Snowe
Wants Jericho, Others Resign But LFA VPO Hits Back
Edwin Snowe and Weah
Tuesday, 19th June 2007
By Michael Gebeh
The former president of the Liberia Football Association (LFA), Mr.
Edwin Melvin Snowe has blamed Deputy Sports Minister, Mambu
Richards, the Vice President for Operations of the LFA, Mr. Adolph
Lawrence and the Head Coach of the National team, Frank Jericho
Nagbe for the team’s failure to reach the Ghana 2008 Nations Cup
finals.
Mr. Snowe, who spoke to journalists on Sunday, minutes after the
Lone Star’s goalless draw with Equatorial Guinea, said Coach Nagbe
performance has proven his inability to manage the affairs of the
national team and as such there is a need for him to consider
resigning as Coach of the national team.
The former FA president noted that the failure of the coach to
record a home win over a weak and inexperienced side like Equatorial
Guinea clearly indicates that the coach lacks the technical
knowledge of managing the national team.
The former Speaker of the House of Representative also emphatically
blamed the LFA Vice President for Operations, Mr. Adolph Lawrence
and the Deputy Minister for Sports, Mr. Mambu Richards for
interfering with the technical decision of the team; something,
which he said influenced the coach in the selection of players for
the game.
He said the actions of these men have derailed the technical
development of the team as well as undermined the development of
football in Liberia and as such, they should consider resigning.
Meanwhile, LFA Vice-President for Operations, Mr. Adolph Lawrence
and Head Coach Frank Jericho Nagbe have reacted sharply to the call
of the former LFA President, for them to resign. At the same time,
efforts to get the side of Deputy Minister Richards proved futile.
Minister Richards was said to be out of office during two separate
visits by our sports reporter and his phone was at a switch off.
Coach Nagbe said although he was disappointed by the result of the
match, the team’s performance was not bad and there are good
prospect for the team in the future. He said on the issue of his
resignation, he was not going to just bow to any pressure to resign.
He said he was nominated by the LFA and subsequently appointed by
the Ministry of Youth and Sports and as such, only those bodies can
request his resignation.
For his part, LFA Vice President for Operation Mr. Adolph Lawrence
denied accusation by the former FA president that he is interfering
with the technical decisions of the team. Mr. Lawrence lashed out at
the former FA president, describing his statement as irresponsible.
He said for the former FA president to make such remarks at this
point in time when a young team is being put together for the 2010
world cup proves his ignorance.
Mr. Lawrence said it was very ironical and paradoxical for Mr. Snowe
to come out with such critical criticism at this point in time when
just few weeks ago he was on record of lauding the coach and
technical staff for sticking to the decision of not recording old
players to the team. He said this was a clear indication that Mr.
Snowe lacks consistency and that he may be harboring other motive
for his statement.
Mr. Lawrence said instead of Mr. Snowe unjustly requesting he and
others to resign, it is more important and paramount for he, Mr.
Snow to resign and give a comprehensive financial account of the
FIFA goal project, and a scholarship fund from the LFA to study in
the US, which he wasted.
Mr. Lawrence called on the public to remain calm, as the national
team was still young and needs more exposure before it can start to
produce fruitful results. He said there are plans to play
international friendly matches to better prepare the team for the
2010 World Cup qualifiers.
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