By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
In a letter addressed to the Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), dated and submitted on the 28th February, 2024, the management of Kahunla Rangers informed that they do not countenance the ruling dated 27th February, 2024 in the matter between East End Lions FC and Kahunla Rangers FC with respect to a protest written by Lions claiming that Kahunla fielded an ineligible player (James Harding) against them in the match played on the 23rd December 2024 at the Kenema City Field.
The letter indicated that the club discountenances the ruling and appealed for further hearings based on the grounds that it is the “sole responsibility of the Player Status Committee and not any other body within the spectrum of football to determine the illegibility of all players.”
It noted that prior to the commencement of the 2023/2024 Premier League season, all players were registered as mandated by the Premier League Board through the Secretary to the Board in which James Harding was fully registered by Kahunla Rangers FC. It stated that there was no comment raised against James Harding after the Player Status Committee had done the needful and satisfied him illegible to participate in the ongoing Premier League
It further alleged that East End Lions FC produced a forged document prepared by Moriba Town FC claiming ownership of the said player which was not recognized by him. It added that East End Lions FC also failed to produce a release letter from James Harding's parent club-Limo FC in Rutile that was to have been given to Moriba Town FC upon completion of his transfer from Limo FC to Moriba Town FC
The letter went on to note that Kahunla Rangers FC lawfully recruited James Harding as a player for the club. It explained that Kahunla Rangers FC furnished the Disciplinary Committee through the Premier League Board Secretary with all necessary documents about the player's illegibility. It emphasized that James Harding was recruited as a free player by Kahunla Rangers FC with his personal release document from his parent club-Limo FC.
The club says “ruling is premeditated and lacks substance to reckon with, hence, we want to restate that we do not countenance the said ruling and therefore request for further hearings by the Sierra Leone Football Association for fair justice and sanity within the spectrum of football in our country.”
According to the club’s Public Relations Officer, Ibrahim Fornah, they have written to the relevant stakeholders expressing their concern on the ruling in favor of Lions but they are yet to be informed on the outcome of their appeal.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (18/03/24)
