FAKE TICKETS SCANDAL ROCK BO RANGERS FC KALLOM MATCH
This last thing we want is to get confirmation from our usually very reliable sources that indeed fake tickets were sold at the Bo Stadium for the match between Bo Rangers and FC Kallon. The reports we received on the evening after the match suggest that indeed fake tickets entered the market, causing significant loss of revenue to the home team. The stadium was packed and ordinary tickets were sold at TEN THOUSAND LEONES.
We also heard from Bo Rangers sources that the club made just over SIXTY-FIVE MILLION LEONES from entrance fees in total. We believe this is a real joke that should be dismissed with utter contempt. Anything below ONE HUNDRED MILLION LEONES is unacceptable and should be investigated.
We have already done some work on the ground in Bo and we believe we have a good idea where the fake tickets probably came from. This has nothing to do with picture on social media. We now unequivocally call on the Bo Rangers and the Premier League Board leaders to investigate this issue immediately and take strong measures against those responsible for the following reasons:
1. We MUST now put an end to criminality in Sierra Leone football. We mean all forms of criminality, from producing and selling fake tickets to match-fixing. Let’s end that now. This game has suffered for too long in this country.
2. We should finally bury those people who pretend to be lovers of the game but are only interested in money and all the corrupt practices around the game.
3. It is unfair on those young people who play the game for pittance as monthly salary while those given responsibility to organize the game including performing high security functions like dealing with tickets allow such things to happen.
4. If this is swept under the carpet, the other Premier League clubs should simply announce an open season on fake tickets. There is only one way out of this which is to investigate, name and shame the culprit and punish them.
5. So as not to risk their relationship with fans, Bo Rangers and the Premier League Board have the next 48 hours to announce this investigation and SEVEN DAYS to announce their findings. Otherwise we can just go ahead and legitimize fake tickets and match-fixing with the consequence that fans will start voting with their feet.
SLRA ABANDONS COLLAPSED CUVLERT ON TIAMA JUNCTION– BO HIGHWAY
When that section of this main road to the Southern headquarter town collapsed suddenly a few months back, the SLRA was all over the place assuring us they were on top of the situation and would deal with the problem very quickly. What they ended up doing was to fill the hole in a very shoddy way just for vehicular traffic to resume. They then went on social media and told the world how efficient they were in road maintenance. They left the place promising to complete the job “very soon” But lo and behold several months on, the place remains abandoned with piles of rocks near the site serving only as a signal of their intention to deliver the job. We know this game dear SLRA.
We always thought SLRA was now a more serious-minded organization than what we use to know. Isn’t this the NEW DIRECTION? What we saw in the affected place over the last three days or so tells a different story. Maybe SLRA is experiencing financial difficulties. In fact that’s what most of our agencies say. Why haven’t they found time to tell their employers – the good people of Sierra Leone what the real issues is? Don’t they think we deserve to be told why after all these months that job has still not been done? And it so happened that the vehicle just behind us the other day belonged to the SLRA. So they know what’s going on.
In the next three months the rainy season will be upon us. We will remain in this little corner as from now until the heavy rains of July and August wash the granite away and for the SLRA to go on social media once more to offer more explanation.
Many times it is easy for officials to accuse the media of doing too much on such matters but when the people are being treated in the way SLRA is behaving over that collapsed culvert, we are left with no alternative but to serve our people. As they say in UN language, we remained ceased of this matter.
MODEL JUNCTION AND OUYLYING AREAS PARALYSED AGAIN BY SCHOOL VIOLENCE
We want the authorities to know that people living and doing business at Model Junction and the surrounding area are completely fed up with the almost daily acts of violence perpetrated by mostly pupils of Albert Academy and Rokel Secondary schools. We were caught up in it on Monday afternoon of this week and it was indeed a very scary experience. We asked a lot of questions around and we could find no reason for such mindless violence by pupils who can’t pass the school certificate exam. Many people ran for cover as the lower part of circular road was also paralyzed.
The people of the area spoke openly about their frustration and the inability of the police and school authorities to drill it into the empty heads of their pupils that their attitude was totally unbecoming of secondary school pupils. This is a very serious issue that has been festering for a long time now and is threatening to boil over in a big way. So we want to make the following points:
1. At least four men who spoke to us as residents told us in clear terms that they are mobilizing themselves to take those pupils head on in future to protect their families and their properties from mindless violence. We are sure they were not bluffing.
2. School authorities who fail to control their pupils should be made to suffer serious administrative consequences. Pupils who want to behave like Al-Shabab terrorists are free to go to Somalia. Our schools are for children who want to get good education.
3. We have not heard from Civil Society Organizations that are quick to shout about police violence. Is there nothing to say about the violent acts of these pupils and the distress they are causing to the communities around their schools?
4. Where are those parents who virtually condone lawlessness perpetrated by their children? As soon as the police pick them up they will all over the place denying their children were involved. Many such parents have simply failed their children and society is paying a heavy price right now.
5. Maybe we should deploy the police to that flash point daily just before the school day is over. It will be expensive but we don’t know what else to do.
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