By Kemoh Sesay
The newly-appointed coach of Leone Stars, Jonathan Mckinstry says he is pleasantly surprised by the level of professionalism the Ministry of Sports and the Sierra Leone Football Association have accorded him and expresses the hope the trend continues.
He made this statement on Tuesday 21 May during his unveiling ceremony and that of his team.
“I am very much happy to accept the job as head coach of the national team, having spent three years in Sierra Leone watching matches played at home at the national stadium and on television on away basis” he said.
Preparation ahead of the two matches he said was on track as he had all the logistics he needed to move on with the training. Asked if he would be able to qualify the national team to the world cup, he replied that with better preparation and the collective work of his technical team and players Leone Stars would surely qualify for the world cup.
Mckinstry will be in charge of the team’s remaining three matches, with his first test coming on Saturday 8th June during the return leg with Tunisia at the national stadium in Freetown, in the group stage of the World Cup qualifying series for Brazil 2014. Leone Stars currently lie second.
The Chairman of the Normalization Committee Ali Fornah promised that the technical team would have a free hand. “We are going to give them the support needed to execute their duty as the technical people of our national team, to take us to the world cup in Brazil if possible for the first time” he said.
Forna noted that the task ahead of them was not an easy one but with the strong support of the SLFA and the Ministry the task would be easier for him.
Mckinstry will be assisted by John Keister and Goalkeeper Coach Tamba Moses.
(C) Politico 23/05/13
