Egyptian Coach Leaves Today
June 6, 2006
All is now set for the departure of Liberia's Egyptian coach Shawky
Hassien Mahmmoud Shedad Eldin to his native land Egypt. The highly
experienced tactician leaves the country today after expressing
frustration over the unsatisfactory manner in which the country's
sporting authorities operated with regards his stay in Liberia. The
well traveled Eldin came into the country as a result of an
arrangement between his country's Government and the Liberian
Government. The latter was to provide a vehicle and a house with 24
hours electricity. But, surprisingly, there proved to be some
hurdles after the coach could not be offered a vehicle. And to make
matter worse electricity at his Congo Town residence could only go
for ten hours.
This impeded his work, as he threatened to leave.
Furious with his so called huge demands, deputy sports minister
Marbue Richards re acted sharply saying "the coach was inadaptable",
and "was not needed since he could not speak English".
Though many questioned such statement, and termed it as belated
after the coach had spent more than three months in the country.
Also, they asked as to what has language barrel to do in
contemporary sports.
They noted that current Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was an
interpreter to Sir Bobby Robson at Portuguese club Benfica. Also,
former Chelsea Italian manager Claudio Ranerei gave tactical
instructions to his players through an English interpreter.
Dutch man Gus Hiddink led South Korea to a surprise fourth place at
the 2002 World cup through a Korean interpreter. Another coach was
the "White witch doctor" Philipe Troussier who led Japan to the
round of 16, thanks to a Japanese interpreter.
Currently, Dutch man Dick Advocaat is leading the South Korean
National team to Germany 2006 with the help of an interpreter.
Former Brazilian youth coach Marcos Paqueta is as well leading the
National team of Saudi Arabia at Germany 2006 with the aid of a
Saudi interpreter. Also, the Brazilian Jose Manuel is leading Al-Ahly
in the African champions' league, as he continues to effect his
operations through an Arab interpreter. So, they maintained that
language is no problem in sports specifically football which
basically has one language, the ball.
Pundits term the coach exit as a serious disappointment with respect
to improving the country's game. Though the LFA maintains that it
was not aware of the arrangement that led to the Egyptian coming to
Liberia, candid followers of the country's football say they should
have had some input after the problems that may have led to the
coach exit was gradually unfolding since it was the country's
football governing body.
With the tactician's departure many wonder as to what is in store
for the Lone Star as she is still in slumber, while her Nations cup
2008 group opponents in Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon and Rwanda
prepare meticulously.
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