Latest: Sierra Leone Premier League to return on April 23rd – clubs have agreed to play on a one round basis

Freetown | 2nd April 2021 | Vertex Media

At a meeting held on the 1st April 2021, at the SLFA Headquarters at Kingtom, Freetown, the Premier League Board and clubs have agreed to commence the 2021 Sierra Leone Premier League (SLPL) on the 23rd April 2021. Among other things discussed, it was agreed the the League will play on a one leg basis for a period of 90 days.

15 out of 18 Premier League clubs were present, including the newly promoted and all regional clubs. Ports Authority F.C, RSLAF F.C and Mighty Blackpool were the absentees.

The following were the issues agreed and timeline of the forthcoming League:

1st April 2021 – The opening date for the Transfer of Players and Registration
15th April 2021 – Closing date of the Transfer of Players
16th April 2021 – Publication of the names of players registered for each clubs
16th to 19th April 2021 – Protests against registered players who are not eligible to be registered by clubs
20th to 21st April 2021 – Players Status Committee will adhere to the protests, if any
22nd April 2021 – Publication of the outcome of the protests from the Players Status Committee
23rd April 2021 – Proposed date for the commencement of the league
That NACOVERC have agreed to allow 30% of spectators to watch the premier league matches at the different venues with adherence to other Covid-19 safety measures
That the league is targeted to play within 90 days.
That the clubs have consented to play a one round league
That Premier Players who played in the just concluded Division One playoffs for different Division One clubs and want to play the Premier League with another club will only play after the approval of the SLFA.
CONTENTION: Majority of the clubs did not agree on the format of getting a league winner, that is, to end the league on a round robin basis, where the final top 4 teams will play a semifinal and the winners will play the finals to get a league winner. This is the same system used in the English second tier League (Championship). The first placed team will play the third placed team, while the second placed team will play the fourth placed team I the Semifinals.
The deadlocked was that the teams said they preferred the team with the highest points to emerge as champions of the league automatically. This issue was adjourned to be discussed later with the SLFA and the outcome will be relayed in a subsequent meeting with the clubs.
The clubs also asked to know the seed money the Premier League Board (PLB)will be giving tothe clubs. But they were assured that something will be done before the League commences. They were also assured of their fair share of any sponsorship that come in.

These are the participating 2021 Premier League clubs: