Africa-Press – Liberia. A prominent Liberian football stakeholder, Sando Fahnbulleh, has raised critical concerns and reflections following reports of a lucrative coaching package reportedly paid to Belgian coach Ivan Minneart by Liberian champions FC Fassell.
The package, valued at US$66,500 for a one-year period from June 2024 to June 2025, includes a monthly salary of $4,000, a $10,000 bonus for winning the league, $4,500 in match-day win bonuses, and multiple international travel allowances to Rwanda, Spain, and Belgium.
What has caused stir within the local football community, however, is the lack of a formal contract signed by Minneart himself. According to sources close to the club, the deal was negotiated and signed on his behalf by an external agency representing FC Fassell.
“What If That Money Had Gone to a Local Coach?”
Reacting to the news, Sando Fahnbulleh highlighted the broader implications such financial commitments could have on the growth of local coaching talent in Liberia.
“Imagine the impact it could have had on improving the lives of our local coaches and the level of healthy competition within the Liberia Coaches Association, if even half of the reported amount—USD 33,000—had been paid to a Liberian coach,” Fahnbulleh stated.
“Such an investment would not only uplift individual coaches but also elevate the overall standard of coaching in the country.”
Fahnbulleh emphasized that while he welcomes the idea of foreign expertise and appreciates the Fassell family’s commitment to the game, the time has come for Liberian clubs to empower homegrown coaches.
“I must also express my appreciation to the Fassell family for making such a significant investment in Liberian football, if this information is indeed accurate,” he added.
“But I suggest they consider extending similar support to local coaches — perhaps by offering them the opportunity to prove themselves within FC Fassell or its affiliated clubs.”
A Call for Professional Development Among Liberian Coaches
Fahnbulleh also used the moment to urge Liberian coaches to take personal responsibility in advancing their careers.
“I would like to kindly encourage our local coaches to firmly commit themselves to professional growth by upgrading their qualifications,” he said.
“This will better position them to attract contracts of this caliber, both locally and internationally.”
His remarks come at a time when many Liberian coaches are working under financially strained conditions, with limited access to advanced coaching licenses, continuing education, or performance-based incentives.
A Wake-Up Call for Policy and Accountability?
The revelations about Minneart’s contract — especially the fact that it may have been formalized without his direct signature — also raise questions about contract transparency, club governance, and oversight in Liberian football.
While no wrongdoing has been officially alleged, the situation has prompted stakeholders like Fahnbulleh to call for greater scrutiny and professionalism in how clubs structure and execute contracts.
As the new domestic season nears, Fahnbulleh’s statement is likely to spark ongoing debate about the future of local coaching, the value of Liberian talent, and the responsibility of clubs to invest in more than just foreign solutions.
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