Stakeholders owe Tolla Thompson an apology

By Jeremiah Sawyerr

Rodney Michael

Members of the Dream Team headed by Dr Foday Bangsu Bangura have told a packed full National Stadium Presidential Lounge that stakeholders of the football association owe the erstwhile SLFA president, Tolla Thompson, an apology. Members of the Dream Team made this statement last Monday during the launching of the team manifesto for the expected Saturday elective Congress of the football association.

The Dream Team’s Vice Presidential hopeful Two, Rodney Michael, disclosed that the former SLFA president Tolla Thompson is the brain child behind football decentralization in the country. The Bo District Football chairman said stakeholders failed to recognize the gains of Tolla Thompson in football administration throughout Sierra Leone. “This is one of the reasons our country’s football is in a messy situation now.” said Michael.

He said since the inception of the Nahim Khadi led administration there is nothing to write home about for their four years in office.

Michael accused Mr Khadi of being a pathological liar, noting that nobody hated him but Khadi should not be allowed to destroy the game.

The outspoking Rodney Michael said once the Dream Team takes the reins of office they would overhaul football administration in the country. He said the team would ensure that a proper administrative structure is put in place in order to fast track the total decentralization of the game nationwide. He said capacity building of the technical team as well as football administrators would also be at the helm of affairs during their next four years in office.

He promised stakeholders that the Dream Team will run football as a family not as a dictator.

Mohamed Nabie, Vice Presidential hopeful One of the Dream Team, said glory must be given where it belongs. Nabie also hailed Tolla Thompson as the architect behind football decentralization in the country. He said it is unfortunate that Nahim Khadi has claimed such success.

“Mr Khadi should recall that prior to his election victory in 2004, football was being played everywhere in the country. Football was playing in Port Loko and Kabala Districts before he took up office. Why should Khadi claim he decentralized football when currently football is not playing in the two districts,” said Nabie.