Referees' Boss Under Attack

By Julu M. Johnson, Jr.

Idrissa Kaba, the Chairman of the Referees Standing Committee of the Liberia Football Association (LFA), has come under attack for allegedly running the committee unilaterally.

The allegations by the Secretary of the Committee speak of Mr. Kaba not being able to call an acquaintance meeting since April of 2006 until complaints were filed to LFA President S. Izetta Wesley.

"Thereafter, he called a meeting in June but the agenda from him was not exhausted. In September, we met to discuss the Cooper Test and other issues but again the agenda was still not exhausted."

After the Cooper Test, Mr. Forkpa said report was made to Mr. Kaba for onward submission to the LFA Executive Committee.

"We were informed he did not sign the report though the draft was read to him by names and he accepted same.
"When he met the LFA Executive Committee, they discussed the referees' list but up to date, he has not called us to what was discussed even though he was given certain instructions," Mr. Forkpa added.

He further accused Mr. Kaba of defying the LFA Statutes and challenging the authority of the Executive Committee by refusing to work with other committee members for "reasons best known to him".

Mr. Forkpa declared: "How can a naturalized Guinean be given an opportunity, which is not his right, and refuse to work with Liberians?

"I know this situation can never happen in Guinea for a Liberian to naturalize there and refuse to work with Guineans.

"This is someone who is using an office built by another but has denied the person the right to dedicate the place."

He claimed that Mr. Kaba has denied the rest of the Committee members the opportunity of discussing referees' assignments and refusing to give them copies of assignments.

"Whenever he is approached on these matters, he promises cooperation with other members but always fails to live up to the promises," Mr. Forkpa also alleged.
Meanwhile, the Co-Chairman of the Committee, Atty. Sylvester D. Rennie has similarly accused Mr. Kaba of unilaterally running the Committee.

In a written communication to Mr. Kaba, dated January 2, 2006 (and copy served this paper), Atty. Rennie, among other issues, alleged that the former has refused to allow other members of the Committee to partake in the selection of referees in the recent Ministerial League and the ongoing National County Meet.

"As Co-Chairman of the Committee, I see your action as an attempt to make the other members of said Committee to appear ineffective and inefficient, thereby placing their credibility in question. Be also reminded that the appropriate recourse will be taken in conformity with the LFA Statutes so as to compel compliance.

"While I remain open, willing and available to work, same is also expected of you and as a manifestation of the former and latter, an urgent meeting be called within the shortest possible time to enable the Committee members pass on the old issue and start afresh."

The communication from Atty. Rennie seems to have moved Mr. Kaba to the extent that a meeting was immediately scheduled for Tuesday, January 9, 2006 among the Committee members.

When contacted, Mr. Kaba rejected allegations that he has sidelined his colleagues on the Committee.
The accused pointed out that he was open to the rest of the Committee members.

Mr. Kaba challenged one of the accusers (Forkpa) to name a point in time that a decision was taken without the input of the others.