An agreement was reached at State House on Wednesday between rival SLFA factions for their much-talked about all-inclusive congress to be held in the third week of April 2015. For the second time this week the football managers and administrators met President Ernest Bai Koroma in an attempt to break the deadlock over the leadership of the organisation.
No details as to venue and other pre-congress activities were released to the press but Politico understands that the two factions agreed to revert to their positions prior to the tele-conference organised by the group calling itself the football stakeholders.
One of those who attended the meeting told Politico they agreed that any further disbursement from the SLFA accounts should be supervised by the National Olympic Committee, headed by Dr. Patrick Coker and such expenditures must only cover what he described as "operational expenses like salaries."
A State House statement released late Wednesday evening confirmed date of the congress as 17 to 18 of April.
It added that the parties present at the meeting hosted by the President agreed that all football stakeholders regularized their status in order to give legitimacy to their participation in the congress.
An experienced football administrator said he is "almost certain that FIFA would frown at this third-party interference by having the NOC supervise the SLFA's finances and then organise the congress. The constitution is clear that it is the job of the Football Association."
One of the stakeholders opposed to the leadership of Isha Johansen said by suggesting a date in April, the SLFA president "is buying time to attempt to break our resolve to impeach her. We are resolved to achieve all our objectives in the interest of the game in Sierra Leone."
© Politico 29/01/15
