SLFA Congress deferred

By Abubakarr Kamara

SLFA prexy Nahim Khadi, WAFA Chairman Awoko and Zozo

The much anticipated Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) elective congress originally slated for June 28 has been officially defered to Friday 18^th and Saturday 19^th July 2008.

This was disclosed by the Western Area Football Assocation (WAFA) Chairman, Alhaji Unisa Alim ‘Awoko’ Sesay in a press conference at the SLFA Secretariat, Battery Street, Kingtom, Freetown.

Addressing the press, Awoko disclosed that he had been mandated by the SLFA executive, of which he is a member, to deliver a statement geared towards acquainting the public about a resolution taken by the Executive on the pending Congress.

“Due to circumstances beyond our control, the said Congress has been postponed to Friday 18^th and Saturday 19^th July 2008 at the Miatta Conference Hall, Brookfields in Freetown. The executive deeply regrets any inconvenience which this change will cause to delegates and the aspiring candidates. The Executive is mindful of the fact that the Congress is a statutory meeting in respect of the provision of Article 26 of the SLFA statutes adopted on the 28^th May 2006,” announced the WAFA Chairman.

Awoko further stated that it is incumbent on the Exeutive by virtue of Article 27 to circularize and lay before Congress certain documents for discussion and approval including the audited accounts. He noted that unfortunately and regrettably those documents were not ready due to the fact that the executive has been taken aback by events, notably the participation of the senior national football team in the FIFA World Cup and CAF 2010 qualifying series durng the last one month.

He said another problem was the pressure of work on the SLFA Auditors during this time of the year.

“We want to appeal to our members, partners and affiliates through the media to show undertstanding and be patient till the next few weeks when these documents would have been ready, circularized and eventually tabled before Congress for discussion and approval,” pleaded Awoko.

The WAFA Chairman further expressed his Executive’s excitement about the forthcoming Congress. He said the Executive would be very much delighted to have the opportunity to appraise, evaluate and strategize, and account for their stewardship to their members.

“Certainly this can only be done within the right atmosphere when the information and other documents were tabled before Congress for delegates to be able to reach an enlighted decision,” Awoko concluded.

However, when aspiring Vice President from the Dream Team camp, Rodney Michael, was contacted, he said they have not been officially notified but maintained that he heard about the postponement through the media. He said the excuse given was not tangible and added that they were waiting for the Ministry’s reaction before taking their next step.