By Ishmael Sallieu Koroma
The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has appointed John Edward Keister as caretaker head coach of the national men’s football team, Leone Stars, ahead of next month’s international friendly matches against Liberia.
In a press release issued on Sunday, the SLFA said the appointment would remain in effect while the association continues its search for a substantive head coach.
Keister, who currently serves as the SLFA Technical Director and is one of Sierra Leone’s most experienced football coaches, will lead the national side during the June FIFA international window.
He will be assisted by Alhaji Foray as Assistant Coach I and Mohamed Lamin Kamara as Assistant Coach II.
The temporary coaching team has been tasked with preparing Leone Stars for a two-legged friendly series against Liberia. Sierra Leone will host the first match on 6 June at the Southern Arena in Bo before travelling to Monrovia for the return fixture at the SKD Stadium on 9 June.
The SLFA Executive Committee said it had confidence in the technical expertise and leadership of the coaching trio as the national team prepares for upcoming international engagements.
Keister is no stranger to the Leone Stars setup, having previously managed the national team and overseen some of the country’s most notable football achievements in recent years.
The friendlies against Liberia are expected to provide an opportunity for the technical team to assess players and strengthen preparations for future competitive assignments, while the football association continues the process of recruiting a permanent head coach.
The announcement comes at a time when football supporters across Sierra Leone are keenly watching developments within the national team setup and the direction of the country’s football programme.
