By Alpha Abu
The recent statement from the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) talking about “Responsible Participation in SLFA Elections” has attracted angry reactions from some football fans in the country who believe the SLFA is unfairly targeting Babadi Kamara of Bo Rangers who they believe intends to run for the presidency.
Adekali Kamara, a fan of Bo Rangers popularly known as “Italian Kelly” in an angry tone explained to Politico that the action by SLFA is a ploy to instill fear, and possibly disenfranchise delegates considering voting for Babadi Kamara if he decides to run. ‘Italian Kelly’ who described himself as a staunch supporter of Babadi Kamara said there are people in the SLFA that are ‘’afraid’’ of facing the Bo Rangers executive chairman in 2025.
He said Babadi has demonstrated patriotism as the driving force behind the transformation of Bo Rangers Football Club and has solidified his image as a developer of the game across the country as well. He said the action of the SLFA won’t stop them from expressing their support for Babadi in his quest for leadership of the country’s football governing body.
Another football fan Mohamed Medwin Kamara told Politico that he’s not a supporter of Bo Rangers but a lover of the game who is aghast at the decision by the SLFA, calling it ‘’heartrending’’.
He said he is fascinated at Babadi’s role in the development of football in the country as a whole and asserted he would like to see him become President of the SLFA.
Kamara condemned the action of SLFA and claimed that what Babadi and his supporters have been doing is mere ‘’consultation and familiarization’’, concerning a possible run for the SLFA presidency and not a campaign.
He said they are aware of the impact of Babadi beyond Bo Rangers and as fans, they will continue to rally behind him. “If people have served well, then they should not be afraid, let them open the space’’, Kamara said.
He pointed out that it is the football delegates who will have to decide on their leadership.
He insisted that they will not back down and will continue to speak about the good deeds of Babadi on whatever platform is available in the hope that he make up his mind to contest the Presidency in 2025.
SLFA in its statement has asked that “potential candidates and their supporters exercise prudence and wait for the official declaration of the election date and campaign period by the Electoral Committee of SLFA before commencing any campaign endeavours’’. The press statement threatened action against potential candidates breaching the SLFA rules. The release cited no specific regulations under consideration.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (16/02/24)
