The football aspect; I don’t
think I would change much.
My approach to the game
remains unchanged. I want to
play attractive, attacking
football – something that gets
supporters on their feet and is
a joy to watch. But I now know
a few things to look out for, and
fix certain things before they
become issues on the
administrative and logistical
side; because that is where
teams can be tripped up in
their pursuit of success.
ASM: Now this interview will
not be complete without asking
you about your views about the
infighting in Sierra Leone
football. How did you deal with
it and what is your take on all
the wrangling that went on
around you?
Johnny: For me, I am a
football man, and my first
concern was always the
players and the team. The
infighting between the SLFA
and the Ministry of Sport in
Sierra Leone is very
disappointing, because if they
can come together, then as a
footballing nation, they can
achieve so much with the
talent they have available, and
the young players who are
coming through in leagues
across the world.
If I am honest, I think the fact
that I tried to stay neutral
between the two parties and
simply focus on the team may
have contributed to the
decision to let me go.
“I look upon it as someone
trying to walk a tightrope, with
my focus being straight ahead
on success for the Leone
Stars. To my right was the
Sierra Leone Football
Association, and to my left was
the Ministry of Sport. Now
occasionally when on a tight
rope you have to reach out and
balance on something.
Occasionally this would be the
SLFA, occasionally this would
be the Ministry of Sport. But
overall you keep moving
forward in the center ground.
The problem however was, I
think, that if you weren’t sat in
somebodies office, then they
assumed you were in the other
camp”. So in actively choosing
not to pick sides and focus on
the team, the end result may
have been that both parties
believed you were in the
‘opposition camp’.
Very disappointing…but if I had
to do it again; I would still look
to walk that tightrope in the
middle ground. The team, and
success of that team has to be
the most important component
of your job; not playing politics.
You have to stay true to your
own value system, and I can
look back on my time,
sometimes in the middle of the
crossfire, and know that I did.
football play?
Johnny: I think Equatorial
Guinea did very well to stage
the tournament at a short
notice. It is amazing really
when you think about it.
Yes – there were some issues
with hotels and transport of
teams, but overall I think they
were to be expected, and
actually we have to applaud
the hosts for being able to do
what they did following CAF’s
decision that the tournament
would go ahead on the dates
originally planned.
In terms of quality, I was a bit
disappointed. There were a
lack of composure in many
games, especially in front of
the goal, and as such we did
not see the number of goals
that might have been expected
– with numerous chances
being blasted wide through
nothing more than a lack of
final quality and calmness from
the players involved.
ASM: Thank you very much for
answering our questions. We
will be in touch as time goes on
Johnny: It has been a
pleasure, and hopefully we will
talk again soon when I finalize
my next coaching role.
ASM: We started this interview
with a mention about you being
a TV analyst. What is your take
on the just concluded African
Cup of Nations tournament;
organizationally and quality of
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