Olof Mattsson’s fate swivels after Leone Stars fail to qualify
Executive members of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) will meet over the weekend to decide on Lars Olof Mattsson’s contract as Leone Stars Head Coach.
The acting Sierra Leone Football Association’s General Secretary Abdul Rahman Swarray confirms to Sierra Express Media Sports that the technical committee will seek to evaluate coach Mattson’s performances in the few games he has been in charge of Leone Stars.
He said “the executive committee will look into the report and make recommendations to the government as to whether the 56 year old’s contract with the national side should continue.
The former Swedish U21 coach stands a chance to commit a long contract in Sierra Leone but he has to make a choice to reside in the country.
Abdul Rahman Swaray again: “We want a foreign coach this time around that would reside in Sierra Leone and part of his job would be to scout talents within the local leagues. If Coach Mattsson should retain his job, he must be prepared for a residential status in the country”.
He said the new coach would be charged with the herculean task of qualifying the national team Leone Stars for the African Cup of Nations in South Africa 2013 and the 2014 World Cup finalist in Brazil.
Coach Mattsson was in charge of Leone Stars for 4 out of 6 matches in the just concluded AFCON qualifiers for the Gabon/Equatorial 2012 Cup of Nations but failed to qualify the team due to CAF’s controversial head to head rule policy.
Coach Mattsson was originally handpicked by Sports Minister Paul Kamara to be in charge of the Niger Vs Leone Stars match in Niamey in March 2011 but had his contract extended for the remaining qualifiers despite losing that match 3-1.
His appointment was not sanctioned by SLFA even though they believed then that the Sports Ministry was trying to usurp their powers –they are able to reach a compromise that saw Mattsson continuing as Head Coach with increased wages conditions.
Coach Mattsson won two games against Niger and Egypt at home, drew one away in South Africa and lost one away to Niger.
Leone Stars ended third in Group G behind Niger and South Africa on goal difference. The three teams ended with 9 points excluding Egypt who occupies the bottom ladder of the table with five points.
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