By Andrew Warshaw
April 22 – The confusion and chaos ripping through Sierra Leone football shows little sign of abating after the national association’s long-awaited congress was brought to an abrupt end.
The congress, which was scheduled to last two days, was halted after just a few hours last weekend following a row about the eligibility of some of the delegates.
For months the Sierra Leone FA run by Isha Johansen (pictured) – one of only two female federation presidents – has been trying to fight off rival factions bidding to unseat her.
Johansen already has the support of FIFA but according to local reports, the decision to postpone the congress prematurely was made by the session’s chairman, Sierra Leone’s National Olympic Committee leader Patrick Coker, amid claims that some delegates were refused accreditation because they were opposed to Johansen’s regime.
“The chairman had no option but to request for a motion for an adjournment to enable all delegates regularise their status before the next congress,” SLFA head of competitions Sorie Ibrahim was quoted as saying.
SLFA vice-chairman Brima Kamara told the BBC that the allegations against the federation were totally false. “Some of the stakeholders have no respect for their executive committee who they gave the mandate to govern football in Sierra Leone,” he said. “There were no fake delegates in the congress, some people just wanted to cause problems.”
“I’m disappointed at them and I have a message for them that we are determined to run football in Sierra Leone until our term expires.”
Sierra Leone’s head of state Ernest Bai Koroma has repeatedly been forced to intervene in an attempt to resolve what has become an ugly power struggle.
In a speech she prepared for the congress, Johansen denounced what she described as “drawing of swords, threats, trading of insults, public vicious theatrics, all of which have now become synonymous with Sierra Leone Football.”
Defending her record since being elected in 2013, she took the opportunity to hit back at those who have used the local media to call for her to step down, saying she would stop at nothing to bring those involved in match-fixing to justice.
“Those who go on air and deliberately malign individuals or institutions are the ones who are doing this country and its people a grave injustice,” she said.
“Sanctions or suspensions do not have to be interpreted as an act of personal vendetta. The FA will penalise in order for the wrongdoer to learn and to grow … and as a deterrant for others to refrain from emulating other wrongdoers.
“This game we are so manic about is governed by rules. If we can appreciate these rules, why must we rebel against administering the structures around football administration? This current Executive has no personal witch hunt or motive towards any one or group.”
“Real positive and genuine change will only come when wrong-doing and wrong-doers are not only identified, but punished. Wrongdoing and wrong-doers cannot go unaccounted for.”
“Match-fixing has become a global cancer in football, and increasingly we hear of associations probing into match-fixing allegations. Sierra Leone will be no exception.”
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