Sierra Leone get new coach
Since Leone Stars do not have any full international commitments at present the SLFA say that for the time-being Koroma will only be in charge of the country’s home-based team.
His immediate task will be to lead the local side to the 2011 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Sudan, their first qualifier is next month against Mauritania.
The country has been without a coach of any description since Ahmed Kanu’s contract expired last October after Sierra Leone failed to reach the final round of 2010 World Cup qualifying.
Koroma’s appointment has come as a surprise to many in Sierra Leone as he had announced his retirement from coaching in February citing health reasons.
But the new coach insisted to BBC Sport that his health has now improved and he is ready to return to coaching.
“I think my health has improved a lot that’s why I’ve accepted the offer to serve my country as coach ,” he said.
“I’ll never return to club coaching again but I’ll accept the offer to coach any of our national sides.
“I like the challenge that has been given to me and it’s a chance for me to prove that I’m a winning coach.
“All I want from the SLFA is to give me free hands to play my role as coach and I’ll make sure I qualify the team to the CHAN finals.”
This is not the first time that Koroma has been involved with the national team, he was briefly the assistant coach during the 2002 World Cup qualifiers.
He was also coach of Sierra Leone at the West African Football Union Youth Championship in Nigeria last year.
At club level he has won several Sierra Leone premier league tittles with the three clubs he has coached in the last decade, the most recent was with Ports Authority in 2008.
Mohamed Fajah Barrie
BBC Sport, Freetown
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