NOC-SLE president reaffirms two-term limit pledge
March 24, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr
NOC-SLE Dr. Patrick Coker
Incumbent President of the National Olympic Committee of Sierra Leone (NOC-SLE), Dr. Patrick Coker, has on Wednesday night re-affirmed his commitment to keep his bargain by serving the sports committee for only two consecutive terms.
Dr. Coker, who is set to be re-elected President on Saturday, March 25, in Bo District, Southern Sierra Leone, has in an exclusive interview with Concord Sports said he stand by his words to only run for two terms as President of the NOC-SLE.
“No, not true! I always said I would not do more than two terms & I stand by that,” said the medical doctor as he dismissed talks that he promised to only run for a single term during the 2013 elections campaign.
With no challenger for the said position ahead of the Saturday polls, Dr. Coker also doubles President of Sierra Leone Handball Association believes the NOC-SLE membership were satisfied with his administration within the past four years.
“He said: “If the membership were not satisfied during your first term, or if there was someone, who thinks he/she can do better, there would have been a challenger.”
“My first term, we were able to achieve a lot in areas of capacity building for coaches, officials and administrators. Good governance and transparency at the NOC-SLE, good cooperation and interaction with association executive, structural changes at the NOC and also the return of all athletes and officials after the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.”
Ahead of his second and final term, the NOC-SLE boss said he would continue with his existing programs, but focused on talents identification, concentrating on star athletes, marketing and local funds sourcing amongst others.
Dr. Coker was elected NOC-SLE president in 2013, when he succeeded, Henry G. Moore, who served the said position for more than two terms of four years each.