The Liberia Football Association (LFA) ended a mandatory Confederation of African Football (CAF) coaching refresher course at the Samuel Kanyon Doe sports complex in Paynesville on 8 February.
By: Christopher C. Walker 0777898224/0886723075 [email protected]
Orange second division side Nimba FC were called for a morning session where coaches were tasked to implement 4-3-3 and 4-4-2 formations with a mixture of several drills, including possession, accurate passing and tactics.
There were several feedbacks from the participants, who commended the LFA and urged it to do more.
Former Liberia international Kasimu Sillah, who was observing the course, said he was pleased with the lively interaction between students and instructors.
“I noticed that we could give our feedbacks even while the course was on. The facilitators also told us that they had lessons from pass refreshers that we could learn from,” Sillah said.
Orange second division side Sinoe NPA Anchors coach Kollie Korvy was pleased with the learning environment and materials.
“We had more practical during this course than previous courses. We learned a lot that we can take to our teams to improve the level of the game in Liberia,” Korvy added.
Learning, they say, is an endless process, and Blackman Warriors head coach Abraham Sese agrees.
“I have been through a lot of courses but this one has taught me how to correct my mistakes on the spot over and again during trainings. I just need to stop the play immediately and correct the drill.
“I normally train at the ATS and will be looking forward to corrections from my instructors and everyone here. I am not big to learn,” said Sese.
And Nimba County winning coach Gborboe Gblinwon wants the LFA to hold specialized seminars or courses.
“Refreshers are good but I want the LFA to hold specialized courses for coaches like goalkeeping and nutrition because sometimes we are confused on what the cooks [dieticians] should prepare for the players and there is normally this confusion between the medics and cooks on what should have been prepared or what to prepare.
“This is normally left out of our preparations. Our goalkeeping coach was recently promoted to deputy coach and refused to train the goalkeepers because he felt he was promoted,” explained Gblinwon.
LFA technical director Henry Browne commended the participants for their feedbacks and said the LFA is working with the Romanian Football Association to hold specialized courses.
The refresher was facilitated by Browne, former Liberia coach Joseph Kaetu Smith and women’s under-20 head coach Famatta Dean.
It was rescheduled from January 20-23 and January 27-29 due to low registration.
Haysay Duworko, Gborboe Gblinwon, Abraham Sese, Emmanuel Cooper and Kollie Korvy (CAF Diploma A) and Gerald Julius, Ephriam Manyeah, Varmah Kpoto, Oliver Makor, Kelvin Sebwe and George Gebro (CAF Diploma B) were present on day three.
Others were Warmann Yeafapolle and Joshua Kpoyour (CAF Diploma C) while former Liberia coach James Salinsa Debbah (CAF Diploma B) didn’t show-up.
