Monrovia-The Coordinator of the Talent Development Scheme at the Liberia Football Association Nathaniel Sherman has underscore the need to identify and bring talents in the sector from the early stage.
By: Julius Konton
Speaking to Intel Sports, Mr. Sherman said Liberian Football over the period has been missing out on something and now is the time to have it corrected.
“We need to start from the beginning, identify the best talents, match them with our Football DNA, Have the right technicians to teach them and let’s see how we move on bit by bit”, he explained.
Currently he pointed out that they are working very hard on practical strategies to help create the right pathway in order to move the sector forward.
The former National Team Goalkeeper hailed the world Football governing body, FIFA for the introduction of the Talent Development Scheme including supporting the program especially for Countries like Liberia stating that the program is gradually making impact in the Country.
The focus of the TDS among other things he stressed is to scout and develop bright talents and grow them and by 2026 , ensure that there should be a new generation of footballers.
” TDS is not only about Football but also the educational component for both boys and girls “, he added.
He added that they are also working on plans to begin the girls under 15 component which has been a bit challenging due to the unwillingness of the parents to allow their kids get out however, he was hasten to mention that they are making some progress in said direction.
” By July, We will start with the second phase of the Youth fifteen program targeting eight Counties including the youth eight and twelve respectively “, he noted.
Nathaniel who also commended some parents and local coaches for supporting their kids to play the game also urged them to help the LFA battle the nightmare of age cheating which he said is a serious problem in the development stage of the players.
“As a means of battling age cheating, we will take the program to schools, encourage more girls and boys to be a part and we will also launch the Football festival component to help scout more young talents especially those without club attachments in order to get the best from the rest “, he noted.
Speaking on other issues about the sector, he described as impressive the over hundred coaches who have applied for the senior national Team Head coach job.
According to him, he would like to see a new senior national Team coach that will have both a European and African experiences.
” We have some good local coaches but we will need new strategies and tactics because the game is moving very fast over the period “, he said.
As former national team goalkeeper, Nathaniel also noticed that the Country is running out on goalkeepers as well as height challenge.
“We have some top clubs now without goalkeeper trainers and it is a challenge for us when they come to the senior national Team level because at that stage, we don’t teach the foundational but expect them to know it” , he further narrated.
The TDS boss at the same time regret the long absence of the senior national Team from participating into continental competition making reference to the slight opportunity missed out on home soil against South Africa last year.
However, he indicated that once the senior national Team can make a come back into international competition, he believes, it will be a great change and a turning point for the game in Liberia.
” We have some fundamental issues with some of our players and it is time we fix it in order to avoid the recurrence of elementary mistakes which he observed is currently happening in the local leagues”, Sherman discloses.
Meanwhile, the continuation of the LFA’s youth under twelve classic league will take place at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville on Saturday January 20, 2024 with six exciting matches as AIE and First Touch Sports Academy both sit on first and second positions on the current league table .