Siaka A. Sheriff  and Counselor S. Izetta Wesley with
the match commissioner for the Liberia vs Mali game at SKD

By Julu M. Johnson, Jr.
 

Continuity is the rule of the game as far as Counsellor S. Izetta Wesley is concerned. Yet, the current administration of the Liberia Football Association (LFA) has been characterized by cries from stakeholders, ranging from the downward trend soccer has been undergoing on to the failure of clubs to compete in international competitions as well as the terrible state of the national team, the Lone Star.

If it is indeed a reality that Liberian soccer has been plagued by tribulations, then it is up to the pending elections of the LFA. This event will determine whether a continuity or change is necessary.

In 2001, when Cllr. Wesley, now head of the LFA, was on the verge of being ousted from the LFA by Pennoh W. Bestman, the key word on the lips of the madam was “continuity”. At the end of the day and with the huge contribution of the then LFA President Edwin Snowe, Cllr. Wesley survived the battle. She was later to succeed Mr. Snowe after the latter became committed to his lucrative post of Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC).

Now with March fast-approaching for the next elections, Cllr. Wesley will have to retain her title otherwise she could be called former LFA President. It is everyone’s guess that she would be using “continuity” as a campaign tool like she did in 2001.
There may be countless challengers to Cllr. Wesley for the top post in Liberian football, but one name among the possible candidates is ringing a bell already. That person is no other than Cllr. Wesley’s own principal deputy, Siaka A. Sheriff. Having assumed the post of Vice President for Operations, Mr. Sheriff later succeeded Cllr. Wesley as Vice President for Administration following Snowe’s departure few years ago.

Siaka, a household name in post-war Liberian soccer, seems determined to paint a new face of Liberian soccer even though it is yet to be known as to what must have transpired that is prompting him to oppose his boss.

The two parties do have a strong relationship with Mr. Snowe, the godfather of the LFA, but Sheriff could defeat Cllr. Wesley in the pending contest for many reasons. An easy-going man, Siaka carries a greater portion of the Snowe friendship. He as well as Snowe has served as President of LPRC Oilers, a position that qualified them to get elected at the LFA. It is said that Mr. Snowe was the reason why Sheriff got his first LFA post of Vice President for Operations ahead of the incumbent Samuel Jlakrong and James Koinyan. Mr. Snowe was allegedly instrumental in the return of Siaka to the LPRC to serve as Comptroller in 2003 having being sacked by exiled former Liberian President Charles Taylor. Considering such a strong marriage he has with his LPRC boss, Sheriff’s ability to become the next LFA President should not be underestimated.

Aside from that, Mr. Sheriff is a good giver who commands huge support from the various clubs. His hard-working wife Geraldine Doe-Sheriff has been a club president for sometimes now and she is capable of mobilizing sufficient votes among her colleagues in order for her sweetheart to triumph. Unconfirmed reports have it that Mrs. Sheriff has been appointed as her husband’s campaign manager and that she is already performing her functions.

Several attempts to substantiate whether Sheriff will actually contest for President of the LFA did not materialize. On many occasions, Mr. Sheriff refused to comment on the pending LFA elections but with a vow to speak at an appropriate time.

If Sheriff is the choice of the clubs, then Cllr. Wesley could rely on the Sub-Associations and Committees. Contrary to information that Sheriff has managed to win some Sub-Committees and Associations over, a confidante of the LFA President disclosed that should Cllr. Wesley retained her post, that victory would simply come from the Sub-Committees and Association. He argued the chairmen of these groups are still committed to their boss’ aim of staying on, better still continuity.

From observers’ point of view, as head of the LFA, Cllr. Wesley could amass votes among the Sub-Committees and Associations because she has the power to dismiss and appoint their heads. So, with the fate of the chairmen lying in her hands, they may have no option but to vote not just for the reigning LFA boss for themselves to remain in their jobs.