The air crackled with tension at the LPRC Oilers season opener, as the they went down against the Cestos Mogars. But the real storm was brewing off the court, with Coach Varfley Corneh fuming mad about what he perceives as a blatant disregard for the LBA’s own rulebook.
Coach Corneh, a staunch advocate for the Samukai-led LBA leadership, accuses the league of turning a blind eye to its constitution. The bone of contention? Article 4, Section 2, which clearly states that foreign players must obtain clearance documents from their previous federations before setting foot on the court.
In Coach Corneh’s eyes, this is a clear-cut case of the LBA breaking its own laws. He alleges that the Cestos Mogars, whose owner conveniently sits on the LBA’s Executive Committee, fielded uncertified imports. This alleged violation, according to the coach, handed his team an undeserved loss.
Matters weren’t helped by the initial assurances Coach Corneh reportedly received. Claims of intervention from the LBA president and the Technical Committee, promising to bar the said players, only amplified the frustration when those promises went unfulfilled.
Coach Corneh refuses to play the victim. While he didn’t contest the result through a formal protest, he firmly believes that the points awarded to Cestos Mogars should be retracted and rightfully handed to the LPRC Oilers.
This controversy casts a long shadow over the LBA’s reputation. Coach Corneh’s accusations, if true, paint a picture of an organization failing to uphold its own regulations. The LBA needs to address these concerns with transparency and fairness.
Did favoritism cloud judgement? Was there a breakdown in communication? The Liberian basketball fraternity deserves answers. Coach Corneh’s fiery stance might just be the spark that ignites a much-needed conversation about upholding the integrity of the game in Liberia.