April 7, 2016 By Sahr Morris Jr.
The Western Area Football Association (WAFA) has officially notified its members that May 7-8 are the official dates set for their much awaited ordinary congress.
In a letter dated April 6 and signed by its Secretary General, Kasho J. Holland-Cole, the WAFA membership was informed that the said congress would be held at the Western Area Rural District Council Hall, Old Road, Waterloo.
The congress notification letter reads: “Notice is hereby giving that the Western Area Football Association (WAFA) will be holding its annual Ordinary Congress on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th May 2016 instant at Western Area Rural District Council Hall, Old Road-Waterloo.
“The agenda and all other relevant documents will be forwarded to you in due course. ‘For the good of the game we anticipate your full participation.”
It could be recalled that the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), in a press release, January this year reminded the WAFA secretariat about their elective congress, among several other related obligations.
The SLFA press release, which was issued on 14 January, stated that the tenure of the current WAFA executive had expired since December 2015, and that they were yet to be informed by WAFA of any plans for the next elective congress.
The release then reads: “The tenure of the current WAFA executive had expired since December 2015 and SLFA has not been informed of any plans to convene an elective congress to elect WAFA officials that will manage the affairs of the association for the next four years.
“The SLFA [sees] this as a profane development and bad precedent set in football governance at regional level.”
However, WAFA acting secretary-general, Kasho J. Holland-Cole, reacted to the said release by insisting it was a clear demonstration that both the SLFA general secretary, Chris Kamara, and president, Isha Johansen, were “ill-minded”.
He said: “This is a clear demonstration that both Chris Kamara and his boss are mad. How can you write a letter to the acting general secretary of WAFA after you have banned him from all football activities for life?”
However, ahead of the May congress, the WAFA Secretary-general has now informed the SLFA of the said date for the congress.