By Zainab Joaque
The Sierra Leone Football Association has given the clearest indication yet that they are not likely to fully accept the outcome of the meeting of football stakeholders and the Secretary to the President, Emmanuel Osho-Coker. At the meeting on Monday, the SLFA was instructed to reverse its decision to suspend a number of football stakeholders, clubs and the Southern Region Football Association from participating in the forth-coming congress in the northern headquarter town of Makeni.
According to a press release issued by the National Olympic Committee, the body overseeing the congress, all parties at the meeting agreed that, "there will be an open session at which the Hon. Minister of Sports will give his address. The closed session will follow to which all SLFA delegates from the four regions will participate."
The release add that, "The Sierra Leone Football Association has agreed for Dr. Patrick Coker, president of the National Olympic Committee to chair the congress."
But the SLFA has now issued its own press release saying that "contrary to the contents of the NOC press release, the SLFA Executive Committee was not in full attendance therefore any discussions or deliberations in that meeting was not an endorsement backed by the entire SLFA executive committee."
The SLFA release adds that "whilst the SLFA stands firmly committed to promoting peace and sanity within the football family, rules, regulations and integrity will be the operating factors upon which the association will conduct its affairs."
Politico understands that even though their Vice President Brima Mazola Kamara, General Secretary Chris Kamara, Sirajin Rollings-Kamara of the Western Area and Brima Jalloh of the northern region attended the State House meeting, the SLFA has written to the Secretary to the President indicating their intention to set aside the outcome of that meeting, which had the blessing of President Ernest Bai Koroma.
Football stakeholders interviewed by Politico say they remain committed to the conclusions of the State House meeting "despite the fact that the SLFA has not fully complied with the agreement...for example we still don't have our package for the congress."
© Politico 16/04/15
