The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) faction led by Isha Johanssen has slammed as “illegal” plans to convene a rival national league by a faction of the football community which are against her leadership.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, signed by SLFA Secretary General Chris Kamara, the FA also warned the country’s premier league teams against taking part in the tournament being organized by the faction led by Unisa Alim Sesay, AKA Awoko.
The rift within the SLFA stemmed from the election of Mrs Johanssen in 2013.
Initially she was backed by Sports minister Paul Kamara, who now supports the Awoko faction, also known as the Football Stakeholders (FS)
Several attempts at ending the impasse have failed, including the latest one in December involving President Ernest Bai Koroma.
Both the Johansen faction and the FS were planning on organizing separate Premier Leagues. The latter is supported by the government. Majority of the country’s 14 premier league teams identify with the FS, whose league is set to commence this weekend.
“The SLFA would like to inform the 14 Premier League clubs and the general public that the organization of competition on the territory of Sierra Leone, solely lies with the Sierra Leone Football Association pursuant to Article 73 Paragraph 1 of the SLFA Statutes,” the press release dated 26 January 2016, reads in part.
Originally the league is called the Salone Premier League, which is the name maintained by the Johansen faction.
The FS therefore titled theirs as the Sierra Leone National League.
Any club which takes part in the Sierra Leone National League will be sanctioned, according to the statement from the Johansen faction, which also strongly warned coaches and individual players against defying its orders.
“Violating the above mentioned obligation by any member may lead to sanctions provided for in these Statues,” the statement says.
The Johansen faction, according to the same statement, further announced plans to commence the routine football competitions nation - FA Cup; Sierra Leone Premier League; The Lady’s Cup; and the U-14 and U-19 Youth championships.
(C) Politico 28/01/16
