone Star with the inability in getting the killer instinct, cool headedness in front goal or regular cutting edge, no doubt face an improbable task of qualification.

4. Poor Traveler
Another way to qualify is to have a respectable record away, so that even if a team loses a match away it will not be of a wider margin, and it can still sail through. With the Lone Star taking 15 years to get a draw in the qualifier, the nation’s pride and joy is no doubt a poor traveler as it has from September 8, 2002 to the June 16, 2012, 0-0 draw with Namibia played 19 competitive away matches losing 18, drawing just one and winning none. With such poor record coupled with the team’s lack of formidability at home where it should be banging the goals to burry opponents makes it another seemingly impossible venture of qualifying to the AFCON for the third time.

5. No Criteria for Selection
From all indication, it is quite clear that players are not meticulously monitored as far as performance is concerned with the LFA through the coach selecting players mainly based on ‘hear say’ or very scanty information from www.soccerway.com . It was quite disheartening to note that the FA after calling a host of professionals for the match with Senegal soon dropped three of the players called. The trio of Indonesian based Oliver Markor, the Brazilian based Dweh Allison and Romanian based Ben Teekloh were dropped on grounds of lacking current form. Sources at the LFA said it was due to information from soccerway. Not knowing such website does not have information on all the leagues or all the players as the likes of George Boe, James Zortiah, Stephen Mennoh, Freeman Mulbah, Chris Jones, Weaka Wesseh, William Jebor, Abel Quioh, Bill Sheriff, Melvin Kicmett etc, are without information on soccerway which does not in any way suggest they are not playing.

The laughable thing there is how come the LFA had to change the list or drop the trio less than a week after they were called. How come they did not know that these players were not as they put it “having current form” and had to call them initially? Without mentioning the bigger teams on the continent whose players are regularly monitored in the most glamorous of leagues in Europe, the likes of Sierra Leone, Niger, Uganda, Gambia, Malawi, etc. monitor their players activities via their various clubs websites, other up to date websites, the websites of the FA’s of those countries they ply their trade as well as having links there or even sending the coaches or representatives from these respective countries to watch the players secretly which will no doubt give them a clearer picture of their performances.

There is a need to have a vast knowledge on the players performances with respect to the number of games played, minutes played as well as over all assessment of their contribution in such matches on a weekly basis. The stereotypical act of selection continues which has done the country’s football no good. These are things that are very far from a Lone Star perspective which makes one no remain doubtful of the team’s qualification to the AFCON finals.
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