Veteran Ghanaian coach Malik Jabir has weighed in on the recent resignation of Laryea Kingston as the head coach of the U17 national team, the Black Starlets.
Jabir, whose portfolio boasts experience managing Ghana’s U23 team, the legendary Asante Kotoko, and even serving as Technical Advisor for both ASFA Yennenga of Burkina Faso and Kano Pillars F.C. of Nigeria, called the move “childish” in an interview played on Asempa FM.
“That was a childish decision he took. Does he want to say that he will be able to beat every team in the African continent? He should ask himself some questions,” Malik Jabir stated
Kingston stepped down following Ghana’s 2-1 defeat to Burkina Faso in the WAFU Zone B Championship semifinals, which resulted in the team missing out on qualification for the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations. It is important to note that Laryea Kingston has since apologized for the manner of his resignation, acknowledging it could have been handled better.
Ghana ultimately finished 4th in the WAFU Zone B U17 Championship after losing 3-2 to Nigeria in the 3rd place match on May 28.
Jabir took aim at Kingston’s perceived lack of perspective, stating, “Does he want to say that he will be able to beat every team in the African continent? He should ask himself some questions.” Jabir appears to suggest that Kingston’s resignation reflects an unrealistic expectation of winning every match.
Despite his criticism, Jabir offered some words of encouragement for the young coach. “Could he have won every match he played? No,” Jabir acknowledged. “He is a young coach. Tell him he will learn from there.” This suggests that Jabir believes Kingston can learn from this setback and improve as a coach.
Jabir further emphasized the importance of perseverance, concluding, “Once he has resigned when he gets the chance again he will learn from there.” This implies that Jabir sees value in overcoming challenges rather than stepping down in the face of adversity.
Laryea Kingston’s resignation has sparked debate within Ghanaian football. Whether it will ultimately serve as a learning experience or a missed opportunity remains to be seen.