Jericho Raps on
New NPA Anchors
February
20, 2003
The appointment of Frank Jericho Nagbe as head
coach of the soccer squad of the National Port Authority (NPA) Anchors
nearly suffered setback when the veteran coach's decision to revamp
the team received numerous criticisms.
Following claims that the tactician was flooding
the team with "West Point players", the former Lone Star Deputy Coach
quickly put his critics to shame when his new team fearlessly engaged
Mighty Barrolle in a best of three tournament organized by the LFA
Ballers last weekend.
Having pulled one win, a draw and defeat against Mighty
Barrolle, Jericho said although the NPA management congratulated him
for the results but maintained that the team's officials would have to
listen to what he says in order to produce more good results.
"If you want a winning team, you have to blend
players who can do the thing," the Coach asserted during an exclusive
interview on Thursday.
Coach Nagbe frowned on the lack of
competitive soccer in the country by saying that apart from the
results needed, quality football should also a demand.
He went on to state that incentives should not
only be reward for playing football, but, according to him, it's a
good thing for a player to enjoy playing the game.
Touching more about his plan to weed out certain
players from the old NPA Anchors, he told our reporter that his
previous decision to drop defender Tom Doryen was not based on poor
form, but rather an attitude problem allegedly possessed by the
player.
He said the player has made matters worse by not
following instructions.
The coach, meanwhile, said having given the
players another day in court, as was reportedly instructed by the
team's management, he has now decided to drop 15 players after
exhibiting poor form during the matches against Barrolle.
Jericho vowed to recommend the dropping of the 15
players, though not named, to the NPA management. "After this
decision, it's left with them to decide if they want to maintain me."
At the same time, the coach has observed that his attacking
machinery was not potent enough to score goals against Mighty
Barrolle, no wonder why he has disclosed his interest in hiring the
St. Anthony striker Isaac Tondo.
"I am trying to incorporate two prolific strikers because I observe
the team lacks scoring ability. Isaac Tondo is one of them."
Coach Nagbe also mentioned the name of attacking IE midfielder Johnny
Blidee by stating that, "we buy people who can finish. No time to
train people now. By the time you train people, you are losing three
points that are vital."
The coach said his worries at NPA Anchors will only wash away except
he sign Tondo and Blidee.
"Two of my new players did not impress me against Barrolle, but I
think it's because they came from different division," the coach
referred to defender Frank Weah and Francois Kojo who are about to
join the NPA Anchors from second division side LMA Green Peppers.
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