by FSL News | 30 Sep, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Fifa Task-force with members of the Sierra Leone Football Association
Football’s world governing body Fifa has redesigned the roadmap to heal the bitter and protracted rift in the game in Sierra Leone after a two-day visit.
The national premiership league has not been played in the country for three years under the executive of Africa’s only woman FA head Isha Johansen. Her leadership was disputed by rival members and a power struggle ensued since 2014.
The power struggle over the running of football in Sierra Leone worsened after the FA’s Congress in Makeni was postponed unexpectedly in 2015.
After nearly a year of the new Fifa’s intervention, a mediation team from the world body has made several recommendations to help resolve the ongoing impasse after concluding its findings on Friday.
In a communique issued by the task force, which comprised of the Minister of Sports Ahmed Khanou, the Chairman Taskforce Musa Bility, SLFA’s representative Drucil Taylor and Fifa Director of member Associations Veron Mosengo-Omba, the following points were agreed upon:
- The SLFA should adopt the FIFA code of ethics, with FIFA supporting this process.
- The members of the judicial bodies elected on the 23rd March 2017 should undergo integrity checks conducted by FIFA as defined by FIFA Ethics Committee.
- An extraordinary congress to be held with two items to be discussed on the agenda (A) to adopt the new SLFA Code of Ethics (Based on FIFA code of Ethics), (B) to revise the SLFA statutes and include integrity checks requirements for potential candidates.
- • Following the Extraordinary Congress, the SLFA shall organise Ordinary Congress in order to select their Electoral Board in preparation for the SLFA elections and to present any relevant statutory reports.
- • The Match-Fixing Commission should hand over to FIFA all files and evidence linked to match-fixing in Sierra Leone football. Fifa will then decide how to proceed.
- • The government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Sports undertakes to enforce its ban on betting on local football matches and to support any sanctions that may be taken by FIFA and SLFA against those who are found guilty of match-fixing.
- • The government through the Minister of sports will ensure the smooth and uninterrupted operations of the SLFA.
The Task-force also after further deliberation with concern stakeholders in Sierra Leone Football, recommends that the FIFA member Association Committee should, establish without delay the timeframe for the following activities.
- A review of the SLFA statutes and the implementation of the Code of Ethics.
• The date by which the SLFA Extraordinary Congress should be held.
• The date of the new SLFA Ordinary Congress and the date of the Elective Congress.
- Instruct the FIFA General Secretariat to be at the disposal of the FIFA’s Task Force so that the proposed solutions (such as the revision of the SLFA statutes and the integrity checks) can be implemented.
- Mandate the FIFA Member Association Division and the competent FIFA departments to propose immediately how the SLFA’s match-fixing inquiry can be completed.
- instruct the FIFA general Secretary to accompany and support the Sierra Leone Football Association and Sierra Leone towards the achievement of all the above-mentioned proposals.
As Fifa has earlier indicated, Johansen, who is due in court 30 October to face corruption charges is expected to remain in office until the election of a new president.
However, her status to run as the incumbent is now questionable after the recent charges by the country’s anti-corruption bureau, who also called for her and the FA’s secretary-general to step down immediately.
She is a member of the Caf executive committee and holds positions in other committees of the African body and Fifa.
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by FSL News | 27 Sep, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
The Sierra Leone Football Association president, Isha Johansen, and her secretary-general Chris Kamara have both been ordered by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to step aside following their charges of abuse of office and public funds.
The ACC announced on the 21 September that Isha Johansen and Chris Kamara will be appearing in court on the 30 October on six counts Charges.
Ministry of Sports and National Sports Council (NSC), under orders from the ACC, in a meeting on Tuesday that was attended by the SLFA’s vice president, Brima Mazola Kamara and Western Area Chairman Foday Turay at the Ministry Conference room in Freetown, has advised the SLFA asking them to replace Isha Johansen and Chris Kamara.
According to a letter dated 25th September 2017, signed by ACC boss Ady Macauley, seen by Football Sierra Leone, following the ACC’s announcement, both now stand indicted before the High Court of Sierra Leone, they must step aside until acquitted or the proceedings against them discontinued.
The Anti-Corruption Act, No 12 of 2008 makes comprehensive provision for the process that must be adopted once a public figure has been indicted or charge.
According to the Anti-Corruption statutes, any public officer charged with a corruption offence must be suspended from the date of the charge until he is either acquitted or the proceedings against him are discontinued.
Johansen’s first four-year term expired on Thursday, August 3, 2017.
The scuffle is ongoing and it is uncertain what the next FIFA roadmap will be, but a FIFA/Caf task force is expected in Freetown on Wednesday headed by Liberian FA President Musa Bility.
In July, Fifa suspended the scheduled SLFA annual congress that should have to pave the way for elections, FIFA cited unresolved issues relating to the dispute between the current SLFA executive and Johansen’s opponents.
Meanwhile, the SLFA banned 19 officials from football activities for life has been officially communicated to the World football body by the Secretary-General Chris Kamara.
Kamara’s correspondent was sent to Fifa’s Veron Mosengo-Omba Director, Member Association.
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by FSL News | 25 Sep, 2017 | Players Abroad News
Former Old Edwardian and Sierra Fisheries winger and attacking midfielder, Morlai B Kamara alias Tboy, is bidding to excel as a coach with Lambeth Tigers junior side.
Kamara, a well-known player in the mid-90’s when he was the skipper of Sierra Fisheries football club.
Though he left Sierra Leone in 2000, Tboy Kamara has always tried to offer his expertise to upcoming players in his capacity as a coach.
The former Sierra Fisheries player was always determined that football would remain a daily part of his life.
Kamara, who guided his side to their first victory defeating Wolves (London) 3-2 on Sunday at Ark Academy, Bridge Road, Wembley said he was pleased with his start.
“I was very pleased with the win, am excited and ready to work, hopefully, will take these boys to a higher height, Kamara passionately told footballsierraleone.net.
“I have decided that after I have spent enough time learning about the game and is time to make a new start and get 100% involved again.”
“My aims and objective are working with the youngsters trying to empowering myself more in football education and sports science.”
“Football is a very broad subject in modern days so the more you learn the more you know and it’s all down to your focus and dedication.”
Kamara, who is passionate about coaching, has his own personal development team called AREA BEST SOCCER DEVELOPMENT age group 10-14s majority, 90% of his players are from Sierra Leonean background and some of the kids play for pro academy clubs.
He added, “I’m dedicated and want to help more young players improve their game and hopefully get some more talented players progressing under my knowledge.”
Lambeth Tigers have already started a new and exciting challenge after it’s Under 14, Under 15 and Under 16 teams accepted into the London Youth Premier League this season.
The league is designed to be a stepping stone between grassroots football and professional academies with pro clubs like Crystal Palace, Cambridge United and Barnet all fielding teams in the league.
Kamara’s Coaching qualification.
England FA level 2 coach
Youth development level 3
Talents ID level 2
CPD Continual Professional Development in Learning and Coaching.
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by FSL News | 24 Sep, 2017 | Players Abroad News
Sierra Leone international and New England Revolution forward, Kei Kamara, scored his 12th goal of the season, a dramatic match-winning in the Revs’ 2-1 victory over Toronto FC on Saturday, September 23, at Gillette Stadium.
Lee Nguyen had given the home side the lead in the 82′ min but his opener was cancelled by Toronto’s Nicolas Hasler, before Major League veteran striker Kei Kamara scored late on to denied Toronto FC an opportunity to clinch the Supporters’ Shield on Saturday.
Kamara scored the match winner in the 87th minute with a brilliant header off Nguyen’s cross to register his 103 regular season and playoff goals of his MLS career.
The Sierra Leone native is two-goal adrift of becoming the 10th player in MLS league history reach 100 in a regular season.
The winner was his eight since the beginning of July, tied for fourth most among all MLS players in that span.
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by FSL News | 23 Sep, 2017 | Players Abroad News
AFC Eskilstuna striker Mahomed Buya Turay was delighted with their 3-2 away victory at the Behrn Arena, Örebro.
The Sierra Leone international, who registered his eighth goal of the season, gave his struggling Allsvenskan AFC Eskilstuna the lead in the opening 7’min on Thursday.
Turay is joint fourth in the Swedish top-flight top scoring chart.
And the 22-year-old felt that it is possible they can escape relegation if they can win all their remaining six games.
“I’m just trying to do the best for my club by scoring as many goals as possible,” he told FSL website.
“We’re in a very bad situation, but as a team we all working towards staying in this league.
“It’s going to be difficult with six games to go, but we can avoid relegation if we can win all our remaining games and other results go our way.
“We are playing again on Monday against IFK Goteborg and am looking forward to helping the team as much as possible.”
The victory was their third of the season and their next outing is a tough home task hosting Gothenburg-based IFK.
AFC Eskilstuna are still bottom of the standings with six games to the end.
(Photo: Turay of Athletic FC Eskilstuna scores the opening goal during the Allsvenskan match between Orebro SK at Behrn Arena on September 21, 2017, in Orebro, Sweden)
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