SLFA President…Isha Johansen
The long awaited Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) annual congress would finally be staged on April 16th -17th 2015 following Wednesday’s meeting with the Country’s President, Ernest Bai Koroma and the SLFA rival faction.
It could be recalled that both factions failed to agree on a congress date in similar meeting at State House on Monday and President Koroma-in his capacity as President of the National Sports Council (NSC) again summoned both parties yesterday to reveal the April 16-17 date.
The long awaited Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) annual congress would finally be staged on April 16th -17th 2015 following Wednesday’s meeting with the Country’s President, Ernest Bai Koroma and the SLFA rival faction.
It could be recalled that both factions failed to agree on a congress date in similar meeting at State House on Monday and President Koroma-in his capacity as President of the National Sports Council (NSC) again summoned both parties yesterday to reveal the April 16-17 date.
According to reports from State House, the embattled SLFA President, Isha Johansen opted for the last week in April but her request was turned down.
Furthermore it was revealed that the National Olympic Committee of Sierra Leone (NOC-SL) will handle all proceedings and activities in the run-up to the congress.
This was the third time President Koroma-who expressed dissatisfaction and disappointment over the struggle for power and infighting within the SLFA- has intervened to solve the Football Association impasse before and after the Isha Johansen led executive was controversially elected in August 2013.
In reaction to the congress date, the Secretary General to Alhaji Unisa Alim Awoko Sesay’s interim led Executive, Kasho Holland-Cole said they are happier to get a final date for the congress.
“We the stakeholders are more united than ever, we are happy for the date and are looking forward to the April 16th and 17th date. The Congress is more important for us because we need to address several issues regarding our beautiful game,” Holland-Cole said.
It could be recalled that 40 out 47 delegates including 12 premier league teams signed a resolution to impeach the Isha Johansen led executive in an extraordinary congress they claimed was held via tele-conference on 20th December 2014.
They also resolved to appoint a nine-man interim body led by Alhaji Unisa Alim Sesay to run the affairs of the Association until June 2015 which gained the Sports Ministry’s backing but neither Johansen nor the world's football governing body, FIFA recognized Sesay’s executive.
The authenticity of stakeholders and legality of the congress were also questioned by both Johansen and FIFA.
Furthermore it was revealed that the National Olympic Committee of Sierra Leone (NOC-SL) will handle all proceedings and activities in the run-up to the congress.
This was the third time President Koroma-who expressed dissatisfaction and disappointment over the struggle for power and infighting within the SLFA- has intervened to solve the Football Association impasse before and after the Isha Johansen led executive was controversially elected in August 2013.
In reaction to the congress date, the Secretary General to Alhaji Unisa Alim Awoko Sesay’s interim led Executive, Kasho Holland-Cole said they are happier to get a final date for the congress.
“We the stakeholders are more united than ever, we are happy for the date and are looking forward to the April 16th and 17th date. The Congress is more important for us because we need to address several issues regarding our beautiful game,” Holland-Cole said.
It could be recalled that 40 out 47 delegates including 12 premier league teams signed a resolution to impeach the Isha Johansen led executive in an extraordinary congress they claimed was held via tele-conference on 20th December 2014.
They also resolved to appoint a nine-man interim body led by Alhaji Unisa Alim Sesay to run the affairs of the Association until June 2015 which gained the Sports Ministry’s backing but neither Johansen nor the world's football governing body, FIFA recognized Sesay’s executive.
The authenticity of stakeholders and legality of the congress were also questioned by both Johansen and FIFA.
By: Sahr Morris Jr.
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