Differences have emerged between the Ministry of Sport and the Football Association over the appointment of a new technical team for Leone Stars, following the shock dismissal of Irish coach, Johnny McKinstry.
The Sierra Leone Football Association has written to the Ministry of Sport requesting them to rescind the appointment of former Sierra Leone international, John Sama as assistant head coach and replace him with FC Johnasen coach, John Keister.
The letter, signed by SLFA Secretary General Chris Kamara said their technical committee reviewed the credentials of Sama and "we are of the view that the said person does not meet the requirements to act in that capacity as assistant head coach, as stated in the CAF statutes for persons employed as technical staff."
The Football Association said its preferred candidate, coach Keister "is qualified with a CAF B-License and has just been approved as a CAF Technical Instructor for coaches. He is also an ex-international and has been able to understand the culture and mentality of our players both local and international."
The FA warned that "to avoid sanction from CAF and FIFA...Mr. John Sama would be advised to capacitate himself for future opportunities...and the Sierra Leone Football Association has obliged to invite him to participate in the forth-coming CAF C and B - License courses respectively on a scholarship because of his role he has played as an ex-international."
A spokesman for the Ministry of Sports, Benjamin Pratt declined to comment on the matter.
Politico understands that the ministry is likely to act on another letter written in August by a group calling itself Football Stakeholders in which they called for the immediate convening of the annual congress of the SLFA as enshrined in the association's constitution.
The SLFA recently announced that the congress would now take place in January 2015 but a well-placed source told Politico that "it's likely the ministry will now back the position of the Football Stakeholders and the congress could take place before the end of the year."
(C) Politico 23/09/14
