Unanimous Warning!
-Will Stakeholders Quench the Fire?

By Leroy M. Sonpon, III leroysonpon@yahoo.com (231-886-585875)

The Executive Committee (EC) of the Liberia Football Association (LFA) in an uncompromising tone, stated that “decrees” emanating from the football house (Blue House) about suspension and expulsion of some of their members, as well as the pending indictment of Sports reporter Roland Mulbah is the EC’s decision, not its President, Musa Bility.

The LFA Vice President for Operations, Adolph A. Lawrence, in the presence of 12 EC members said the “decisions” were unanimous and intended to “punish the wrongs” for the sole purpose of promoting and developing the game.
EC members who were in attendance include: Musa Bility, Adolph Lawrence, Musa Shannon, D. Sheba Brown, Samuel Karn and Bishop John Allen Klayee.
Others were Joseph Mendeh, Ansu Dolleh, Matthew Smith, Wallace Weiah, Abraham sheriff and Moses Darbgeh.

The LFA Vice President for Operations, who is also the Representative for Montserrado County’s District # 16, said that decisions are made through majority votes from members of the EC, which is internationally accepted.
The EC members’ clarification stemmed from wide publicized media report, that the LFA’s decision about suspension and expulsion amongst others, is an unilateral decision of the LFA President, Musa Bility.

The LFA boss, over the weekend, threatened to sue (take legal action against) Sports Reporter for publishing a letter, which bears the LFA logo, emblem and signature of Musa Bility. He said his signature was criminally forged and accusation levied on him and his son (Sidiki Bility) about a US$1.5m deal on the construction of a FIFA Goal Project was false and misleading.
He told reporters, that a “Criminal Indictment” for Reporter Roland Mulbah, who is also the Secretary General for the Sports Writers Association of Liberia (SWAL) is in process.
SWAL President Fombah Kanneh told the Daily Observer last month that the court is the best forum to properly adjudicate the matter. He said that Reporter Mulbah has repeatedly maintained that he has pieces of evidence to back his article published in the Complete and Kick-Off Sports newspapers on March 9.

In that article, Roland reported that Bility awarded a FIFA goal project valued at US$1.5 million (one point five million United States dollars) to his son Sidiki Bility to build a technical center in Careysburg, outside Monrovia.

“Roland is working for the public. Mr. Bility, as well, he’s working for the public. The Careysburg center is for the Liberian people. So in this case, we can’t say Roland is wrong or Roland is right. Only the court can determine that.

“So we wholeheartedly welcomed the decision of the FA President … we will be willing to see whatever redress or whatever situation [he takes],” Mr. Kanneh said.
For his part, Report Mulbah of Kick-off and Complete Sports Newspapers, said the letter is authentic and defied the LFA boss of taking him to court.
“I dared Musa Bility,…I have every document to prove that what I publish is the truth, nothing of the truth…,” Mr. Mulbah said.
It can also be recalled, the FC Fassell boss, Cassell Kuoh, was suspended indefinitely from all football activities by the LFA EC, owing to ‘match-fixing’ on Saturday, March 31, 2012 by the LFA.

The letter of the April 2’s suspension to the President of 1st division outfit-FC Fassell, Cassell Kuoh, which a copy is our possession, stated that Mr. Kuoh will be nursing his indefinite suspension until the case involving the match-fixing, filed by Small Town FC, is investigated.

“You, as President of FC Fassell, are also suspended from all activities of the Liberia Football Association (LFA) until the case involving the match fixing, filed against you by Small Town FC is dealth with and decision rendered by the appropriate committee. You are also to make yourself available to the committee when called upon. Kindly let this claim your immediate attention and govern yourself accordingly,” partial of the LFA’s letter, dated April 2, 2012, under the signature of Acting Secretary General Yanqueh S. Borsay said.

The Executive Committee of the LFA, also suspended 1st division sensational side, FC Fassell, from participating in the 2011/2012 National Football League, and is demoted to 3rd division.
The letter, which never indicated how much the Club owes, said that owing to the blunt refusal of FC Fassell boss to pay the balance payment for “assault on match officials by players, fans and officials of the club,” had compelled the Executive Committee of the LFA, to resolve to suspend the club for a year, as a way of enforcing the decision of the Committee that relates to the Rules and Regulations of the 2010/2011 League Season.
“In view of the above your club is hereby suspended from the 2011/2012 League Season (and) this suspension warrants your club’s demotion to the Third Division.”
The letter further stated that the bravura 1st division side was found guilty and the President of FC Fassell apologized and promised to make payment as spelled out by the investigation.

The FC Fassell boss in a press conference on Monday confirmed the assault of match commission by his Club’s fans in Kakata, and said that he committed himself on February 19, 2011 of paying the fine, in the tone of USS$1,000.
Mr. Kouh divulged that he paid the full amount to the LFA, but he (Mr. Kouh) only displayed and made available copy of the receipt of US$500 and said the balance US$500 receipt has been misplaced.
The FC Fassell boss also termed his indefinite suspension owing to match fixing as a witch-hunt and said the LFA boss “Mad.”

The suspension of FC Fassell and its boss, Mr. Cassell as well as the former EC member Rochell Woodson are expected to discuss in congress.
Some stakeholders argued that since the inception of the Musa Bility’s leadership, the suspension of FC Fassell boss has summed to three persons, who have been axed.
The Secretary General of IE, Momolu V.O. Sirleaf was suspended for two years from all football activities for criticizing the LFA “while being a stakeholder of the LFA.”
And the former 1st division representative at the Executive Committee of the LFA, Rochell Woodson was expelled for “sullying the national football team, which contravenes the football policy.”

Meanwhile, football followers of the game are calling on the Presidents of IE, Barrack Young Controller, Nimba United and LISCR FC as well as the Senior Vice President of Watanga FC, to mediate between the LFA and FC Fassell for the good of the game.

They believed that the intervention of Dr. Richard Tolbert, Sekou Konneh, Adolphus Dolo, Mustapha Raji and Andy Quarmie will rotate the decision of the LFA EC for the good of the game.