The consular officer of the British High Commission has plunged a knife deep down the preparation of Leone Stars proposed trip to London, as they denied visas to the entire contingent.
Only two of the ten players were issued with entry visas as well as one of the nine officials.
The players who were issued with visas are Kemokai Kallon and Abu Deen Sesay aka ‘Lokus’, while the only official is team manager Ibrahim Mansaray.
The other officials who were denied entry into the United Kingdom are journalists Abdul Rahman Swarray of Radio Kalleone, the Sierra Leone Football Association’s public relations officer Chernor Ojuku Sesay and New Citizen’s sports editor, Junior Koroma.
Among the officials who were turned loose included James Fofanah, who was Nahim Kadi’s campaign manager, coaches Jebboh Sherrington, Joseph Toby, Pa Woodie Conteh the chairman of female football, SLFA’s administrative officer Abubakarr ‘Sweet Kay’ Kabbah.
Sources within the British High Commission confirmed to Awoko that the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) applied for the visas without going through the normal governmental procedure of involving the ministry of youth and sports and even the Foreign Affairs ministry.
These lapses on the part of the SLFA which was keeping all arrangement close to its chest without notifying the ministry of youth and sports, the source stated, raised some eyebrows.
Former Leone Stars’ striker Leroy Rosenior, who had a single cap for Sierra Leone, has been appointed to be in charge of the team when it plays Leyton Orient next Monday at Brisbane Road.
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