by FSL News | 16 Sep, 2018 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
FREETOWN: By Sarh Morris jr – follow the writer @morrisjr88
Minister of Sports Ibrahim Nyelenkeh has engaged football stakeholders and other key players in dialogue to ensure the country’s national leagues kick-start after five years.
According to the Sports Minister, it is about time the stakeholders and other key players see the need for the commencement of the country’s premier league.
“The country is presently affected socially, economically, mentally and physically as a result of non-league,” said the Minister.
“This has even affected the performance of our national team and the youth U-17 as manifested in Ethiopia and Senegal respectively.”
In his response to the minister plea, Chairman of the football stakeholders on behalf of his colleague, Idrissa Mago Tarawally said that they are willing to play the game.
However, Mago was quick to inform the Sports Minister that few important have to be looked into before they start playing.
He said: “Josepha Samba Keilfala who was appointed as the Premier League Board chairman is not qualified to hold such position, hence he should be removed.
“The judicial bodies should be established and approved which can only be done at Congress level.” However, the said meeting was rescheduled Tuesday 18th September 2018.
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by FSL News | 15 Sep, 2018 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
FREETOWN: By Sahr Morris jr – follow the writer @morrisjr88
Some football loving fans in Sierra Leone have taken to social media expressing their disappointment with the long-lasting football impasse in the country thereby blast the world football governing body, FIFA and the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) executive.
The latest outburst from fans in the country came after the SLFA media team last Friday released an unsigned press release with the headline: “SLFA executive committee takes a position on ACC ultimatum.”
According to the said release, the world football governing body informed them (SLFA), that they are monitoring the development of the SLFA and the ACC ultimatum while admitting that further information on the Sierra Leone situation would reach the FIFA Member Association Committee that is expected to meet on 26th of September 2018.
FIFA asked that the said roadmap which was agreed on by all parties a few years back should be followed.
However, fans who are following the SLFA Facebook page reacted strongly to the said press release with different views.
Adikalie M Kamara stated in his post: “The so-called FIFA are also contributing to the downfall of Sierra Leone football, let them stay out of our football issue.”
One Ibrahim Bangura noted: “The current SLFA management are using FIFA statute to panic themselves, not Sierra Leoneans. Their impact was woeful and appalling since they assumed office.”
Usman Mohamed Manneh asked: “And no one has the guts to sign this statement?” He further commented: “Bunch of crooks running the affairs of football in our country. I have said it, many times and I will continue to say it.”
Affectionate Giza called on the country’s President, Madam Bio to take prompt action and allow FIFA to ban Sierra Leone from world football which he said will help the country to have a good and restructured national league and to be able to market our young talents who have taken football as their trade.
Solomon Kamara, on the other hand, posted: “Roadmap my foot, for how long this SLFA executive will continue to hold on to power when their term in office has come to an end just for their selfish gains. Is FIFA law over our country law?” he asked.
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by FSL News | 14 Sep, 2018 | African News
The writer Alie Bittar @bittar32 – Contact bi****@*********************ne.net
The world football governing body Fifa has exclusively told Football Sierra Leone (FSL) that they are monitoring the situation in the country after the state’s anti-corruption agency issued a seven-day ultimate to the president Isha Johansen and secretary-general Chris Kamara of the FA to step down.
“FIFA is closely monitoring developments in relation to the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) and plans to provide the FIFA Member Associations Committee with an update on the situation at its upcoming meeting on 26 September 2018,” A FIFA spokesperson confirmed to FSL.
“FIFA continues to expect that the agreed roadmap is strictly adhered to by all parties,” the spokesperson continued.
“In this context, the Inquiry Group Sierra Leone will be visiting the country soon to conduct its investigations.”
It could be recalled that in November 2017 Fifa overturned a decision by executive members of the SLFA to set aside Johansen from office. Read More…Despite saga, FIFA still supports Johansen
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) says their latest decision is in line with its legal functions which state that public officials indicted with corruption charges must be suspended until acquitted or the proceedings against them discontinued.
The head of the ACC has however stated that if Johansen and Kamara refuse to step down further actions could be taken against them and that includes arrest.
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by FSL News | 13 Sep, 2018 | African News
Liberia president George Weah played in an international friendly for his country on Tuesday – at the age of 51.
The former African footballer and Fifa World Player of the Year award, featured for 79 minutes of a 2-1 home defeat by Nigeria in Monrovia.
Liberia arranged the friendly to retire their number 14 shirt, worn by Weah at his playing peak.
The former AC Milan striker, sworn in as president in January, received a standing ovation as he was substituted.
Nigeria fielded a reasonably strong team, including Leicester’s Wilfred Ndidi and fellow midfielder Peter Etebo, of Stoke City. Ndidi’s club-mate Kelechi Iheanacho featured as a second-half substitute.
Etebo took the corner from which Simeon Nwankwo headed Nigeria into a 2-0 lead after Henry Onyekuru – on loan at Galatasaray from Everton – had scored the opener. The home side pulled one back with a late Kpah Sherman penalty.
At the age of 51, Liberia’s George Weah returned to international action in a friendly against Nigeria.
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by FSL News | 13 Sep, 2018 | African News
FREETOWN: By Sarh Morris jr – follow the writer @morrisjr88
Sierra Leone national U-17 side, Sierra Stars will engage host Senegal in a must-win match today at the ongoing West Africa Football Union (WAFU) U-17 qualifiers tournament.
The team does not only need a victory but a wider goal merging if they are to qualify for the semi-finals of the tournament.
Unlike Sierra Leone Senegal only needed a draw to walk their way to the semi-finals after a 1-0 victory against Guinea Bissau while Sierra Leone suffered a 2-1 defeat to the Bissau boys.
Sierra Leone had to wait until the 39th minutes to get an opener. Abubakarr Kanneh sent a long ball from the near side to find Mahamadu Lamin who shot with his right-footed shot went inside the post and at the back of the net.
The second half started with Sierra Leone playing with ten men after defender Ajay Moses suffered a cut on his head before the half-time and couldn’t continue the game. A change was only affected during the 54th minutes.
However, Guinea Bissau equalizer and winning goal came through Cristiano, who got the first with a shot from the six-yard that hit the inner of the woodwork and find the net before Claudio scored from a long-range effort inside the 18-yard box, to end the hopes of Sierra Leone in the match.
Meanwhile, the winner of the tournament will book the sole ticket to play in the 2019 Africa U17 Cup of Nations in Tanzania.
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