Commentary on Leone Stars Heavy Defeat to Cote D'ivoire: ”The issue is not always the coach; Leone Stars’ struggles stem from player composition, poor infrastructure, and an unjust football administration”

By: Bei Santigie T. Kamara

Let’s face it… Far too often, we point fingers at our national coaches for Leone Stars’ failures, but we most importantly fail in our consciences to accept that; structural issues, poor team management, inadequate infrastructure, and an uncompetitive player composition add significant problems to our country’s national team underperformance. We expect quick results, yet rarely pause to question the foundation our football is built on. Blaming the coach is easy, but rarely do we reflect on the bigger picture or the broader problems plaguing Sierra Leone’s football. While coaches are instrumental in leading our national teams, the quality of the squads and the drive for performance are paramount. It’s not always about who is coaching the team, but on the quality and availability of the squad and the players’ readiness to compete, their hunger for success, and/or whether the system supports their growth and concern about building a reputable national team devoid of influence or personal affiliation regardless of who leads, but we often overlook this, demanding results while ignoring the persistent cracks in our football framework, without considering the numerous challenges coaches face instead when the team falls short, the coach is the first to be criticized, even when the root causes extend far beyond their control. Sometimes I see that as being both short-sighted and unfair, given the many issues affecting football in Sierra Leone that are beyond the coach’s control. John Keister made commendable contributions to our national team’s success during his tenure as head coach, and for that, we owe him appreciation. Yes, there were failures, but let’s not forget the good he accomplished. Like any coach, he sought success, not just for the team but for his legacy as well. He selected the best players available, given the limitations of a system starved of resources and lacking the infrastructure needed for a competitive edge. During his time with Leone Stars, John Keister achieved something remarkably significant, just when he qualified the national team to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after nearly 25 years of absence, becoming only the first local coach to do so. However, that accomplishment alone is a milestone in our football history not just for John Keister but our national team. This achievement deserves respect, a feather in his cap for guiding us to the continent’s biggest football stage. To truly understand John Keister’s tenure, we must evaluate it within the context of our football infrastructure and the overarching administrative challenges we face as a footballing nation. The current coach, Amidu Karim, shares the same desire to lead the Leone Stars to success. However, we must ask ourselves how we have contributed to building competence within the national team and whether those in charge of football administration genuinely prioritize the nation’s success over personal interests. Too often, decisions are made based on self-serving motives, leading to the misallocation of taxpayer money that could otherwise benefit crucial sectors like health, social amenities, and education among others. Many of our national team issues stem from corrupt practices driven by self-interest rather than a commitment to the nation’s welfare. Coaches are often pressured into calling up certain players, not because they deserve it, but because of behind-the-scenes arrangements. This leads to a bloated system where financial gain outweighs competence and hardwork, and the result is a diminished national team. Our domestic league, too, lags far behind as compared to other leagues of our subregional neighbors. Few of our players make it to top international leagues, and even fewer attract attention from major clubs. Most of our foreign-based players are stuck in lower-tier leagues as in second, third, or even fourth divisions or promotional football leagues across the board. Some aren’t even playing week in week out competitively, yet they are still called up for national duty, sidelining home-based players. How can we expect enough when the talent pool is thin, and the commitment to player development is superficial? Across all levels you can hardly see Sierra Leonean players in European competitions like the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, or the Conference League. Players from fourth-tier leagues are unlikely to develop the winning mentality or competitive edge required for success at the international level especially for a structurally challenged Sierra Leone national team. Many players are called up for national duty despite having little or no playing time even at lower-level clubs, and then return to Europe to warm the benches after collecting per diems back home to offer doing nothing at all. However, this and many others reflects the broader issue of insufficient quality and ambition in our national team setup. Key among the problems with many of our foreign-based players is complacency. For some, the goal is simply to go abroad, and once there, they are content to settle for lower-level leagues. As a result, they lose the drive to improve or to attract interest from higher-tier clubs. This is why we see so many Sierra Leonean players in lesser-known leagues in Europe and beyond, eventually returning home with little to show for their time abroad. This cycle perpetuates mediocrity, leaving us to wonder why our national team consistently underperforms. The same complacency extends to our domestic league. How can we expect to compete on the international stage when our local league lacks competitiveness, strength, and competence with little or no quality investment or ambition to drive our nation’s league forward? Our league lacks the appeal to attract international attention, and the focus is often diverted to personal gains rather than collective progress. True development remains stifled by short-sightedness and internal conflicts. We need to think beyond our immediate expectations and demand more for the future of football in Sierra Leone. I still think it’s time we demand more. Hiring the world’s best coach will not solve the deeper issues. The problem is not just who is coaching; but about the entire system; our infrastructure, administration, and player development, it’s about whether we have the structures in place. Do we have the infrastructure in place? Do we have the right people in charge of football administration? Does our current generation of players have the talent and drive to carry the nation’s hopes? How can we expect our national team coaches to succeed when the system has already set them up for failure even before they assume office? These are the necessary but most important questions we must dare to ask ourselves. Our football is marred with so much hypocrisy and outright mediocrity and people are not willing to own up, shifting the post and blaming others for the same, everyday we are setting our football up for failure. For some, the root of Sierra Leone’s football problems is that we attempt to give what we don’t have, and that is simply impossible. We need to rebuild from the ground up, addressing every important parameter of the game. This means stepping out of our comfort zones and tackling the uncomfortable truths head-on. The honest truth is, football in Sierra Leone is suffering from a lack of integrity and vision. Until we confront this reality, meaningful progress will remain out of reach. There is no shortcut to success. Cheers to the future we must build!