Was Mohamed Kallon disqualified, or he wasn’t actually nominated?

Freetown | 17th February 2021 | Vertex Media

Following the ongoing SLFA Electoral process, Sierra Leone Football legend Mohamed Kallon has continued to cry foul over the process, especially after the close of the nomination process for all aspiring candidates for the various positions in the February 26th & 27th Elective Congress in Makeni City. His continuous protest has gained public sympathy from fans on social media, especially those who believe that the former Leone Stars player has been cheated or disqualified in the process. Many have resorted to engage in smear campaigns against the SLFA and its Officials. But has Kallon been fair to his conscience and the public or he has been economical with the truth surrounding his failed nomination? This has been the question from many seasoned Football administrators who believe that the SLFA has been presented in a bad state to the public by Kallon and others. And in the process, Kallon has swayed the gullible public in believing that he was unfairly discriminated against by members or officials of the FA.

I will endeavour to take the risk and lay it bare as it happened over the past one month regarding Kallon’s failed nomination for the position of President, in the forthcoming SLFA elections.

Football pride itself as one of the major sporting disciplines that pays adherence to rules. Both in and out of the pitch, rules are what guide the beautiful game, and are being interpreted along. Any contravention of any rule may lead to sanctions or punishment or forfeiture of privileges. For instance, in the field of play, a silly tackle on an opponent or an affront approach to the referee may lead to punishment that may cost or affect the performance of an entire team. This tells you that it’s not just about playing game, but it’s also about discipline and adherence to rules that governed the game.

Having played both amateur and professional football at home and abroad, one can simply conclude that Kallon is au fait with rules and disciplines which guided his entire footballing career to success.

Similarly, Football administration is guided and governed by rules. These rules include those created by member Associations (like SLFA), CAF, FIFA and other Football organisations or bodies. There is an existing SLFA Statutes, and other codes and independent bodies put forth and approved by members of the SLFA in previous Congresses. Therefore, these rules remained applicable and binding on all. They cannot be compromised to suit just one member or individual.

Who are members of SLFA? Article 10 of the SLFA Statutes defines who the SLFA members are. They include the Premier League clubs, District Associations, Regional Associations, National Football Referees Association, National Football Veterans (Heroes) Association and Coaches Association. No single individual or natural person is a member of the FA. Not even the SLFA President or the General Secretary are members of the FA. They are merely Officials of the FA, who have no voting rights in Congress.

Therefore, major decisions of the SLFA like election of officials, approval of budget, etc., are made by the members of SLFA. And every decisions made by its members are binding on all.

The question of whether Mohamed Kallon was nominated was answered by the Chairman of the Electoral Appeals Committee Lawyer Lansana Kotor Kamara in Parliament, when the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Sports invited the SLFA Officials, Electoral Committee, Appeals Committee, Ethics Committee and other stakeholders for clarifications on the issues raised over the electoral process. Kotor Kamara told Parliament that during the review of the appeals submitted by Mohamed Kallon and Kasho J. Holland-Cole, they found out that the Western Area Urban District that was supposed to nominate Kallon was not regularised by the close of nomination on January 8th 2021, same was the case for Mighty Blackpool Football Club, and therefore their nominations couldn’t go through as provided for in Article 10 (3) of the SLFA Statutes. Kallon also told the Appeals Committee that he was also nominated by Football Veterans or Heroes who were fully regularised. During the Committee’s decisions in determining whether Kallon’s nomination should stand, 2 voted against while 1 (the chairman) voted in favour, relying on Kallon’s submission that he was nominated by Heroes who were regularised by the close of nominations. Had Kallon been actually nominated Heroes, his nomination would have gone through according to Article 25 (3) of the SLFA Statutes. But on investigations, the SLFA Secretariat informed the Appeals Committee that “there was no nomination by Heroes made for and on behalf of Mohamed Kallon.”

The Appeals Committee therefore invited the executive members of National Football Veterans or Heroes to clarify. The executive led by Arjina and Tostao told the Committee that they were unable to nominate Kallon due late submission on the closing date, and couldn’t fill the form nor leave the nomination package at the Secretariat, even when they were given an opportunity to do so. The Appeals Committee was left with no option but to uphold the Electoral Committee’s decision to rule Kallon out of the process.

One would wonder how they were able to submit other nominations before the close of nominations, but not so for Kallon’s nomination.

In a nutshell, there was no nomination made or submitted for Mohamed Kallon, which the public was deceived that it was made. Parliament was left with no option but to give a greenlight to the Electoral Committee to continue with the process, as they have not contravened any of the provisions of the SLFA Statutes and the Electoral Codes. Other members also stated that the SLFA Secretariat fully and regularly conveyed information relating to the nomination process and timeline. However, a total of 17 nominations were successfully made by the close of nominations.

From this backdrop, it is clear it was all Kallon’s fault in failing to get a regularised member to nominate him for the position he seek to be elected, if he really meant to contest. As it is now, his protests have unfairly smeared the image of the FA, and have created a negative public perception against the SLFA.

Ibrahim Sorious Samura