Rodney Edmond Michael who recently declared his intention for the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) presidency has said the mandate of Isha Johansen’s presidency and her executive has expired and they must no longer continue to assume the legitimacy to lead the association. “They are on borrowed time…and it has extended for far too long, and it is no longer acceptable. It must end now!” he protested.
Michael said the membership has been very patient and tolerant in protesting against all the vices and maladministration of “this inefficient executive and the disrespectful management of the secretariat.”
“As the saying goes ‘too much of one thing is good for nothing’ and the membership has spoken…they have today endorsed my candidacy and we are ready to take over the FA and restore sanity and respectability, and the integrity of the association. We are not desperate for power, but we are desperate to restore constitutionality and legitimacy and to end this dictatorship. SLFA is not a family inheritance nor is it any individual’s private property.”
Under his leadership, Rodney Michael said they will amend the statutes and remove the delegate status from organisations that should be respected for their independence, and as such “the Heroes Foundation, the referees, and coaches association will have their delegate status replaced with permanent executive positions to be determined solely by their members. They will no longer be taken advantage of or compromised in exchange for votes.”
The SLFA presidential hopeful said other female members of the association, “ignored and considered inferior,” will also enjoy a permanent executive position, and are encouraged to administer their leagues and development. “They will enjoy relative autonomy and appreciable funding. Female football for female administrators, and where possible, female coaches and female match officials,” he assured.
“Regions and district associations will be funded and empowered to supervise and develop a youth policy, and also to be responsible for the implementation of youth leagues from primary right through to secondary school level. “They will supervise all regional and district leagues, and every chiefdom will be assigned a qualified Class ‘C’ coach to support the youth development project. No longer will regions and districts be a silent partner in the growth of the game, but rather will be delegated a major responsibility to manage the entire development within their localities.”