The Chairman of the Sierra Leone Premier League Board has confirmed that the National Football League would kick-start on the 22nd September 2018 after a four year hiatus

The last competitive football premier league in Sierra Leone was played in 2012 under the leadership of Victor Lewis as Chairman of the Board. The 2014 premier league under the aegis of Madam Isha Johansen ended abruptly in the first round. It was the first and last time the elite competition was organized in her five year tenure.

The last four years of Isha's leadership have been very challenging with  club owners refusing to participate  until she convened congress. 

The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) executive last year appointed one time Vice President of SLFA Joseph Samba Kelfala Chairman of the Sierra Leone Premier league Board, his appointment was marred by controversies stemming from petitions and challenges by almost all premier league clubs; prominent among criticisms was that his appointment was due to party politics.

With the resumption of local leagues now imminent, Joseph Samba Kelfala has confirmed that nothing will stand in the way of the game. He said football supercedes political partisanship which is why the game must be played even amidst tensions and controversies as football also plays a unifying role.

“I came with the determination to run a successful football league in the country" he said. He also noted that if the  eight clubs that have tentatively registered   confirm their participation by Friday 31st August, he would start the league.

Mr Kelfala said he doesn’t want to be dragged into petty football  politics because his work is to ensure that the game plays.

He insisted that the priority of football stakeholders should not be congress alone but the playing of the game.

When asked about how the league would be played in the absence of football committees, the SLPB chairman said that immediately after the registration of clubs, they will set up committees to receive and sit on complaints. 

“There is an  executive in office  and weather congress is convened or not, once we have the mandate, it becomes our responsibility to ensure progress.

He said  president Julius  Madaa Bio is very passionate about football and has given them a directive and no one will hold the game to ransom. 

He said in a meeting held on the 27th August 2018, eight (8) clubs confirmed their participation and submitted details of their clubs and two other clubs, FC Kallon and East End Tigers are set to be added to that number upon completion of the necessary formalities.

"We want our fourteen premier league clubs to participate in the upcoming league but if any one refuses, the league will still go on" he assured.

The committee will be meeting with clubs on Friday 31st  August in Freetown to annouce fixtures that will contain all the fourteen clubs in Sierra Leone.

He officially confirmed that  the premier league will kick start on the 22nd September 2018 to give the clubs sufficient time to prepare. He spoke about available funds from SLFA which will be used as subvention that will certainly be discussed with clubs on possible  disbursements.

He called on government to intervene or facilitate support from the private sector.

He spoke of plans to use  community pitches including  Parade Grounds, Approved School, Attouga and  Makeni stadia for the games. As the national stadium is  undergoing rehabilitation.

By Muctar Koroma