Following the Lone Star’s disappointing defeat to Equatorial Guinea, former Liberian midfielder Arnold Kennedy is urging the Liberia Football Association (LFA) to part ways with head coach Mario Marinica. Kennedy expressed his frustration over the national team’s performance, which he deemed unacceptable given Liberia’s wealth of football talent.
Since Marinica took charge, the team has managed only two wins and three draws, suffering three losses including defeats to Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Morocco’s U-23 team. Under his leadership, critics argue that Liberia has struggled to develop a cohesive and entertaining style of play, often resorting to defensive tactics that hinder the players’ abilities.
In a candid Facebook post, Kennedy called for a shake-up, stating, “It’s time for this coach to go, and some players who have not contributed much after five-plus games should be dropped as well.” He questioned the coaching staff’s commitment to self-assessment, wondering if they reflect on their performances after matches.
Kennedy contrasted Liberia’s situation with that of other countries, asserting that a coach with such poor results would not remain in charge elsewhere. “Only in Liberia can a coach keep his job despite such consistently poor performances,” he remarked.
The former international also criticized the LFA for its apparent inaction regarding the team’s management issues. “People in our LFA understand football very well, yet they see the poor results from our coach and his staff and do nothing about it,” he lamented.
Highlighting specific shortcomings, Kennedy pointed to players’ failure to execute basic skills like delivering crosses and completing passes as evidence of ineffective coaching. “You bring in the few good players we have and leave them on the bench—where else does this happen?” he questioned.
Kennedy, who has played in both the U.S. and Europe before retiring due to injury, noted that while other so-called underdog nations are making strides in international football, Liberia appears to be stagnating. He cited recent successes of teams like Comoros and Sudan as examples of progress, contrasting them with Liberia’s ongoing struggles.
“It hurts so bad to see our country going through problems that are avoidable,” he concluded in his post on October 13, 2024.
The Lone Star again lost to Equatorial Guinea 2-1 yesterday at the Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex in the return leg of the African Cup of Nations Qualifiers. A victory could have elevated Liberia to third or even second place in their group, depending on the outcome of the Algeria vs. Togo match.
