In a recent press briefing, the President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), Thomas Daddy Brima, shed light on the pressing matter of the national team’s coaching staff.
Following a disappointing 2-1 defeat against Guinea Bissau, who have secured their spot in next year’s African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, the nation is eagerly anticipating the resolution of the “head coach situation.”
President Thomas Daddy Brima confirmed that several prominent figures are being considered for the position. These include former Leone Stars Captain Mohamed Kallon, former Head Coach John Edward Keister, Assistance Coach 1 Amidu Karim, and potential foreign coaches.
Furthermore, President Brima announced that the SLFA’s technical committee, led by Vice President 1 Arold Nat Johnson, will conduct a comprehensive SWOT analysis to evaluate the performance during the previous head coach’s three-year contract. Notably, it was revealed that the previous coach’s contract has now expired.
John Keister, born on November 11, 1970, is a football coach and former professional player. Hailing from England, he had a successful career, playing for the Sierra Leone national team and now serving as its head coach.
Keister’s journey took him from Sierra Leone’s Tigres in 1992 to England in 1993, where he played for clubs such as Walsall, Chester City, Shrewsbury Town, Stevenage Borough, Margate, and Dover Athletic. During his time at Margate, he earned international recognition with two caps for Sierra Leone in World Cup qualifying matches against Nigeria and Morocco.
Keister also had a stint as a player-assistant manager at Margate before leaving in February 2011. Afterward, he ventured into management and was appointed as the manager of the Sierra Leone national team in 2017. Although he left the post in 2019, he was reappointed in August 2020. Amidst calls from fans to give Mohamed Kallon a chance, the Football Association emphasized that specific criteria must be met to become a coach, which will be strictly adhered to.
On the other hand, Mohamed Kallon, born on October 6, 1979, is a Sierra Leonean football manager and former player renowned for his time at Inter Milan from 2001 to 2004.
Despite competing with football legends like Christian Vieri, Ronaldo, Álvaro Recoba, Adriano, Hakan Şükür, and Nicola Ventola during his Inter Milan tenure, Kallon left an indelible mark. With 39 caps and eight goals for Sierra Leone, he possesses the qualifications to take on a role as a national football coach, according to his supporters.
The SLFA faces a critical decision in selecting the next head coach, with the nation’s football fans and stakeholders closely watching the developments.
