By: Bubacarr Fallaboweh
Tapha Manneh, the U20 coach of Liberia, has been appointed as Determine FC’s head coach on a short-term deal.
The appointment came after coach Pampe’s ineligibility to lead Determined Girls due to needing the required CAF coaching license.
The Federation always gives technical support to clubs, and Determine FC requested for Manneh, who resumed training on Monday at the Tusa Field Sports Stadium in Gardnerville.
The former Liscr FC coach, Manneh, spoke to the Alkamba Sports desk, citing his target.
“I expect we passed the stage the team stopped in Morocco. We are expecting local and foreign additions because the team needs adjustment. The materials we have can compete locally but not regionally. We have observed and learned while the team was in Morocco, injuries piled up, and when you compare the quality with other teams, we were far below; that’s why we want to boast the team.”
Soccer Ambassador FC midfielder Louise Brown, who scored 15 goals last season in the Upper Women’s League, is the first arrival of a batch of players to bolster the squad.
Manneh, who moved to Liberia in 2016, said the game is growing very well in the country.
“Football in Liberia is growing very fast, and they are doing their best; many foreign players from Guinea, Nigeria, and Sierre Leone are making the competition a bit tough. One issue is that clubs are not financially strong,” Coach Manneh said.
“CAF Women’s Champions League club competition motivates female footballers to showcase their talent. Apart from the national team, women footballers need the platform. It’s a crucial step taken by CAF. It gives you the 50-50 vibes of decentralizing the two genders. The male side has two competitions; maybe later, the Women’s category will also have a Women Confederation competition.”
This will be Tapha Manneh’s second assignment for women’s football after being part of the technical team of the Liberia U17 female team that went to Guinea.
Determined Girls FC won all three trophies they contested, including the Upper Women’s League, Organe Cup, and LFA Super Cup.
The WAFU zone A champions will be home when the CAF Champions League Qualification kick-offs on 12 July 2023 in Liberia.
