Rival factions in the Sierra Leone Football Association have agreed in principle to hold an all inclusive congress within the next three months to iron out their differences which have brought the country to the brink of being suspended from all football activities by the World Football Governing body, FIFA.
The two factions, led by recently impeached president Isha Johansen and Alhaji Unisa Alim Sesay (AWOKO) of the interim executive met with President Ernest Bai Koroma at State House on Monday.
Sport Minister Paul Kamara also attended the meeting.
Details are sketchy but Politico understands that both sides proposed different dates for the congress. Isha Johansen is reported to have suggested that the congress takes place in April while Awoko and the sports minister prefer a date in February.
According to our sources, President Koroma indicated at the end of the meeting which was characterised by accusations and counter accusations, that government would announce a compromise date after consultation with other parties soon. He gave no details as to who those parties were.
After months of wrangling over the holding of a congress in line with the SLFA constitution, a group made up of club owners and football administrators, under the banner of stakeholders, organised a tele-conference recently and then released a statement announcing the impeachment of Isha Johansen.
Johnasen in turn issued a statement describing the meeting as illegal. FIFA has since backed her position with a threat to sanction Sierra Leone if the interim body continued to challenge the legitimacy of the SLFA under Johansen without going through a congress convened by the SLFA.
Sport analysts say president Koroma's personal involvement represents the last effort to bring peace to the SLFA which was thrown into turmoil more than a year ago following the controversial election of Isha Johansen as president of the SLFA.
Johansen recently told The Guardian newspaper in London, "I'm resigned to the fact that my four years of office, of which I've done 18 months now, will not be a ceremonial, enjoyable ride. It’s a battle axe, it’s the shovel. But it’s all good because somebody’s got to do it, and if it means that four years on another president comes in and has a much more stable level to work from then I’ll be extremely proud."
A member of the stakeholder's group told Politico that "Johansen's days at the SLFA are numbered because she will be impeached again at any future congress."
© Politico 27/01/15
