Ministry of Youth & Sport Rejects Jericho
But LFA Says Decision Irreversible
Another imbroglio has erupted between the Ministry of Youth and Sports
(MYS) and the Liberia Football Association (LFA) over who should take
charge of the National Team - the Lone Star - for its remaining batch
of matches in the joint 2006 Nations’ Cup and World Cup qualifiers.
In a communication sent to the Ministry on the 27 May, the local
football house appointed Frank Jericho Nagbe as the new head coach of
the national team.
Frank Nagbe - Just appointed
Jericho was preferred over five other coaches who also applied for the
position of head coach of the Lone Star.
The communication, which was signed by the FA’s Vice President for
Operation, Pennoh Bestman, informed the Ministry that the position of
deputy coach and administrative Assistant will be filled in later
date.
But in the quest to stamp its authority the Ministry rejected the
appointment of Jericho on grounds that it was not the responsibility
of the FA to appoint a coach.
In an interview with our sports desk yesterday, the Director of Sports
Navarro Saykie said that it was the prerogative of the Ministry to
appoint coaches upon recommendation of the FA.
Mr. Saykie said there was no CV attached to the letter, and the FA as
a subordinate institution showed disrespect to the Ministry.
He further stated the yard stick for appointment of coaches should be
based on achievements and experience.
“The appointment of a coach should be based on the quality of training
acquired”, he added.
Mr. Saykie made it clear that the football house did not meet the time
frame set aside for coaches’ appointment.
The Director of Sports claimed the FA was mandated to find a coach and
a deputy in a period of one week, but that surprisingly took three
weeks before announcing a coach.
Commenting on the issue of the current coach Kofi Bruce, Mr. Saykie
noted the contract of Kofi has since expired. He refuted claim by the
LFA that Kofi Bruce would take the team to Mali this week for its
match against the Eagles of Mali.
On the way forward, Saykie accused the FA of a breach of contract, and
asserted that the Ministry has technicians who could take over the
team if the football house remained recalcitrant.
But the FA chief scribe, Yanqueh Borsay, responding to questions on
the issue yesterday said the decision of the FA to appoint Jericho as
head coach of the national team is “irreversible”.
He said it was unfortunate that the Ministry would go contrary to
earlier arrangement made with regards to the coach appointment.
Mr. Borsay stressed that this was a special arrangement which mandated
the FA to appoint coaches to handle the national team.
“For the Ministry to differ with the LFA was astonishing,” he averred.
The LFA Chief Scribe observed that, out of the six coaches who had
initially applied, Frank Jericho Nagbe, Wilfred Tijani Lardner and
David Nimely were favorites. But, after perusing their documents and
granting them interviews Jericho ended as the best man for the job.
He also said Kofi Bruce was still in charge and would be the one
taking the team to Mali as was discussed in the meeting between with
Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) and Liberia Football Association
(LFA) chaired by Vice Chairman Wesley Johnson at the Executive Mansion
couple of weeks ago.
He however noted that a scheduled meeting between the two institutions
is expected to take place soon.
|
|
