MONROVIA – The Liberia Football Association, (LFA) graduated 16 successful coaches today with CAF B Diploma at a ceremony graced at the newly constructed headquarters in Congo Town.
This follows after absorbing three modules of training evaluated and supervised by CAF coaching experts Abrham Gbrelassie and Honour Janza with CAF Instructor Kaetu Smith of Liberia serving as lead facilitator.
Presenting the candidates to the LFA President and his 2nd Vice President, Technical Director Henry Browne said the 16 graduates bring to 48 qualified CAF B coaches practicing in Liberia.
“Mr. President I’m pleased we’ve added 16 more CAF B coaches to the previous we had and so bringing the number to 48 CAF B holders in Liberia,” Mr. Browne emphasized.
Accepting the graduates, the LFA president was so pleased describing the situation as a new beginning in Liberia football, but he was far from being contemptuous of the success.
“It’s a very happy moment for me; a new beginning and a continuation of our football because when we took over in 2018 the last program for CAF B license was in 2014.
“In order to develop football, it’s not just infrastructure but also about the capacity building which makes our effort in developing football to be collective, so we MUST include all pillars of football; referees, coaches, sports medics, and administrators,” Raji stressed.
The LFA boss used the occasion to assure football stakeholders that the process will continue in an effort to train more coaches to improve Liberia football.
“Our goal is not just to stop here…our goal is that before the end of the next circle, we’ll have a minimum of 100 B license coaches, a minimum of 50 A license coaches and a minimum of 200 C license coaches,” Raji echoed.
Meanwhile, the president urged the graduates to use the CAF B Diploma to do continuous refreshers and research to develop their players.
Making a special remark of appreciation, the president of the class Barrent Karr, Sr. was thankful for the “glorious opportunity” afforded them by the LFA and all the instructors who sacrificed their time.
The LIFOCA president used the podium to challenge fellow coaches to use the CAF B Diploma meaningfully.
“Receiving the knowledge is one thing and implementing it is another thing…the diploma is not for us to sit on it.
I urged you fellow graduates as we leave from here we should get out there and prove the difference,” Karr keenly pointed out.
A total of 20 candidates started the course in February. Two of the coaches dropped which didn’t qualify them for a diploma and another two candidates missed out on a pass. Credit: LFA