By.Omari Jackson

ATLANTA DEC. 16: FIFA-certified soccer coach Youssef Darbaki, who is visiting Liberia, may conduct a 2-Day technical and tactical training seminar for selected coaches in Monrovia. In a telephone interview from his base in Minnesota yesterday, Coach Darbaki said he is presently visiting Liberia as a technical director to PRO-USA's select side, comprising of Liberian soccer players abroad, and will participate in a series of games against premier and first division clubs in Liberia. "I got calls from Francis Doe, Zack Kranger," he said, "and also Prince Daye, Kelvin Sebwe and many others that they will be in Liberia."
According to Mr. Mason Goe, chairman of PRO-USA Liberia, the select side will play against Mighty Barrolle, Invincible Eleven, BYC, SR PRO, Oilers and may likely travel to Kakata, Buchanan, Harbel, Ganta, and Gbarnga. Coach Darbaki, who had informed Liberian sports officials of his interest to handle the national soccer team, Lone Star, said at the two-day seminar, he will introduce participants to the Brazilian soccer philosophy that is sweeping across the world."I want my presence to be more than a visit," Coach Darbaki said, "I want to provide the participants some challenges to developing their talents." "I'm also willing to work with soccer officials on the national soccer team issue," he said.
On the youthful soccer talents in Liberia, he said,"I'm amazed at the talents and therefore I think those talents must be developed and I will be glad to help."Coach Darbaki said he is in contact with the current cream of Liberian players abroad."I've dealt with some of them," he said, "when they played for me at the Minnesota Twin Stars and I can assure officials we can work together."For starters, Coach Darbaki will handle the professionals that will be representing PRO-USA that can give sports officials and observers some glimpses of his professional conduct with the players. Coach Darbaki is also a FIFA-certified coaching director. Recently, he conducted a week's seminar for soccer coaches in Canada, after he returned from an intensive two-week attachment training with Brazilian clubs Sao Paolo FC, Santos FC and Paulista FC."I believe in giving back to Africa," Coach Darbaki, who played for the Moroccan national team, The Atlas, said, "and I think Liberian youths deserve to be helped."He relished his days with The Atlas, when they responded to an invitation to play against Lone Star in the '80s. Though Liberia lost, he said, "Liberians cheered for our team and that has always been with me." He said he is aware of the efforts local coaches are making in Liberia, but noted that they deserve more. When Coach Darbaki made his intention to coach the national team known in a series of interviews published on the internet and in Liberian newspapers, Liberian soccer players in Europe, Asia and Africa did not allow his phone to rest, as they called on him, some congratulating him, for his interest to handle the national soccer team."It was a wonder," he said, "that Liberian players from across the world will call me, almost every day, urging me to make true my promise to coach the Lone Star."Coach Dabarki said he was overwhelmed with the outpouring of support for his desire to coach the national team. "It was an incredible feeling," he said, "for even teenagers were sending me text messages to encourage me to go to Liberia."PRO-USA is a non-profit Liberian organization based in Minnesota, USA, with the interest to create awareness of what must be done to get Liberian sports up and running.
"Our yearly visit to Liberia," said Executive Director Duannah Siryon, "is our belief that together we can use sports to develop Liberia."The official delegation of Director Siryon, his deputy Jeff Doe, and Coach Darbaki will arrive in Monrovia on Saturday to meet professional players who are arriving daily in Liberia.