Monrovia – FC Fassell CEO Cassell Kuoh, has hit out at Liberia Football Association president, Mustapha Raji, saying that Raji’s statement questioning the source of his funding to the Women U-17 national team demonstrates signs of ‘immaturity from him.
By Jaheim T. Tumu, [email protected]
Kuoh emphasized that Raji should avoid the childish play and contemplate on the development of football.
Recently, Kuoh offered to make available the amount of US$ 5,000 to the Women U-17 team ahead of the match against Nigeria to motivate the girls but it was outrightly rejected by the LFA.
He then alleged that the LFA created bureaucracy which prevented him from presenting the money and meeting the players before their eliminating 4-1 defeat to Nigeria.
In response to Mr. Kouh Liberia Football Association (LFA), Mustapha Raji stressed that the LFA must verify the source of funds before accepting any donations, particularly from individuals with a criminal background like Kouh.
Raji told Smile FM, a local radio station in Grand Gedeh County in an interview that Kouh was involved in wire fraud and money laundering, posing as the owner of a gold mining company, which led to his imprisonment in the United States for seven years.
Said Raji, “First of all, if you want to make a donation, we need to know the source of your funding, we can’t just go and take money from anyone, Mr. Kouh, sorry to say, he was convicted of a crime a criminal offense, so we at the Football Association have to be very careful how we deal with individuals of such.”
He added, “Unfortunately, Mr. Kouh was in 2016 suspended by the Liberia Football Association Congress for his involvement in wire fraud and money laundering and doping people and pretending to be the owner of a gold mining company.
“He was jailed in the United States for seven years, released and came to Liberia, now such individual coming to Liberia accusing government officials as the people operating with him to release gold from the safe in scheming people but has not identified these government officials but they are the ones intending to make a donation now, we are concerned at the Football Association.”
But addressing a press conference, Kuoh said it is disheartening for the LFA president to make an intolerant statement against him, stressing that the comment and refusal undermined his efforts to support Liberian football.
Accordingly, he said generosity is part of his nature to uplift and develop football in Liberia especially the women-u17 that are lacking in support.
He emphasized that he’s not engaging in personal disputes, stressing that as a prominent citizen making his donation it should be welcomed and utilized for the betterment of the teams and youth.
He alleged that the rejection of his contribution for personal reasons is unprofessional, stating his intention is aimed at supporting the national teams, not to promote himself.
Said Kuoh “Raji’s statement reflects immaturity and a personal vendetta. It is not about questioning the sources of funds, as many others donate without such scrutiny. His remarks only highlight that he’s immature and his lack of readiness for his role. “
“So, he’s coming out with a statement that I don’t know, we don’t take money from people when we don’t know the source of the income or the source of funds. When last the LFA starts to know the source of donations.”
“Mustapha Raji, I am sending the message directly to you as the president of the LFA. That statement was very immature and I am asking you to take it back because you know better.”
He said that he understands that the LFA president considers him as opposition, and that this influences certain decisions regarding me and his team and is aware of these dynamics, stating that it is important to prioritize doing the right thing.
“We are running football, we are not running our personal homes. If I were donating to Raji and family, we would understand that he can reject it but I was donating to the Liberian youth women u17 team, he said.
“The mismanagement within the LFA is clear. My intention is clear: to improve Liberian football and ensure transparency and accountability. Raji’s fear and attempts to block my candidacy reflect his insecurity. However, I remain confident in my ability to lead and develop football in Liberia, he said.
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