IE’s Technical Staff Suspended Indefinitely

Liberia’s Darling Club, Invincible Eleven has suspended its technical staff for time indefinite. The decision to suspend the entire technical bench of IE is a result of the very poor performance of the team in the ongoing FA premiership league.

The suspension was announced by the Vice President of the IE Majestic Sports Association, Alfred Sayon at the team’s training site in Monrovia early Tuesday morning. The decision comes at the time IE is scheduled to face 2nd Division club Garnerville FC in the semi-final of the ongoing Liberia FA Knock-out competition today at the ATS in Monrovia.

IE’s Head Coach Clearance Lee Chea complained during a news conference Tuesday morning at the team’s training site that as Director for the technical staff, Mr. Sayon most often suggests to them the cream of players to be featured in the starting 11, some they always considered a direct interference in the duties and  functions of the team’s management.

“The current roster of players at the club this season was drafted by the hired coach IE had before I took over. After I took over as head coach of the club, I recruited only two of the current players- Omo Dean and Isaac Nana Gibson, and they are doing well in the league, “he further complained.

Meanwhile, IE’s Technical Director Joker Wieahkar, a former international coach who returned to local football last year, also expressed disappointment in the manner of approach of the club’s Vice President. Coach Wieahkar said, Alfred Sayon recently reduced their daily transportation, including those of the players.

He also accused Sayon of exercising authority over them as an unprofessional sportsman. The accused, Mr. Sayon, informed reporters Tuesday that the suspended technical team was finding a way of escaping from their poor performance. According to him, the decision was taken at the club last meeting held with the President, Dr. Richard Tolbert.

Sekou Jabateh Wins Award

Liberia’s Russian-based forward, Sekou Jabateh Oliseh has emerged as winner of the 2010 Tellbellah Award for the year. The CSKA Moscow play maker got the highest vote cast online during the voting process conducted by Liberia biggest football website www.liberiansoccer.com.

Sekou won the title with 71 votes ahead of Lone Star captain Anthony Laffor  who settled at  19 votes, while Indonesian-based attacking midfielder Zah Krangar gathered 10 votes. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, March 29, 2011, Jabateh said: “The award is going to serve as a motivation for me to do my best for mama Liberia.”

A ceremony  for the Award program has been rescheduled for mid April following the return leg of the Under-23 football team between Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire. Many Liberians at home and abroad have described Sunday’s Olympic qualifying match with the Ivoirians in Accra, as a very hard game for the Liberian Under-23 team.

The team went into the match with many unprepared local players to face a team build around well prepared professionals. As well prepared and organized as the Ivoirian Under-23 players are, the Liberia’s chances of winning by 5-0 are may just be too far from possible.

The current FA’s lack of vision for the proper management of the national teams of Liberia, as well as football development, couple with its failure to listen to the opinions of well experienced Liberian football technicians on strengthening the teams could be the attributing factors responsible for the teams’ dismal showings in international matches.