Monrovia – Youth and Sports Minister Jeror Cole Bangalu has clarified that the visit of Brazilian coach Paulo Luis Campos to Liberia was purely personal and not related to a potential coaching role for the national football team.
By Jaheim T. Tumu, [email protected]
Minister Bangalu emphasized that Campos, who considers Liberia his home, visited with his wife and did not express any interest in coaching the Lone Star.
His comments come after former President George Weah disclosed that Campos had shown interest in coaching Liberia’s national team.
According to Minister Bangalu, the arrangement for Campos’ visit was facilitated by former President Weah, who remains involved in various activities related to Liberia’s football development.
However, the Minister made it clear that Campos did not indicate his desire to return as a coach.
“We are grateful to former President Weah for his continued contributions to Liberia’s football. But I must clarify that Campos came to Liberia for a personal visit. The idea that he wants to become the coach was never communicated to me,” Bangalu said.
Former President Weah, however, stated that Campos had expressed his desire to return to Liberia and contribute to the national team’s development. Weah noted that he had facilitated contact between Campos and Minister Bangalu but clarified that he no longer holds a government position.
Campos, a former assistant coach at Real Madrid and coach of the Liberian national team in the 1980s, shared a strong bond with Weah and mentioned that his visit was about reconnecting with the former President. He expressed uncertainty about his future coaching role but left the door open for possible discussions.
“We’ll see what happens, but it depends on God and George Weah,” Campos stated.
