By Michael Nasri
Football Writer kick442.com-Liberia
On January 22, Coach Keita signed a two-year deal with the Liberian FA aim at creating a new pathway of recruiting young talents across the country.
As the manager of the U-17 National team, Keita has committed himself to teaching young athletes the fundamentals in a quest to see them develop into full grown professionals.
” My aim of taking up the job at the U-17 level is to teach. Teaching is a fundamental part of the game: A player should be able to orientate his body, provide long & short passes, and in true all this comes from teaching- and i admittedly there are some basic principles of the game one have to understand at that age.”
Keita stressed, as part of his one year program, there are plans to absorb ‘every’ child born between ( 2005- 2006 )in the U-17 National team of Liberia.
” Every child in Liberia that’s in the age range will have an opportunity to feature for the team; It’s for everyone.
I will have an open trial very soon specifically for Monsterrado: ranging from the Bushrod Island, Barnesville, Paynesville, central Monrovia and later in the most distant part of the country ( Lofa, Bong, Bassa, Margibi, Nimba, Cape Mount et…).
He averred, a detail one year plan has been submitted to the technical department of the Liberia Football Association for onward considerations.
It can be recalled, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) fined Liberia US$5,000 for withdrawing from two youth competitions.
CAF deputy secretary-general Anthony Baffoe said the decision followed Liberia’s withdrawal from the 2019 under-17 and under-20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
According to Baffoe, the decision is in keeping with articles 46 and 57 of the competitions’ regulations, which say “any national association declaring forfeit after the drawing of lots and before the start of matches is liable to a fine of US$2,500 [US$5,000 for the two competitions]. It will also not be allowed to participate in the next edition”.
The Liberia Football Association withdrew from the West African Football Union (Wafu Zone A) under-17 qualifiers on 5 September 2018, having been paired with Mali and Gambia in Group B from a July 30, 2018 draw in Senegal.
The LFA also withdrew from CAF under-20 qualifiers on 27 March 2018, having been paired with Benin in a two-legged tie in Monrovia on 30 March 2018 and in Cotonou on 22 April 2018.
Liberia will miss CAF 2021 under-17 and under-20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Coach Keita further disclose he’ll provide direct supervision of the U-12 & U-15 National teams during his 2-year stay in the country.
Copyright©2021 kick442.com
All rights reserved. This material and any other digital content on this platform may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, written or distributed in full or in part, without written permission from our management.
This site is not responsible for the content displayed by external sites
