FIFA: No SLFA election until integrity checks

by FSL News | 4 Aug, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone

World football body FIFA has insisted that it will continue to recognise the outgoing Sierra Leone FA executive until integrity checks are done for all potential candidates including the incumbent head Isha Johansen.

This information was exclusively disclosed to Football Sierra Leone today following an enquiry into the protracted impasse.

The FIFA position comes on the same day that the rival faction seeking to oust Johansen from power issued their proposal on the way forward at a news conference in Freetown.

In their proposal, the faction of football administrators wants regional heads of the current FA to steer the body until the election.

They also recommended that this interim set up will work with the FIFA’s task force.

From all indication, it is clear that FIFA is not buying the idea.

Isha Johansen’s four-year term expired on Thursday, August 3, 2017.

Her complicated reign has been tempestuous with a power struggle that has affected the game locally.

Today a FIFA spokesperson responding to FSL reiterated that: “FIFA is still involved in the process and FIFA is still striving to help to find the best possible solution.

Fifa added, “We reaffirm our position for the need for integrity checks before the SLFA can proceed with its General Assembly.

“All current and potential SLFA members of the SLFA Executive Committee, including the President, must undergo integrity checks in line with the FIFA statutes and the FIFA Government Regulations.

“Until these integrity checks are done, we have no alternative but to continue with the current leadership and management of the SLFA in preparation of the General Assembly. Once all these requirements have been clarified, SLFA executive will be nominated.

The issue of the integrity checks is a major factor in the process to the next SLFA’s congress.

Johansen has recently made a serious allegation against the country’s sports minister purporting in a statement that he does not favour the integrity checks.

But the Minister and his deputy fired back with a strong and firm response by accusing Mrs Johansen of killing football and distorting the truth.

Meanwhile, rival members meeting today are calling for an emergency extraordinary congress next week.

“The (current executives) mandate has expired and has no legal authority to represent the FA in any capacity, and under any circumstances within or outside Sierra Leone for any International event.

“The mandate of the four Regional Executives are valid and as such are recognised as Executive members to work alongside the FIFA appointed Moral Guarantor or his representatives to assume the reign of office and to convene an emergency extraordinary congress within a one week from today.”

They added, “The membership would expert FIFA, CAF the Sports Council and all official partners to appreciate and accept our mandate and decision as it is in the interest of the nation.

“We hereby request the Sports Council and Security Forces to facilitate the smooth taking over of the official activities of the FA by the four Regional Chairmen and the FIFA appointed moral guarantor or his representative, and for the officials whose mandate have expired to be warned not to assume anymore official responsibility hence forth,” members noted.

Follow the writer @bittar32 Contact: bi****@*********************ne.net

John Keister, 2 others suspended indefinitely over mystery audio

by FSL News | 3 Aug, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone

John Keister and two others have been suspended by the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), ‘Indefinitely’ after a leaked audio recording emerged a few weeks ago.

In the recording, voices purported to allegedly be that of the Leone Stars suspended coach Keister, Prince Tamba Moses- Technical Officer and Alusine Kabba- Logistics Officer all three but mainly Keister and Kabba expressing their dismay over the FA boss.

Keister’s reign in charge of Sierra Leone has been halted despite guiding Leone Stars to a 2-1 home victory over Kenya in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations first leg qualifying tie in Freetown June 10.

He lost his first international friendly against Liberia Lone Stars in Liberia ahead of the Afcon qualifier opener.

The FA has issued a statement today amid series of controversies surrounding what happens next as the Isha Johansen’s mandate expire today August 3, 2017.

The FA stating that, “Following the recent audio making the rounds in which some officials of the Sierra Leone Football Association attempted to bring the name of the SLFA into disrepute, the management of the Football Association has given an Indefinite Suspension to the services, as employees, of the individuals who were found engaged in the malicious discussions in the said audio.

“The suspended officials are John Keister- Head Coach Leone Stars, Prince Tamba Moses- Technical Officer and Alusine Kabba- Logistics Officer.

“These officials were found guilty of gross misconduct by bringing the name of the institution into disrepute and the action against them by management is in accordance with Art. 26 of Sierra Football Association’s Conditions of Service.

“The SLFA management will subsequently inform the suspended officials with regards development on their employment status.”

The Manchester-born, Keister, started his career at Tigres in 1992 before moving to England in 1993.

Prior to his suspension Keister, who was appointed as the new technical head of Leone Stars in May replacing Sellas Tetteh was forced to apologise over the said leaked audio.

He stated in his apology, “On 12th July 2017, an audio clip in which I spoke on some issues was widely circulated and went viral, globally.

“I am very sorry with apologies and will like to categorically state that, the discussion was entirely private and meant for just four of us, who were in my vehicle which was in motion.

“It was not deliberate and never intended to smear, defamed; castigate anybody’s hard won reputation or character. It was either premeditated or had any semblance of conspiracy against anybody or an organisation, agency or country.”

“I must express my utter disappointment and frustration over the recording of my discussion without my approved consent,” Keister regretfully stated

The former Sierra Leone international has played for Walsall, Chester City, Shrewsbury Town, Stevenage Borough, Margate and Dover Athletic where he was captain before returning to previous club Margate on a free transfer in September 2009.

Contact the writer bi****@*********************ne.net @bittar32 – @football_sierra