The Sierra Leone Football Association SLFA has postponed its Elective Congress originally scheduled for the end of this month in the northern headquarter town of Makeni without stating a new date for the long-awaited Congress.
According to a statement issued by the body, the decision to suspend the Congress was taken after reviewing the work of their judicial bodies so far and correspondences from the National Sports Authority (NSA) and the world football governing body, FIFA.
In the statement the SLFA says “We deem that it is absolutely essential that SLFA bodies involved in this process are given sufficient time to pass all relevant decisions, including any appeal that might be lodged by candidates as permitted by the SLFA electoral code, even if this means that the time frame leading to the elections has to be slightly amended.
For its part, the National Sports Authority, NSA says FIFA has endorsed the position of the parliament of Sierra Leone that the judicial bodies of the SLFA “should do their utmost to ensure that all candidates are treated impartially and fairly and that all decision taken in relation to this process follow the principles established in the SLFA statutes and regulations.”
NSA Boss Dr. Kenneth Brima says his organization will continue to monitor the process to ensure that the SLFA code and the contents of the letter from FIFA are “followed and implemented.”
In his reaction to the postponement of the Congress, the leading contender, Rodney Michael said “As long as the extension is ‘slight’ as emphasized by FIFA in their response to the NSA, I am fine with it. What is of utmost importance is a fair and transparent process. That we should all demand”
Sadick Nyarkoh, another presidential candidate told Politico that he was not totally in support of the deferment but would want to see the Congress held at least two weeks from its original date.
The Isha Johansen executive was controversially elected to a four year term in August 2013 but has remained in office since, with the backing of FIFA despite protests and boycotts at home calling for the SLFA constitution to be respected.
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