Adolphus Dolo (above), the second vice president of the LFA, speaking candidly, said that the Ministry had made it clear they couldn’t afford to pay external coaches, and therefore, they had opted to rely on coaches already in their employ.
Monrovia – As Liberia’s national football team gears up for crucial World Cup qualifiers against Tunisia and São Tomé in March, the appointment of Thomas Kojo as stand-in coach has ignited debate within the country’s football community.
By Christopher Walker, [email protected]
Adolphus Dolo, the second vice president of the Liberia Football Association (LFA), has opened up about the circumstances surrounding Kojo’s selection, clarifying that the decision came directly from the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Kojo, who also serves as the Director of Sports at the Ministry, will take the helm for these matches until a permanent head coach is appointed.
The Lone Star’s recent performances have been a mix of highs and lows, and with the team currently sitting third in their World Cup qualification group with seven points, the stakes are high.
But the appointment of Kojo, a figure many have seen in this role before, has sparked concerns about the future direction of Liberian football.
Journalists and football critics, including prominent journalist D. Webster Cassell, have voiced their doubts. In a post on the Liberia Football Forum WhatsApp chat, Cassell questioned the lack of transparency in the selection process and the criteria used by the Technical Committee, led by Ivan Brown.
He expressed concern that Kojo, who may not meet all of the qualifications sought for the national team’s head coach, might not be the best choice to guide the team toward success. “The football community deserves to understand the committee’s expectations,” Cassell wrote, emphasizing the importance of a thorough and transparent process to select the best candidate based on merit, experience, and vision.
In his response, Dolo acknowledged the concerns but stressed that the Ministry of Youth and Sports ultimately holds the purse strings when it comes to funding the national team.
“It is the Ministry that cuts the checks. They don’t see the need to pay local or international coaches because they claim that they have coaches within their Ministry,” Dolo explained.
The Ministry’s stance on paying coaches has been a point of contention. Dolo, speaking candidly, said that the Ministry had made it clear they couldn’t afford to pay external coaches, and therefore, they had opted to rely on coaches already in their employ.
“If the Ministry owns the national teams, and we [LFA] are just managing them, what choice do we have? We take what they give us,” Dolo added.
He noted that the decision was made at the Ministry’s level and expressed frustration at the limited options available to the LFA.
Despite Dolo’s explanation, questions still remain about whether Kojo will receive payment for his temporary role as head coach, especially considering his dual role as the Ministry’s Director of Sports.
When FrontPage Africa reached out to Deputy Sports Minister G. Andy Quamie for comment on Dolo’s remarks, there was no immediate response.
While Kojo’s appointment as stand-in coach is expected to be confirmed soon, the search for a permanent head coach continues.
Former Lone Star coach Peter Butler, who had a promising stint with Liberia before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted his tenure, is among the top candidates being considered for the role.
Sources within the football community have confirmed that Butler is “number one on the list” of foreign coaches under review.
Butler’s previous time with Liberia left a positive impression on many. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, he managed to secure two home victories against Sierra Leone and Chad, while also bringing in a younger generation of players, such as Divine Teah, Sampson Dweh, Prince Balde, and Fredrick Dennis.
Butler’s efforts to recruit players of Liberian descent, scattered around the globe, also won praise from fans and analysts alike.
In a separate development, the Ministry of Youth and Sports recently informed the LFA that it will only provide financial support for the senior male and female national teams moving forward.
This decision has intensified the pressure on the LFA to secure a permanent head coach for the Lone Star, with the goal of strengthening the team ahead of future competitions.
As the March qualifiers approach, the Liberian football community continues to closely watch the developments surrounding Kojo’s temporary appointment and the ongoing search for a permanent head coach.
