Liberian Football Association (LFA) goes to polls Saturday to elect a new president to replace Musa Bility who stepped down two months to the end of his second term amidst corruption allegations.
Three out of four aspirants were cleared by the LFA electoral body to go for the top seat.
They include the current vice president Musa Shannon, the ruling CDC Party campaign manager George Solo, and long serving football administrator Mustapha Raji.
Both Shannon and Solo are ex-Lone Star internationals, while Raji is the chairman of the country’s league and domestic cup champions Liscre FC.
Executive Committee member madam Rochelle Woodson was locked out of the race by the Ethics Committee.
Woodson was deemed unfit to contest after she wrote several letters to FIFA seeking to stop the process which she holds is not credible.
FIFA only wrote back with an advisory that LFA should send in a report about the electoral process.
She has since filled a case at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CS).
Raji, who is campaigning on the platform of change, has had to fight allegations that he is not a Liberian and therefore is not eligible to contest.
He put the records straight before the vetting panel, “Despite the fact that my grandparents came from Nigeria, I was born here (Liberia) and I have worked here for over 30 years.”
“I have proven myself to the youths and the kids around Liberia and I don’t need to blow my trumpet. We need positive change to drive along with the President (George Weah) initiative of rebranding Liberia,” Raji offered during a debate organized for the contestants Thursday night.
Shannon pledged to bring professionalism into the game if elected.
“Under Bility we have brought commercialization into Liberian football now I am taking over from Bility as I will bring professionalism into the game if I am chosen.”
He promised to accept the outcome of the elections.
On his part Solo is banking on his exploits on the field during his heydays to propel him to the top seat.
“My name is a household name in Liberia football; the meritorious work I did on the pitch is the same I will do administratively.”
The government of President George Weah is not backing any particular candidate in the elections and will continue to remain neutral.
According to Deputy Sports Minister Andy Quamie, who is a CAF match commissioner and the former LFA spokesperson, the government’s role remains strictly advisory.
“We want to use sports to rebrand our country and football is one of them,” Andy added.
