January 29, 2016 By Sahr Morris Jr.
Kamboi Eagles FC of Kenema on Wednesday confirmed they will not participate in the forthcoming football stakeholders’ Premier League dubbed the ‘Sierra Leone National League’.
The Eagles were amongst 12 other Sierra Leone Premier League clubs scheduled to compete in the said league, which is expected to kick-off on Saturday January 30 at the Siaka Stevens Stadium, but now decided to back-off on the grounds that the competition “is not sanctioned by the Isha Johansen Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) administration”.
Public Relations Officer of Kamboi Eagles, Issmile Sesay, said the club’s chairman, Brima ‘Manzola’ Kamara, has sanctioned the club not to take part in the proposed tournament.
“Our chairman has confirmed that the club won’t participate in the forthcoming National Premier League the stakeholders are organising because it is not a competition sanctioned by the SLFA headed by Madam Isha Johansen,” Sesay said.
The Eagles became the second team to confirm their non-participation after FC Johansen – a team owned by the current SLFA president – announced that they will not participate in any tournament not sanctioned by the Football Association.
Moreover, a press release from the office of the SLFA General Secretary dated 26 January 2016, admonished members of the SLFA to comply with the provisions in the SLFA Statues pursuant to (art) 13 (par) 1a, which calls on members “to comply with the statues, directives, and decisions of FIFA, CAF, WAFU and SLFA at all times and to ensure that these are also respected…”