Football administrators and rival members of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) are calling on protesters to take to the National Stadium on Saturday during the CHAN qualifier against Senegal.
Soccer loving fans are required to dress in black as a mark of protest against the ‘death’ of football in the country.
The decision comes a few days after FIFA in a letter dated 7th July, agreed to postpone the SLFA Ordinary Congress, which had been scheduled for July 14th, 2017, until further notice.
The Congress should pave the way for the election of a president as Johansen’s term expires 3rd August as per the constitution.
According to members release signed by Kasho J Holland – Cole on Wednesday, “The general membership of the FA is calling on all football loving fans to come out in their numbers on Saturday, 15th July 2017 at the Siaka Stevens Stadium in the Cup of African Nations qualifying match between Sierra Leone and Senegal.
“All fans are required to dress in black as a mark of protest and mourning for the ‘death’ of Sierra Leone Football.”
The officials, who perform various membership roles in the running of football in the country, also stated, “The general membership of SLFA expresses dismay at the manner in which the current leadership of the SLFA continues to deprive young Sierra Leoneans of showcasing their talents to realize their dreams in football.
“We are also particularly concerned over events that have in no small measure contributed to stalling football activities across the country as well as bringing the game into disrepute for the past three (3) years.”
Isha Johansen, who was elected president of the SLFA unopposed on 3 August 2013, has been in a squabble with her rivals for almost her first term in office.
But, her executive unfazed as they have said they will go ahead with FIFA’s directives despite the Sports Minister among others have maintained that the SLFA Congress must go on as planned.
Johansen’s rival members further stated: “It has become obvious that the current situation has caused anger and frustration among football fans and the general citizenry.
“There have been far-reaching social implications on the youthful population some of which has been forced to engage in crime and other unproductive activities.
“The absence of a functional local league had also significantly diverted the minds of young and promising Sierra Leoneans especially girls who have either gone into early marriages or have regretfully succumbed to unwanted pregnancies.
“Young souls are crying on a daily basis due to this unprecedented turmoil-depriving them of their right to enjoy a unified football fraternity. Their hopes are now seemingly shattered courtesy of the divisions and hate fuelled by the activities of one individual whose ego and self-centeredness had caused the drastic decline of our beautiful game.
“Let’s all come out and tell the whole world that. Enough is enough”
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