…New Wave of Protests Hunt Raji, Coach Keita
The downward state of Liberia’s senior national team, the Lone Star, has prompted a new wave of protestations with Liberians calling for the immediate dismissal of the country’s National Team Head Coach.
Though the outburst with this underperforming Lone Star coach did not come as a surprise, what’s even shocking is the protesters are demanding that Mustapha I. Raji, the one time very passionate character of Liberia’s national team, step aside as well asHead of Liberian football.
The disenchanted fans during Sunday’s protest claimed that Raji, like Keita has failed to rejuvenate the nation’s pride and joy, the Lone Star.
The protesters attributed the continuous decline of Lone Star to the insensitive of the FA boss to take decisive decision that would elevate the technical management of national team.
They insisted that Raji’s choice for the Head Coach job was a blur or visually impaired’s judgement clouded with sentiments.
According to them (protesters), those who masterminded Keita’s appointment should also vacate the top seat, since they have not been able to bring back the glorious days of Lone Star.
Prior to Raji’s ascendency to the FA’s Presidency, he led countless advocacy-driven protests, projecting himself as the only person who could bring back the ‘Glory Days’ of the Lone Star.
His repeated tough-talking approach won the admiration of football stakeholders and subsequently paved his way to head the FA’s leadership.
But to the disbelief of many, President Raji has miserably failed to add any inch of value to an already struggling Lone Star.
Amid the unexplained caused for such nose-dive state of the Lone Star, some angry fans on last Friday, November 17, 2023, stormed the post match news conference at the SKD Sports Complex, minutes following Liberia’s 1-0 home defeat to Malawi..
Their action, which has also been criticized by few pundits, appeared to be an immediate reaction to what many referred to as Lone Star’s worst home performance in decays.
Liberia loss to Malawi was Kaita’s fifth straight defeat in six outings since the Canadian-Liberian signed a two-year deal in January 2023.
Some of the aggrieved fans were spotted throwing objects on the field before forcing their way through the main entrance to the playing pitch in search of the under pressure Coach.
The former Under-17 Head Coach has a mandate to qualify Liberia to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in USA, Canada and Mexico.
Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports reaching LIB Spprts24 says, LFA’s Technical and Development Committee has asked Lone Star coach, Ansu Keita to stay away from Liberia vs Equatorial Guinea match at the SKD Sports Complex on Monday, 20th November 2023
In continuation of the Friday’s display by the aggrieved Lone Star fans, another batch of protesters embarrassingly engulfed the main entrance of the SKD stadium during Sierra Leone vs Egypt World Cup qualifiers on Sunday
Football pundits believe the ongoing wave of protestations by fans should serve as a warning and wakeup call to the local FA, given that no progress in Liberian football can be measured without an improvement of the National Team.
