Responding to questions from journalists on Wednesday, the front-runner for the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Presidency in the August 3rd 2013 Elections Rodney Michael said emphatically he would never withdraw from the contest in spite of the racial abuse and accusation of being a ‘gambler’ by the sports minister Paul Kamara, and the hate speech and slanderous statements being peddled by particularly his main opponent Isha Johansen’s supporters and backers.
Rodney Michael said: “I will never withdraw from the SLFA Presidential race until I have exhausted all available avenues/options because I consider this (contesting for the presidency) as a crusade and a sacrifice I have to make for the country I only have and cherish!”
He added that no matter what adventures his detractors might take in the next nine days leading to the said elections, he would not be deterred from contesting.
Asked what will be his next line of action, if he is petitioned and subsequently disqualified from the contest as was the case last year now that the present FIFA set-up Normalization Committee does not make room for an appeal, he cautiously said he was keeping his cards close to his chest, until he reaches that bridge.
He said: “I thank God that not a single member of the general public petitioned me as was required by the SLFA. I only have one petition from my opponent, Isha Johansen.”
To that end, he disclosed he had in his words, “addressed everything to my satisfaction and I am only waiting for the decision of the Normalization Committee.”
Rodney Michael said he hoped the decision will be sooner than later.
On his relationship with Lottery and Sports Betting Company Mercury International (SL) Limited on which it is suspected Isha Johansen’s petition hinges, Michael said his company Nationwide Logistics and Supplies is doing a ‘Management Consultancy Advisory and Marketing’ job for three districts in Sierra Leone.
“It is like any media group or law firm or audit firm doing consultancy for any company which according to law and universally accepted best practices, does not exempt the heads of such companies from contesting for the top post for any of those groups or bodies,” he lamented.
The owner of Edmond Michael Football Foundation comprising of a junior female team and a division one football team, Rodney Michael assured all and sundry he would ‘never use my influence as the SLFA President to promote my teams or allow any undue advantage over the others,’ if voted as the next FA boss.
July 25, 2013
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