One of the licensed ‘A’ coach in the country Obi Metzger has lamented that during their own days they were not involved in international competitions when compared to now, and that is why most of them never went for professional football.
He noted that their own days the National team ‘Leone Stars’ was involved in friendly matches all over Africa. He disclosed that in 1974 he was able to represent Ports Authority team in a cup championship competition.
Coach Obi recalled that in 1990 Sierra Leone had a good crop of players who were able to stand up for international football because by then they were playing in a very competitive league and the players were also focused.
That was why he said they were able to qualify for the nation’s cup with mostly home based players.
He disclosed that for Sierra Leone to qualify again for such competition they need to have a two years programme for all the players in the national teams, so by 2010 the teams will be ready to take part in any international competition with maturity.
Coach Obi noted that they need to encourage the teams to be playing friendly matches as most of the countries in Africa who are in the top went through this process to achieve their goals.
He mentioned that everybody is trying to have an academy because they want to promote youth football countrywide pointing out that this is where our strength lies for the furtherance of Sierra Leone football.
He revealed that if the game of football does not develop those self styled ‘Stakeholders’ have nothing to lose as most of them are working out of football they can still survive, but they who have played the game will be made to suffer.
This is why he said they need to come together as a force to develop the game at all cost.
Coach Obi mentioned that he has achieved a lot during coaching – he was the first local coach in the country to qualify the national team Leone Stars for their first African Nation’s Cup and also won three consecutive championships with East End Lions and the fourth year went as runners up.
Coach Obi said one of his bad days in football is when he loses a big match both local and international
ADVERTISEMENT