February 24, 2016 By Sahr Morris Jr.
Chief Prison Officer Elizabeth French and the embattled President of Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Madam Isha Johansen have been appointed by the Africa football governing body, CAF, as match commissioners for 2016-2018.
This is the first time the duo have been chosen as female match commissioners and they are among 34 women approved by the CAF Executive Committee on 5 February in Kigali, Rwanda.
French, who is also a retired football referee, said she was pleased with her appointment especially being part of history makers in the country’s football.
“I’m very much happy to be part of this history and I want to assure all Sierra Leoneans that this is a very good beginning for Sierra Leone. I will do my best to make our womenfolk and the people of Sierra Leone proud and try to raise the country’s image wherever I go,” she said.
The other two match officials who were also appointed as commissioners, following recommendation from the SLFA secretariat, are SLFA Vice President 1, Brima Mazola Kamara, and SLFA Ex-Offico member, Alie Badara Tarawallie.
In a statement released by the SLFA media team, General Secretary Chris Kamara thanked the out-gone commissioners for their devoted work and wished the new commissioners success in their new assignment.
He said: “We would like to take the opportunity to thank all the outgoing commissioners for their cooperation and devoting work and at the same time we would like to wish the new commissioners all the success in their new missions”.
It is understood that CAF will later this year organize regional seminars for all CAF match commissioners to ensure compliance with various competitions regulations, compliance with the Competition Management System (CMS), as well as consistent reporting.