Monrovia – In a move aimed at stabilizing one of Liberia’s most ambitious football clubs, LISCR Football Club has appointed seasoned Ethiopian tactician Wubetu Abate as the new Head Coach of the “Shipping Boys.”
By: Christopher C. Walker (0777898224/0886723075 | [email protected]
The announcement, made Saturday, November 29, comes as the club navigates a period marked by frequent managerial changes and growing calls for long-term consistency.
Abate, a respected figure in African football, joins LISCR on a one-year contract, with an option for an extension based on performance.
His arrival comes barely two months after Belgian coach Alain-André Landeut parted ways with the club by mutual consent—continuing a now-familiar pattern in the Shipping Boys’ dugout.
Continental Credentials
The Ethiopian, widely praised for his disciplined, modern approach to the game, brings a résumé that spans clubs in Ethiopia, Sudan, and a notable stint with the Ethiopian national team.
Abate’s coaching journey began with Adama City before he guided Ethiopian Coffee to the 2011 Ethiopian Premier League title, marking only the second league crown in the club’s history. His club career has since included spells with Dedebit, Hawassa City, Fasil Kenema, Sebeta City, and Sudanese side Al Ahly Shendi, where he expanded his regional footprint.
On the international front, Abate achieved what many Ethiopian managers before him could not: He led the “Walias” to their first AFCON appearance in eight years, securing qualification for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
He followed that achievement by guiding Ethiopia to the 2022 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Before his appointment in Liberia, Abate was managing Fasil Kenema, continuing his run in the top tier of Ethiopian football.
LISCR stated that the new head coach will be supported by Varmah Kpoto and Mohammed Sheriff, both of whom have handled the team since the start of the season. The club described the move as part of efforts to build a “strengthened and unified technical department.”
The Revolving Door: Six Coaches In Three Years
Abate’s appointment comes at a time when LISCR faces increasing scrutiny for its rapid turnover of managers, a trend analysts warn could undermine the club’s long-term ambitions.
The most recent departure, Belgian coach Alain-André Landeut, was appointed on August 6, 2025, but resigned in October without taking charge of a single LFA First Division match.
The club cited personal reasons for his departure.
Landeut arrived with a strong pedigree, having coached DC Motema Pembe of DR Congo and Rwanda’s Kiyovu Sports. His short-lived stint, however, became the latest chapter in a turbulent coaching cycle at the club.
Since 2022, LISCR has alternated between managers at an unusual pace:
Coach Period Notable Achievement/Context
Samuel Chebli Feb 2022 – Apr 2024 2022/23 Treble (League, FA Cup, Super Cup); LFA Best Coach 2023
Oladeinde Babatunde Oct 2024 – Nov 2024 Brief tenure; mutually parted ways
Theophilus Geekor Nov 2024 – Feb 2025 Replaced during restructuring
Tapha Manneh Feb 2025 – Aug 2025 Returned for second stint; 5-trophy success (2016–2021)
Alain-André Landeut Aug 2025 – Oct 2025 Resigned before first league match
Varmah Kpoto Oct 2025 – Present Interim coach; former Lone Star defender
This managerial change has led some fans and pundits to question whether LISCR’s ambitions are being undercut by a lack of continuity.
“Frequent coaching changes often disrupt tactical development and team chemistry,” one local fan Benjamin Morris told FrontPage Africa after the club’s 2-1 win over Borough FC on November 28. “LISCR has the resources and structure to dominate for years, but only stability can sustain success.”
A Club Still Among Liberia’s Best
Despite the instability, LISCR remains one of Liberia’s most organized football clubs boasting a strong administrative setup, steady investment, and a track record of competing for major domestic honors.
The club’s last era of true stability came under Coach Samuel Chebli, whose leadership delivered a historic treble in the 2022/23 season.
Since his departure in April 2024, however, LISCR has struggled to find a long-term replacement.
With Kpoto continuing in his role as assistant coach and Abate stepping in as head of the technical bench, fans now look toward a new chapter one they hope will be defined not by frequent exits, but by sustained growth and consistent results.
“The entire LISCR family welcomes Coach Wubetu Abate to Liberia,” the club stated.
Whether Abate becomes the much-needed stabilizing force or joins the long list of short-term managers remains to be seen but for now, optimism returns to the Shipping Boys’ camp as a new era quietly begins.
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