Monrovia – The President of Barrack Young Controllers, Sekou Konneh, has been elected as the vice President for operations of the Liberia Football Association (LFA).
Christopher C. Walker – [email protected]
Mr. Konneh was elected on white ballot during the LFA’s recent congress held at P.A. Rib’s House on Saturday, November 25, 2017.
He replaces Cassell Kouh who relinquished the position after his arrest and subsequent incarceration in the United States for fraud and money laundering.
The former Fassell FC President was elected in 2014 along with current LFA President Musa Bility and Vice President for administration Musa Shannon in an election that saw team Bility win all of the position ranging from Executive Committee Member to the presidency.
Initially Ansu Dulleh an Executive Committee member declared his intention to contest the position, but later threw in the towel after being approached by several stakeholders.
Konneh will serve in his new role at the Football House for the next four months as the LFA will goes to election March 2018 for the position of Executive Committee Member, Vice President for both Operation and Administration and President.
Following his election and installation to the position, Konneh said he was delighted to serve football at such level after many years of investment into football both financially and morally.
“I been involved with football throughout my whole life, the fact I am given the opportunity to contribute to football at the highest level I am delighted. I am delighted not as a person but for the stakeholders who entrusted me to serve in this capacity,” Konneh said.
He said one of his priorities will be the issue of the national team of Liberia that has not given the needed result the people of Liberia so desire.
“The issue of the national team is key because my work is technical, I will try to negotiate with my colleagues for us to find more opportunities for our coaches to get some international training and not one or two weeks where we just bring foreign coaches in Liberia, I will see how we can signed some agreements with other counties for our coaches to have months of refresher training.”
“My emphasis will be more on the various youth programs both male and female to give future players the needed education of the game because most of our players we are depending on are on their way out of football.
The mistake we made with the famous George Weah 11 should not be repeated; we need to start building our national team from the various levels,” the LFA VPO asserted.
He also identified the issue of players safety will be one thing he hope to address as 2nd vice President of the LFA.
“Player safety is key because the Liberian sports medic in the past have had problem with LFA – that needs to be looked at because it is not good to play a game without medics at the stadium,” he said.
Konneh who is also the current dean for Liberia College at the University of Liberia planned to consult with stakeholders on issue affecting the game and look at ways the FA can help to solve some of their challenges.
He is of the conviction that the LFA needs new programs to move Liberian football forward and be on par with other countries in the sub region.
When asked about his short-term goals, he said he is hopeful of convincingly delivering his promise by touching key areas like the crafting youth programs and the safety of players.
Liberia Athletics Federation Reelects Zaza and Team for 4 Years
Meanwhile, the incumbent President of the Liberia Athletics Federation (LAF) Mulbah Zaza has been reelected for another four years, 2018-2022.
Zaza was elected at the LAF congress on November 25 unopposed and his election marked his third term as head of the Athletics Federation.
“Today, congress ends the journey of four years and also starts another four years. I appreciate the confidence the delegates impose in me,” Zaza said after the election.
Before the election, in his President’s message, Zaza told the delegates that athletics has been included in this year’s County Meet which will kickoff on December 9, after three years of exclusion.
He stated that LAF has not received any budgetary support or subsidy for the past four years from the Government of Liberia, but boasted of several medals and full participation in local, regional and continental competitions.
“We were also at the World Senior Championship where Liberia qualified to the semifinal from a little investment.
The excellent performance singled Liberia out in the world for the first time. Bravo to Emmanuel Matadi for his commitment and hard work,” Zaza asserted.
The LAF boss and three others, collectively known as ‘Team Zaza’ were reelected, while a new member of the team, was elected for the first time on Saturday, November 25, 2017, at the headquarters of the Liberia National Olympics Committee (LNOC) on Randall Street, Monrovia.
The election was held during the 59th General Assembly, also called the 2017 Election Congress which is in consonance with the By-laws and Constitution of the LAF, and that of the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF), which calls for elections to be held after every four years.
Others who were reelected on ‘white ballot’ were Madam Gbour Wilson, Vice President for Administration; Mr. Frederick Krah, Vice President for Technical Affairs and Mr. Kokurlo Roberts, Treasurer.
Mr. Isaac Montgomery was elected for the first as the Financial Secretary. He was nominated by Liberty Athletics Club, which he is currently serving as the President.
The Chairman of the LAF Election Commission, Cllr. Sylvester Rennie announced the results and subsequently inducted them into office.
Meanwhile, the reelection of the LAF has qualified him to contest, at the end of his three terms, any position at the Liberia National Olympics Committee.
According to the LNOC statute, a President of an association/federation have to serve for 12 years at his/her association/federation before being qualified to contest a position at the LNOC.