Monrovia – Cece United Football Academy has been plunged into controversy following allegations by Mohammed M. Bamba Jr. that more than US$40,000 was misused by the club’s Chief Executive Officer, Pawala Janyan — a claim the club’s Board Chairman has strongly denied.
By Jaheim T. Tumu | [email protected]
The accusations surfaced alongside Bamba’s abrupt resignation as President of the academy.
In a resignation letter released this week, Bamba cited what he termed “irreconcilable differences” over governance and financial management within the club.
Bamba alleged that Janyan “depleted over US$40,000 of the club’s coffers — funds generated from our championship-winning season and sponsorship arrangements — to settle personal tuition and living expenses abroad.”
According to Bamba, the alleged depletion left the club financially strained, forcing him and other executives to use personal resources to rebuild the squad and technical staff.
His resignation takes immediate effect and follows what he described as months of internal friction within the academy’s leadership.
Claims of Political Interference
Beyond the financial allegations, Bamba also claimed that Janyan, allegedly influenced by Liberia Football Association (LFA) President Mustapha Raji, attempted to silence his public advocacy for reforms in Liberian football.
“Over the past several months, I have faced repeated attempts by the CEO, Pawala Janyan — influenced by LFA President Mustapha Raji — to censor my public advocacy regarding critical issues in Liberian football,” Bamba wrote.
“This censorship appears designed to protect Raji’s third-term bid and ensure Janyan’s re-election to the LFA Executive Committee.”
Bamba further criticized what he described as Janyan’s unilateral move to assume the presidency of the club, calling it “a profound lack of professionalism and a total disregard for institutional protocols.”
Five-Year Tenure Ends
Bamba’s resignation ends his five-year association with Cece United.
He joined the academy’s strategic leadership team in 2021 at the urging of Elizabeth Mega Nyandibo, aligning with what he described as the vision of the late Vallai M. Dorley.
Over the years, he served as Vice President for Administration, Acting President in 2022, and formally assumed the presidency in 2023 during Janyan’s two-year absence for studies abroad.
Despite stepping down, Bamba pledged to remain involved as a shareholder and supporter of the club.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to have served this institution over the last five years,” he wrote. “While I am stepping down as President, I remain a committed shareholder and fan, and I stand ready to fulfill my responsibilities in that capacity.”
Board Chairman Denies Allegations
Cece United’s Board Chairman, Professor Sekou Konneh, has rejected the allegations outright, describing them as unfounded.
“Let Bamba say where that US$40,000 came from,” Konneh said. “To the best of my recollection, Cece United never had such an amount in its account.”
Konneh also questioned Bamba’s reference to sponsorship revenue.
“What sponsorship is he talking about?” he asked. “We all chip in from here, there, and yonder to keep the club running.”
FrontPageAfrica reached out to CEO Pawala Janyan for comment, but as of press time, no response had been received.
The unfolding dispute threatens to deepen tensions within the academy and adds to broader debates about governance and accountability in Liberian football.
