Liberiansoccer.com reporter Roland Mulbah Under Attack

   Award winning Journalist , Roland Mulbah won the LFA best journalist for 2009
 

By Toyuwa Harris
Webmaster@liberiansoccer.com

Liberiansoccer.com Sr Beat Reporter, Roland Mulbah is under attack for reporting about an offering of a “US$1.5 FIFA goal project contract” embattled LFA president Musa Bility to his to his son Sidiki for the construction of a technical center outside Monrovia. Bility requested a retraction or seek the path of the law after his deadline of three days. The Inquirer Newspaper, one of Liberia’s leading dailies that also published the story initially, did apologize and admitted its reporter had no evidence whatsoever

See the Letter here

Roland Mulbah  reported that a “pre funding letter “ was sent from the LFA with Bility's signature to his son Sidiki , stating that it was the consensus of the LFA Executive Committee to Grant The firm Sidiki heads, Srimex, the opportunity to provide the LFA the Pre financial package. The letter falls short about the terms of the deal.

According to Henry Flomo the LFA Public Relations Officer, The Liberia football association through its president Musa Bility has reiterated it will use the court to clear its name on reports of corruption involving the president and his son, Sidiki.

Flomo continued “However, the progenitor of the purported story, Roland Mulbah of the (Kickoff and Complete Sports newspapers, as well as Liberiansoccer.com), did not just rebel the LFA President’s demand but went further to publish a crooked letter to rather support his claims “ according to Flomo’s post on the LFA’s Facebook page.

Flomo Further noted “ The LFA maintains there is no contract, thus it cannot be offered to the son of the LFA president or someone else. Besides, the LFA says, if there is a deal, it cannot be consummated with a company as Srimex since the company, owned by Bility with his son Sidiki as vice president, is primarily into petroleum deal.

What Flomo or the LFA Public Relations office failed to understand however is that the letter produced by Mulbah is not saying this was a construction deal but a Pre financing deal. Any person or Company with funds can provide funding for interest in return. The fact that the company is not a construction company is not a factor in this issue and such indication cannot hold water.

The LFA Public Relations Man explained “Also, there is no case in point where FIFA has given up to US$1.5m for a goal project. And, lastly, the technical center in question stay remains an idea."

The LFA Public Relations team needs to also understand that the concept of a pre-Financing deal is a future investment instrument. It allows firms or Organizations to fund a project while sourcing funding. The funding from FiFA is not here but expected. Based on the future expectations, a loan (Pre financing) can be obtained to expedite the project.

The LFA says it is treating the damaging story beyond defamation and pressing charges for criminal offense to both the LFA and the Bility family.

Liberiansoccer.com contacted G. Andy Quamie, Chairman of the Premier League Board about this issue and the legal ramifications. Mr Quamie said “Musa Bility gave enough time for those reporting the story to retract, but Roland stood by his story, only Webster Cassell (The Inquirer Newspaper) apologized, and today as it stands, we have seen a letter Musa said was created by his detractors to bring his family into question.

When LiberianSoccer.com asked the Chairman of the Premier League Board if legal means is necessary he replied “It will be nice where the court decide as to who is telling the truth. The document in Roland Mulbah's possession looks good, but how was it obtained?, who produced it? When was it drafted? Musa Bility claimed that there is no document of such at the Liberia Football Association; Executive Committee did not award any contract, so where is this document coming from? In Order to prove that this document is reliable, let the court decide".

Quamie emphatically stated “ To compromise will taint the credibility of both parties. If Musa Bility fails to take Roland Mulbah to court I , G. Andy Quamie, Chairman of the Premier League Board will be the first to ask him to resign as president. Musa Bility must be vindicated by a competent court or face being axed by stakeholders. If football must develop, we all must make the sacrifice, criticize constructively, and suggest the way forward. Criticism without showing the way forward is destructive, weak, and malicious.

Liberiansoccer.com also quarried Quamie about the LFA league and the State of affairs of the LFA, he responded “ Though there are problems, challenges, and situations, with league games, fixtures, the way communications are handled at the LFA, the Musa Bility administration has tried to keep Liberian football above the waters, all of our National teams were engaged in competitions without resources from the government, minimum sponsorship from cellcom, no extra income, but yet was able to hire two foreign coaches in succession, Bertalan Bicskei, and Roberto landi. Musa Bility did that commercialization which was squarely him, it was to be introduced, and everyone worked together to see it happen. He has done well. to move football forward, we all need to help.”

Roland Mulbah stands by his story as he is the best investigative sports reporter in Liberia. He was banned from LFA games by the Sombo Izetta Wesley administration for breaking news about corruption within the LFA. He has always been credible and as people maintain let the accuser take the accused to court which will decide who is right and who is wrong.

Note : Andy Quamie was the campaign manager for Musa Bility quest for LFA leadership. He is sometimes credited with the one that brought Bility to the LFA.
Liberiansoccer.com did not carry the story about the US$1.5 FIFA goal project contract