By: Julius Konton
The Liberia Football Association on Monday February 19, 2024 officially unveiled the new head Coach of the senior National Team of Liberia Mario Marinica.
Born on December 13, 1964, Mario Marinică is a Romanian football manager and former player who was the former Head Coach of the Malawi National Football Team.
He holds the UEFA Pro License, the highest football coaching qualification.
Speaking during the unveiling ceremony, The Vice President of the Liberia Football Association Saye Adolphus Dolo said Coach Marinica was selected following a rigorous vetting process from a list of six hundred coaches with only two Liberians.
He told Sports reporters that the Romanian coach mandate will among other things be to qualify the National team for the Morocco 2025 Nations Cup.
His two years mandate, Mr. Dolo stated will also be to work with local coaches and teams respectively.
The new senior national Team coach will also work along with a team of four professional foreign technicians to include a South African and Malawian including two local Liberian coaches.
Coach Marinica four men coaching team have come to the job with lots of experience in video match analysis as well as CAF instructor, physio tyrapists, fitness coaching among others.
On the local coaching scene, he will have an assistant coach from Liberia including a Liberian goalkeeper coach.
Speaking following his unveiling ceremony Coach Marinica said he knows Liberian Players well and is ready to deliver the goods for the people.
“I know Liberian Football very well. I was coach of Malawi and I know what happened and I will do my best”, he reassured the sporting populace.
Additionally, he pointed out that he has been a scout in Africa for ten years and he knows African players and with research already done backed by his quality team of experienced technicians, he will do his best, he maintained.
The National team, he stressed is about delivery and or results something he indicated he is committed to the core.
“My philosophy is to win and we go with that over and again and we will work with adoptable plans and strategies in order to get the desire results “, he noted.
Mario who bragged that he is not worried about pressure from the fans due to his past and vast experience was quick to point out that he is not under pressure but will deliver the winning results that the people or the fans of Liberia yarn for over the past years.
“I am aware that Liberians and supporters are not happy due to lack of wins over the past years and we need to deliver the win and to qualify the team for the 2025 , Nations cup, he re-emphasized.
The New professional and experienced Romanian coach with background among things in fitness and results also said he will work with local based players and coaches in order to achieve his goal and mandate as required by the local Football House.
It is also expected in the coming days that Coach Mario will select his best two local coaches, an assistant coach and a goalkeeper coach who will join his four men professional team to get the work done and regain the smile on the faces of Liberians.
