The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) and the Sports Ministry could be heading for another row on who will be the head coach of the Sierra Leone national team, Leone Stars.
Two weeks ago, the Sports ministry officially announced the appointment of former Sierra Leone internationals Atto Mensah and John Sama as new head coach and assistant respectively however, the SLFA have stated that they will not endorse both men appointment for credential reasons.
The Football Association (FA) General Secretary Chris Kamara in a Press Release dated 29th September 2014 stated they will not endorse Mensah’s appointment because they are yet to receive evidence of the former Leone Stars forward coaching credential.
The release reads: “On the head coach, the recommendation and appointment by the Ministry of Sports was supported by the SLFA that the coach fulfils the regulations and qualification as stipulated by CAF and FIFA. However, despite several reminders, SLFA has not received evidence of Mensah’s Coaching credentials (B-Coaching License)”.
Two weeks ago, the Sports ministry officially announced the appointment of former Sierra Leone internationals Atto Mensah and John Sama as new head coach and assistant respectively however, the SLFA have stated that they will not endorse both men appointment for credential reasons.
The Football Association (FA) General Secretary Chris Kamara in a Press Release dated 29th September 2014 stated they will not endorse Mensah’s appointment because they are yet to receive evidence of the former Leone Stars forward coaching credential.
The release reads: “On the head coach, the recommendation and appointment by the Ministry of Sports was supported by the SLFA that the coach fulfils the regulations and qualification as stipulated by CAF and FIFA. However, despite several reminders, SLFA has not received evidence of Mensah’s Coaching credentials (B-Coaching License)”.
“The assistant coach document submitted to the SLFA by the ministry of sports clearly shows that he is not in the possession of a coaching ‘B License’. Base on this SLFA will not be in the position to endorse or recommend Mensah or Sama as coaches for the national team to CAFA and FIFA for the CAF 2015 qualifiers.”
The FA also frowns against the appointment of Christian Dauda as team manager on the pretext that his activities are only done within United Kingdom instead of Freetown. The FA release further recommends that its technical committee department heads the affairs of the national team.
“As a matter of urgency the technical committee of the SLFA has recommended that the technical department heads the affairs of the national team with immediate effect until a qualified coaching team is appointed,” the release stated.
However, the Sports Minister, Paul Kamara insists that both Mensah and Sama Coach the team in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Cameroun in Yaoundé.
This is not the first time the Ministry and the FA have been enagaged in a Coaching row. In May this year, each side named a rival coach for the African Under-20 Championships first round second leg tie in Ghana.
The SLFA insisted that Alimamy Turay was in charge of the under-20 side whilst the Sports Minister Paul Kamara indicated that Atto Mensah replace Turay.
The FA also frowns against the appointment of Christian Dauda as team manager on the pretext that his activities are only done within United Kingdom instead of Freetown. The FA release further recommends that its technical committee department heads the affairs of the national team.
“As a matter of urgency the technical committee of the SLFA has recommended that the technical department heads the affairs of the national team with immediate effect until a qualified coaching team is appointed,” the release stated.
However, the Sports Minister, Paul Kamara insists that both Mensah and Sama Coach the team in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Cameroun in Yaoundé.
This is not the first time the Ministry and the FA have been enagaged in a Coaching row. In May this year, each side named a rival coach for the African Under-20 Championships first round second leg tie in Ghana.
The SLFA insisted that Alimamy Turay was in charge of the under-20 side whilst the Sports Minister Paul Kamara indicated that Atto Mensah replace Turay.
By: Editor
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