Beware Of Mohamed Koneh
-Coach Lee

Liberian coach in Ghana, Clarence Lee Chea

By Julu M. Johnson, Jr.

A Liberian coach in Ghana, Clarence Chea has warned against the attempt by a Liberian, Mohamed Koneh to take players from Liberia to foreign lands for greener pasture.
Via e-mail, Coach revealed this about Koneh:

“Let me give you some synopsis on the Mohammed Koneh taking players to his home land (Cameroon).

Firstly, let me advise all clubs officials, parents, the football house and personal managers to not rush and be eager in obliging to proposal from agents overseas, especially those who they do not know and have not interacted with before.

It is very risky, frustrated and more of hell if one should deal with agent(s) who do not have good testimonies in their dealings.

I worked and lived in Yaounde, Cameroon for two years-that is between 2002-2003 when I took Francis Grandpa Doe and Ben Teekloh to Tonnere Kalara Club, Zah Krangar and Joseph Pailey to Racing Football Club of Baffousam, Cameroon.

I will also advise that club officials first go to assess the ground, where their players will be lodging, consult the Cameroonian FA of their mission with copies to the Liberian Embassy, FIFA, CAF and LFA if there should be any.

I am speaking from experienced with what I encountered and heard about this one Mohamed Koneh. The fellow frustrated the late William Dupe, George Williams and even told the Cameroonian media that he took Francis Doe and Ben Teekloh to TKC.

As I write, Zar and Pailey are yet to get their balance salaries and signature fees when I left Cameroon back to Ghana to take care of things with family and my team (Buduburam FC).

Liberians have suffered for long and should not continue to suffer in the hands of bandits who speak but not act or respect what they say (I Corithians.4:2).

Secondly, I want for our people (Liberians) to know that the match with Cameroon in Yaounde is very important to them (Cameroonians) than any other match in our zone. We have a good head-to-head record over them and as such they are very afraid and careful, especially what King George Weah did there couple with not recently with what Ben Teekloh and Granda Doe did there 2002 with TKC.

I even helped to re-structure their training and recruited some young players for TKC that yielded good fruits. I also served as technical advisor to the president of TKC and Bamenda FC when I took stylish Christian Sokapie Essel there in 2003.

By the grace of God I was able to know and understand the plight of Cameroonian football at which time I made some great impact.

Mohamed Koneh is presently working with the Cameroonian FA.

To sum up, Koneh is not trusted, he has sweet mouth.”
When contacted via e-mail, Koneh reacted to the allegations made by Coach Lee: “I am so happy about your professionalism. I will only give you one or two facts.

I was the General Manager of Racing of Bafoussam when Lee contacted me from Ghana about three Liberian players I financed the trip from Ghana to Cameroon for Lee and his players. I defended the interest of my club after one season the contract was over and the players left.

I recommended one of the players who wanted to stay to Tonerre Yaounde. The President of Tonnerre gave him 3 000 usd. With the consent of Lee, they ran away with the money to Ghana. I had to pay that money. If Lee is an honest person not mentally ill, let him produce the contract his players signed with my club and we did not respect that contract.

I am doing my job in a couple of weeks. I will be back in Liberia. You all will see if any of the players I have taken have complained of any bad treatment. One mistake, I am a Liberian not a Cameroonian and a well established sport consultant in this country.

I am the only foreigner to be a team manager of the Cameroonian national team for six years. My name has never been registered in any refugee camp because I am a fighter. He has tried many times to sabotage me but never succeeded. Lee is mentally sick.”