approached every training session, every
scouting assignment, every match
day…remembering that I was tasked with
the hopes of all of those people, and I
looked to instill that feeling in my players as
well.
They obviously were very proud to
represent their nation; but it was important
to me that they also understood that it was
more than just football. When the Leone
Stars win, it buoys a nation, and if the
people and happy, then maybe
development in the country that week
comes a bit easier, and happens a bit
faster. So for me, in the developing world
especially, football needs to be a vehicle for
so much more than just the result at the
end of 90 minutes.
ASM: What were the highlights of
coaching the Sierra Leone national team
and the low points?
Johnny: Working with the players on the
training pitch was a joy. I am a football
man, and there is nothing better than to be
out there with players who are eager to
learn, and hungry for success. Over the
18 months we managed to put together a really good group of characters. We gave out
14 debuts in 18 months. So the dynamic of the squad changed dramatically, and with it
the team rose in the FIFA rankings to a new record high position. So working within that
environment that we created was a pleasure.
Obviously the way it all ended was a low point – we had great ambitions to qualify for the
finals of the African Nations Cup. Yes we had some big names in our group, but if you
look at how close we came to overturning Ivory Coast on match day 1, and how all three
of Ivory Coast, Cameroon and DR Congo have performed at the finals – then I think our
ambitions were justified.
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