July 18, 2016 By Sahr Morris Jr.
The National Sports Council (NSC) has postponed the Western Area Football Association (WAFA) elective congress that was scheduled for last Saturday at the National Stadium Atlantic Hall in Freetown.
Over 30 delegates converged at the congress venue on Saturday before the Director of Sports, Ibrahim Bangura, who was to chair and deliver a statement, officially called-off the congress.
The sports director highlighted several reasons for the decision, amongst them being the integrity test potential candidates should undergo with the country’s football governing body, SLFA, before contesting.
He said: “The disqualification of some candidate which was based on documentation was one other issue we are against and we need to investigate that to ensure nobody is illegally disenfranchised.
“Also SLFA want to do integrity test for contesting candidates and this is in line with their constitution and the world football governing body, FIFA statues so WAFA must respect that.”
Bangura further noted that their decision to call off the congress was in line with Article 8.1 of the NSC Act which gives them power to supervise, regulate, and control all sporting associations in the country.
He also revealed that the rescheduled congress date would be officially made known after their 20th July meeting with the WAFA executive and SLFA.
Several delegates were pleased with the NSC decision and according to the founder and owner of Mount Aureol SLIFA -a first division club – Benjamin Gordon, the decision was good because the election would have been chaotic due to what he described as a ‘messy and selfish’ organisation of the congress.
James Fofonah, who was disqualified for contesting for the position of treasurer, said: “I am happy for the decision by the Sports Council. This is the worst WAFA I have ever seen in my 14 years and counting in football administration,” and accused the WAFA Secretary General of maladministration.
This is not the first time a WAFA congress has been postponed due to tussle within the executive and dispute between the executive and the membership.
In December 2015, another congress was postponed following an advice from several higher authorities within government.