Five
Reasons Why LISCR Will Not Win Anything
LISCR FC president Mr.
Mustapha Raji
Another sponsor less, spineless and unheralded LFA National League
is set with clubs to lose a lot once more in terms of finance.
Lovers of the country's game who are relatively few now adays will
however troop the various parks to see their respective teams in
action as the focus will be on the top flight, the so called
premiership.
But, while the league may lack the glamour associated with other
leagues in many parts of the continent, one club that will be keen
to win a major piece of silverware is the Liberia International
Shipping and Corporate Registry Football club (LISCR FC).
With its huge support, the players have once more been promised to
book a place for the continental competition, and that they will be
able to travel in competition with some of Africa's greatest clubs,
a promise that was made in the past but was never lived up to.
The squad could be termed a star studded one as far as local
football is concerned as the team can boast of a host of
internationals, but despite this, they stand the risk of not winning
anything this season.
1. One Man Show
Their president Mustapha Raji, a passionate follower of the game and
a key figure in exposing the ills of the FA is generally regarded as
over authoratitive as his relationship with players and some
officials is rather awkward. On paper there exist a board at the
club, but in a more realistic term it is an "all Mustapha affair" as
his decisions are virtually 'gospel'. His style is judged as an
orthodox one with the best of the players not really seen. It is
generally a one man show at the club as far as the neutrals are
concerned.
2. The Coaching Factor
Quite recently, the club's president took a decision that involves a
lot of talking point. Due to the resignation of ex-international
coach Frank Jericho Nagbe (Due to what he termed as too much
interference from the president), the administrative manager was
appointed as head coach.
Without any license in coaching, the administrator turned tacticain
hurriedly rushed to the Liberia Football Coaches Association (LIFOCA)
training course at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS) which is
merely a brush up, and has now been certificated as a coach.
Something that involves more questions than answers.
But, how well would he cope in dealing with a chunk of local stars
who have won so much caps on the international scene coupled with
the guys from Indonesia who besides Murphy were unable to mabe a
major breakthrough in such a lowly rated league is what remains to
be seen.
With its huge spending spree, the club is capable of hiring any of
the country's top notched coaches, but, with the pesident standing
accused of running tactical decisions via his mobile phone from the
VIP section during almost the whole 90 minute of a match, it remains
clear that the newly turned coach will dance to his tone and is
therefore no need for a big time coach who would be adamant in
adhering to the call of the LISCR boss.
3. The Indonesian Hatred
Recovered from injury Murphy Nagbe has been training with the club
in recent times as he yearns to resurrect his career on the local
scene. He should be in the heart of the team's defense in their
quest to win silverware this season. The Indonesian based rugged
rearguard is leading the pack as far as indonesian based players are
concerned.
Another misfit from Indonesia, George Weah who was unattached
through out the two years he spent there is now at home with the
club with the likes of Henry Zobon Gobah and Perry Saar kollie
reportedly on their way back home to join the club.
Inarguably, they are match rusty and there would be much pressure on
them to deliver.
Also, they might lack the motivation to play at such a disorganized
stage during some parts of the season, and with an unfancy coach,
their commitment and desire to help the team in terms of turning out
for practices regularly as well as putting in 100 plus 10 percent
during matches remains to be seen.
4. Strength in Depth
With a group of Indonesian based players blending with other local
experienced stars to take LISCR through, there is major fear on the
minds of some young and promising players who might be completely
overlooked due to the presence of the so called big guns.
They have strength in depth as the likes of Eric Toe, Emmett Wleh,
Adolphus Blamo Frank Nagbe, Jr ect are endowed with tremendous
talents, but the presence of their so called 'biggger brothers' as
the technical staff would put it, are to watch more games from the
bench, and would adopt the semi-spectator role.
During some time in the season, the weighty phrase "experience or
current form" would then emerge.
5. Motivated Opposition
A club would need no other motivation when going against LISCR. The
opposition would be well charged, lifted, determined and motivated
as they would see such pairing as the platform to show case their
talents.
Getting a win against them would be tantamount to winning the
league, and there will certainly be crunch fixtures for the club.
Firstly, with their Indonesian based players, there is much pressure
as football in Indonesia is generally not respected in Liberia.
Since many Indonesian based players were used in the Lone Star
previous qualifiers during the reign of Kadala Kromah and Frank
Jericho Nagbe where the team performed dismally, any respect for
football in that part of the world has lost completely by fans and
others here.
Local players and the ordinary fans are often annoyed when huge sums
of money are spent to send for them. This is termed as waste, and
the local players would now believe they have some case against them
in the local league. They will always want to prove their believe
that there is no good football in Indonesia (though on a frank note,
football there is by far better than Liberian football) and that
they will play their hearts out to get the yielded results.
Also, with internationals and locally accomplished players like
George Baysah, Gizzie Dorbor, and the Turkish trial flunkie Patrick
Doeplah, LISCR will be faced with enormous pressure and certainly
have a mountain to climb.
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