Sierra Leone swears in first woman football president amid controversy
Isha Johansen has become the first woman to head Sierra Leone’s football association, and just the third woman in the world to hold such a post. Johansen who stood unopposed at the elections has called for unity in football. About 40 percent of the association’s delegates boycotted the elections after three of the candidates were disqualified. Just 27 of the 47 SLFA members were at the elective congress which was held at the Kingtom Officers Mess in Freetown.
The normalization committee set up by FIFA disqualified Rodney Michael, Foday Turay, and Mohamed Kallon because they failed to meet a 5 year continued residency requirement stipulated in the FAs code. Kallon threw is name into the ballot at the very last minute and could have been a serious contender for the presidency. The decision to bar the candidates just days before the elections came as a shock to the local football community but FIFA says that the normalization committee rightly interpreted its code.
In her acceptance speech Johansen said her win was symbolic and one of which she is very proud. She said she needed everyone’s contribution to change the sport for the better.
“As much as we celebrate I want to use this holy month of Ramadan to appeal to my brothers Mohamed Kallon, Rodney Michael and Foday Turay to join me in developing the game we all so love”
Johansen appealed for peace. The campaign for the presidency had many low points including one that falsely accused Lebanese Sierra Leone Rodney Michael of being a member of a terrorist group.
“It is like a football final where there can only be one winner and I have emerged as that winner,” she said.
“This was not a personality fight but a fight to change the face of Sierra Leonean football and we have all won there is no loser.”
Primo Cavaro Head of Football Associations at FIFA said he was satisfied with the process and commended the Normalization Committee whose mandate has now ended.
He congratulated Johansen on behalf of the FIFA President Sepp Blatter and assured her of their continued support to the Sierra Leone Football Association.
The 48 year-old Chief Executive Officer of Premier League side F.C Johansen has joined Burundi’s Lydia Nsekera to be the two female FAs in the world. No word yet if she will step down as CEO of F.C. Johansen or continue on.
Of the three disqualified candidates of Michael, Kallon and Turay, one says that he will seek legal action.
In a telephone interview lawyer Rodney Micheal confirmed that he will be taking court action to ascertain whether the decision of the Normalization Committee to disqualify him was well interpreted.
Other elected officials include the two Vice Presidents Brima Mazola Kamara, Alie Mohamed Commoner Kargbo, and Ex-Officio Members Alhaji Nasiru-Deen Othman and Alie Badara Tarawallie.
Meanwhile FIFA’s Sepp Blatter has in a letters congratulated Madam Johanssen following her elections.
“Your election gives me the opportunity to welcome you as the second female association President in the FIFA family, and I wish you and your team the best of luck, strength and every success for all the challenges that lie ahead”.Blatter noted.
Also CAF’s President Issa Hayatou in a letter also states that he is on behalf of the CAF Executive Committee and the entire African football family,offer her his warmest congratulations for her election as President of SLFA, providing the perfect avenue to steer national football to new heights.
“CAF is indeed confident that your experience, know-how and leadership will benefit not only Sierra Leonean football but also African football as a whole. We look forward to cement our partnership and exchanges in order to benefit the youth of our beloved continent”. He noted.
By Amadu Lamrana Bah.
Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
© 2013, https:. All rights reserved.
