The long awaited response from the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) regarding persistent calls for it to hold its Ordinary Congress came with an announcement that the congress would finally be held on 29-30 January 2015.
The Ordinary Congress of the FA has now been dubbed Annual General Meeting by the Secretary General in a correspondence addressed to its members on August 19th 2014.
“…pursuant to the prevailing circumstance of the present state of affairs of the country emanating from the state of health emergency declared by the Government of Sierra Leone and the recent correspondence e from the World Governing Body (FIFA) relating to the same, and the obligations of the Executive Committee under the Memorandum and Article of Association (Constitution) of the FA to hold its AGM (Ordinary Congress); the Executive Committee of the FA unanimously resolved that the said AGM (Ordinary Congress) be held as aforesaid.”
The Western Area Football Association Secretary General Kasho J. Holland-Cole reacted strongly to the circular sent to them: “we need congress now and Isha Johansen must take us to congress, we are calling a meeting of our members as a lot of misleading correspondence have been communicated to FIFA” he said.
FIFA's letter to the SLFA regarding the congress reads…”We acknowledge receipt of your letter sent on 11 July 2014 with regard to the request to differ the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA)’s Ordinary Congress…”.
Kasho Holland Cole queried why the SLFA requested the shifting of the date without consulting its members.
He said, "what else would they have requested for?... the time has elapsed for an ordinary congress and we the members have requested for an Extra Ordinary Congress as provided for by article 28 of the SLFA constitution...we want to tell them that FIFA is not running football in Sierra Leone and we will force them to respect the constitution".
(C) Politico 26/08/14
