The Deputy Sports Minister, Al Sankoh Conteh has blamed the downfall of the national team, Leone Stars on the Sierra Leone Football Association’s (SLFA) current administration continuous confrontation and fighting with stakeholders, sports journalists, fans and government authorities.
According to Al Sankoh, the SLFA administration headed by Isha Johansen has constantly engaged in dispute with members of the football family which has had a huge effect on the national team.
“The continuous disrespect and disregard by the SLFA to the Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Council, especially on actions and decisions reached at meetings on issues to promote football are the issues here,” Al Sankoh said and citied several examples which included the appointment of Atto Mensah and John Sama as coaches for the national team as well as the selection of the home turf for the country’s home matches during the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
According to Al Sankoh, the SLFA administration headed by Isha Johansen has constantly engaged in dispute with members of the football family which has had a huge effect on the national team.
“The continuous disrespect and disregard by the SLFA to the Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Council, especially on actions and decisions reached at meetings on issues to promote football are the issues here,” Al Sankoh said and citied several examples which included the appointment of Atto Mensah and John Sama as coaches for the national team as well as the selection of the home turf for the country’s home matches during the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
He said: “The Sports Ministry agreed with the SLFA to play our home matches in Morocco or Ghana, but the FA went ahead and made other arrangements with DR Congo to play our home matches, against the fact that we were to host them. The encounter in DR Congo was devastating and counterproductive for our country.”
He further explained another other issue which brought disunity in the team camp was the team jersey which he said the SLFA proceeded with and secured an ill advised sponsorship.
“They went into an arrangement with a company called AMS, without consulting the Ministry or disclosing the package of the sponsorship. Sierra Leone use those jerseys in all our matches without any explanation from the FA on the package of the sponsorship which some of the players were not happy with, Al Sankoh said adding that these are some of the reasons that are responsible for the downfall of football under the current SLFA.
He said: “The SLFA is in the habit of creating bad blood among the players and technical team and destroying the good plans on pre- matches’ arrangements.”
He further explained another other issue which brought disunity in the team camp was the team jersey which he said the SLFA proceeded with and secured an ill advised sponsorship.
“They went into an arrangement with a company called AMS, without consulting the Ministry or disclosing the package of the sponsorship. Sierra Leone use those jerseys in all our matches without any explanation from the FA on the package of the sponsorship which some of the players were not happy with, Al Sankoh said adding that these are some of the reasons that are responsible for the downfall of football under the current SLFA.
He said: “The SLFA is in the habit of creating bad blood among the players and technical team and destroying the good plans on pre- matches’ arrangements.”
By: Sahr Morris Jr.
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