by FSL News | 22 Sep, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
The World football body, Fifa has exclusively told footballsierraleone.net that they are “monitoring the situation” concerning the ongoing crisis enveloping Sierra Leone football.
Fifa responding to a request by this website following the indictment of the Sierra Leone Football Association president, Isha Johansen, and the FA’s Sec-Gen Chris Kamara, who were both indicted by Antic Corruption Commission (ACC) on six counts Charges yesterday.
A FIFA spokesperson confirmed that the governing body of the sport has Sierra Leone very close within its sights. “We are currently monitoring the matter. We have no further comment at this stage.”
Fifa did not give any further information; however, the scuffle between the SLFA’s executive and its members has taken a further twist as Johansen’s opponents facing a lifetime banned for violating SLFA and Fifa statutes concerning taking football-related cases to civil courts, according to a press release yesterday.
The sanction came 24 hours after the SLFA’s boss, Isha Johansen, and the FA’s Sec-Gen Chris Kamara were indicted on corruption-related offences.
Both Johansen and Chris Kamara first appearance in court is slated for 30 October 2017.
Johansen’s toughest opponent Sanusi Bruski Kargbo, who had declared his intention to run against Isha Johansen in the next SLFA elections, is amongst 19 officials.
Her complicated reign has been tempestuous with a power struggle that has affected every aspect of the game locally.
Johansen’s first four-year term expired on Thursday, August 3, 2017.
The SLFA scheduled Congress to pave the way for elections was suspended in July by world football body, who cited unsettled issues relating to the dispute between the current SLFA executive and Johansen’s opponents.
Reacting to the latest SLFA’s sanction, “the Chairman of Old Edwardian Football Club, Lawyer Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, maintained the SLFA executive has shown a complete disregard for the Court of Sierra Leone by taking action that will affect or deviate from the court decision.”
“First of all, we’re not sure where this letter is coming from. The said letter purporting to ban 19 officials has no signature from any executive member in authority, no date, no name on it for us to comprehend who authenticate the ban.”
“We’re still unable to verify who sent this release out on the SLFA letterhead. Secondly, the SLFA executive does not have the mandate to ban people for life from football. There is nothing in the constitution giving them such powers.”
“You can’t take a decision to ban anyone at the time of an election. To me, this looks like the final tactics from Isha’s executive for one candidate to go unopposed.”
The outspoken Edwards chairman reiterated that the SLFA constitution doesn’t give anyone the mandate to ban anyone for life. “The Isha Johansen led executive term has expired so taking a crucial decision like this is a joke.”
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 soon.
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by FSL News | 21 Sep, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
The Sierra Leone Football Association president, Isha Johansen, and the FA’s Sec-Gen Chris Kamara have both been indicted by Antic Corruption Commission (ACC) on six counts Charges.
Johansen’s indictment came 48 hours after declaring to run for a Second term ahead of the FA’s much talked about Election.
Her complicated reign has been tempestuous with a power struggle that has affected the game locally.
Johansen’s first four-year term expired on Thursday, August 3, 2017.
She is expected to face charges of abuse of office and public funds by the country’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
In September 2016, Johansen was arrested for questioning under Operation Thunderbolt” which aims to “rout and bring to justice” people alleged to have been involved in corrupt acts and have been under the watch of the anti-graft agency, will be appearing in Court October 30th.
“This announcement by the ACC was inevitable and predictable – I am deeply saddened,” she told BBC Sport.
“It’s another sad day for justice, integrity and patriotism in Sierra Leone, another sad day for any woman who dares to pioneer change.
“I don’t know how my story will end, but nowhere will it be written that Isha Johansen ever gave up.”
Both Johansen and Chris Kamara first appearance in court is slated for 30 October 2017.
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by FSL News | 19 Sep, 2017 | African News
Isha Johansen is to bid for re-election as Sierra Leone’s FA president despite saying she suffered ‘intimidation’ and ‘discrimination’ during her first term.
Africa’s only female FA president took charge in 2013 and her reign has been blighted by controversy, infighting and the Ebola crisis.
“I have decided to run for a second term in office – after careful deliberation,” Johansen told BBC Sport.
“I would like to finish what I started. There is unfinished business.”
“Considering Ebola took away two years and the remaining two years were marred with controversy, infighting, boycotts and all kinds of weird and wonderful antics by those who oppose my leadership, we have still managed to achieve quite a great deal.”
Johansen lists an increase in coaches, both male and female, better playing surfaces and improved national teams among her feats.
The Sierra Leone FA (SLFA) should have held elections on 3 August but these were delayed by Fifa until integrity checks on current and potential SLFA executive members are carried out.
Match-fixing inquiry
Football’s world governing body is due in Freetown next week to pave the way for new elections and address a match-fixing inquiry.
Johansen believes her decision to back the inquiry into whether Sierra Leone’s World Cup qualifier against South Africa in 2008 was fixed has created many of her problems, which include an arrest and a court injunction.
Since 2014, eleven officials and four players have been suspended by the SLFA pending investigation. They have all denied wrongdoing.
“Are the intimidation and harassment because of the match-fixing? Maybe it is because certain people believe I instigated it,” she refuted.
“I believe it would probably not have been so aggressive and antagonistic had the impending match-fixing inquiry been dropped.”
“(But) if it has been alleged that this has been going on, we owe it to the country and world to prove that Sierra Leone is clean of these allegations. If it did indeed happen, then those who are guilty will be brought to book.”
Last year, Johansen spent a night in custody when detained by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) after failing to attend a hearing, whereupon ACC officials and armed police raided the SLFA secretariat.
The ACC said it was investigating the use of funds received by the SLFA, with Johansen later released without charge.
Last month, Sierra Leone’s High Court briefly froze the local FA’s assets after ordering a court injunction which has since been lifted until Fifa’s visit.
The injunction was sought by SLFA rivals who felt Johansen’s mandate had expired after last month’s elections were delayed.
“I expect that after this declaration, there are going to be intensified moves to further intimidate me but these things don’t bother me anymore,” she added.
“I refuse to be intimidated. If you have nothing to hide, why run?”
Fifa recognises the Johansen-led SLFA leadership until elections are conducted.
Earlier this year, Johansen was elected onto the Confederation of African Football’s Executive Committee.
At least, one other candidate – Sanusi Bruski Kargbo, chairman of East End Lions FC, has declared.
By Piers Edwards BBC Sport
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by FSL News | 18 Sep, 2017 | Players Abroad News
Allsvenskan club BK Häcken have announced that Sierra Leone international Alhassan ‘Crespo’ Kamara pictured will undergo a surgery on his knee on Thursday.
The promising striker, who joined the club from Örebro SK in July 2016, is suffering from a patellar tendinitis injury and will continue his lengthy spell on the sidelines.
A club statement read: “Alhassan “Crespo” Kamara’s rehabilitation has unfortunately not given the desired effect and will be operational on Thursday. Physiotherapist Patrik Ghazarian gives us the latest news about the injury.
“He will be operated in Stockholm by a doctor who is specialized in such types of injuries. After that, he will be inactive for a while before we can start with rehab. The goal is to have “Crespo” back ready ahead of the start of the 2018/2019 campaign.
As a result, Kamara could miss Leone Stars away game in Ethiopia in the race to Cameroon in 2019.
He was part of the Sierra Leone side that defeated Kenya 2-1 in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations first leg qualifying tie in Freetown in June.
Prior to his injury, Kamara has scored five goals in twelve Swedish top-flight matches for Häcken.
Sierra Leone will play again in the ongoing 2019 AFCON qualifiers against Ethiopia in March and the doubleheader against Ghana in September 2018.
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by FSL News | 17 Sep, 2017 | African News
Democratic Republic of Congo top-flight side, holders TP Mazembe won their first leg Confederation Cup quarter-final against Al Hilal Obeid 2-1 in Sudan on Saturday.
Ben Malango scored a brace for the defending champions to give them the advantage heading into their home leg next weekend.
Mazembe suffered an early blow after defender Kevin Mondeko scored an own-goal to give the hosts a 23rd-minute lead.
Malongo equalised for Mazembe just seven minutes later, with his winner coming from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute.
In other quarter-final first leg matches, Karim Benarif hit a 19th-minute penalty to give Morocco’s FUS Rabat a slender 1-0 win in their home leg against Tunisians CS Sfaxien.
Algerian side Mouloudia Alger also won their home leg 1-0 on Saturday night against another Tunisian side, Club Africain.
Hichem Nekkache scored the only goal after nine minutes.
On Friday, South Africa’s Supersport United was held to a 0-0 draw at home by Zambia’s Zesco United.
African Confederation Cup quarter-finals first legs
Supersport United 0-0 Zesco United (Friday)
Al Hilal Obeid 1-2 TP Mazembe (Saturday)
FUS Rabat 1-0 CS Sfaxien (Saturday)
Mouloudia Alger 1-0 Club Africain (Saturday)
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Sierra Leone | Highlights -