LFA President, Mustapha Raji, has frowned on stakeholders and presidents of football clubs, following what he called a “poor attendance” at the Club Licensing workshop.
Raji was speaking on Wednesday at the LFA HQ in Congo Town, at the start of a two-day Club Licensing workshop for all clubs, in both male and female upper divisions.
In a usual soft but rather emphatic mood, the LFA boss didn’t hide his frustration over the attendance of the Club Licensing workshop, which has ensued on the kick-off of the new league season.
“We as a federation continue to spend more but we’re getting less in return, evidenced by what we’re seeing here today; 42 clubs but the attendance is poor,” Raji bemoaned.
The president furthered that such projects are intended to help develop football, which he said will contribute to the success we all want to see on the national teams.
Meanwhile, the president has made a clarion call to all club presidents to professionalize their teams, because the success of the national team solely depends on the quality of their coaches and talent of their players.
“The success of the national team is solely dependent on club football and the professionalization of clubs. If the clubs aren’t professional and don’t develop good and quality players, the negative effect is on the national team.
“When the results are poor, the blame is only on the coaches of the senior national team, but these coaches inherit players that come through your structure, you who are complaining as club presidents. So you have to take keen interest, so that when these courses come, you can send them,” Raji said.
Making separate remarks, LFA Secretary General, Kollie Dorko, encouraged all clubs to take advantage of the opportunities being created by the football association.
“We’ll continue to provide opportunities for training for development, specifically when it comes to women’s football.
“Things going well on the pitch goes beyond just footballing and the results that follow, but also how structured you (club) are and the infrastructure and operations you run,” Dorko said.
First Instant Board (FIB) Chairman, Cole Jeror Bangalu, Club Licensing Manager Mohamed Sheriff, and his deputy, Benjamin Barchue, were amongst the lecturers at the workshop that closed yesterday, Thursday.
