By Solomon Berewa,
The new developments in Sierra Leone where the government has decided to directly interfere with football matters in not only sad but backward and insincere when a country with nothing , always scrambling and playing the Oliver Twist begging role to countries and investors has the Sports Minister Mohamed Khanou and his assistant yelling to try and intimidate a dedicated woman who comes along and tries to lead SLFA down the right path she is suddenly made automatic enemy of the state.
Minister Khanou and his assistant must take note that the letter FIFA wrote on July 7th 2017 was for the good of football in Sierra Leone because you cant have resolutions being thrown out of the window all the time as a result same problems remain unresolved.
Where on earth should a Minister of Sports resist integrity checks to current, and potential SLFA executive members while trying encourage mafia,money laundering and gambling syndicates to take over football by giving unwarranted statements that only serve the purpose of putting football in Sierra Leone in disrepute.
The same mafia have tried to hard to influence matches in the country by promoting match fixing and when FIFA clearly states that as consequence of the above the Fifa Members Association committee resolved that a task force be created composed of representatives of FIFA, CAF, SLFA and the Ministry of Sports to look into issues in relation to integrity of matches”.
In her letter, the FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura stated firmly that the Member Associations Committee has recommended to provide the SLFA assistance to put in place a process for integrity checks
The final conclusion of the FIFA Member Associations Committee is that under the prevalent circumstances the Ordinary Congress scheduled to take place on the 14th July 2017 be postponed until further notice and that A FIFA and CAF mission will arrive in Sierra Leone to commence the implementation of FIFA’s directives.
The letter by Fifa is what drove Sports minister Khanou mad leading to him releasing unsubstantiated reports that have led to the breach of security for Madam Isha Johansen who has had her family including her husband,son threatened with unspecified actions while the SLFA President’s life is put in danger because of reckless statements from a politician who is abusing his position to create fear and malice while trying to drum up support for drug traffickers who are purporting to be the change Sierra Leone football wants .Its sad to see Minister Khanou and his assistant carrying the “do you know who I am ?attitude to FIFA .
Governments all over Africa must ensure they constantly establish a good working atmosphere with federations which should also reciprocate but this cannot be done through intimidation and blackmail while remembering that Federations have the obligation to do it on their own, in an autonomous way without outside interference, from the government or any other parties.
In general Minister Khanou’s sentiments are direct political interference that should never be encouraged A government has a very important role to play in contributing to the development of football in any country.If there is good relationships between government and SLFA then there will be very productive results The intimidatory statements by the Sierra Leone Sports Minister and his assistant is an attack not just on Isha Johansen as an individual but on football and every Sierra Leonean constitutional right.
The thuggish behaviour must be strongly condemned as it is displayed by populists and defenders of certain empires that are seeking to come and run down football in Sierra leone.The tactic being employed is part of a systematic drive by the corrupt factions to hollow out the football institution that support democracy and ethics.Sierra Leone cannot tolerate attempts by the Sports minister to deny rules and regulations to be followed to the latter.
