Her Own
Term, Indeed!
By Julu M. Johnson, Jr.
It, at long last, became a “mission accomplished”
for Counsellor Sombo Izetta Wesley following her triumph in the March
18, 2006 elections of the Liberia Football Association (LFA).
The hotly contested elections, which were the climax of the 2006
Congress, held in Kakata, Margibi County, saw Cllr. Wesley defeating
her now former deputy Siaka A. Sherif 45-43 for the post of President
of the LFA.
Sherif proved to be a hard nut to crack as he led the
counting process only to be overtaken by Cllr. Wesley at the final
stage. She has now succeeded in grabbing her own term having completed
that of former LFA President Edwin M. Snowe, who is now Speaker of the
House of Representatives.
Mr. Snowe witnessed the process along with the Minister
of Youth and Sports, Cllr. Jamesetta Howard-Wolokollie.
Cllr. Wesley entered active football in 1991 and served
up to 1993 as General Secretary of the Invincible Eleven Majestic
Sports Association (IEMSA). Cllr. Wesley then organized the IE
Powerful Women Development Wing.
From 1993 up to present, the LFA boss has held a
number of positions within the Independent Old-timers Sports
Association (ISA).
She became chairlady of the IE Fan Club (1993-1997) at the Ministry of
Lands, Mines and Energy. During similar period, the “Iron Lady” worked
for IE as Vice President for Players’ Welfare.
The LFA President later turned to the Liberia
Old-timers National Association (LONA, 1995-1997) and took the post of
Vice President for Administration. Her final year as LONA VP led her
to the presidency of Clara Town based Young Survivors FC.
Thereafter, Cllr. Wesley won two successive terms as
Vice President for Administration (LFA, 1997-2003).
When former LFA President Snowe quit the top post in Liberian
football, Cllr. Wesley assumed the helm of authority and completed the
tenure of her former chief.
Currently, the LFA President is an International
Match Commissioner of both the African Football Confederation (CAF)
and the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) as
well as an Executive Committee Member of the West African Football
Union (WAFU). She is on record as the first woman to head a National
Football Association in Africa.
Pennoh W. Bestman, President of Black Star, now becomes
the new LFA Vice President for Administration. Formerly Vice President
for Operations, Bestman took part in the elections without an
opponent. Thus, a white ballot was cast on his behalf.
Succeeding Bestman as Vice President for Operations of the
LFA is Adolph Lawrence. The former President of the defunct St.
Anthony Football Club had been quite during the campaign, yet he did
not only produce a shock but convincingly whipped his rival Beauford
Oliver Weeks by 52-34 votes.
The 2006 LFA Congress also witnessed the election of
new Executive Committee members.
For the Premier Division, Moustapha Raji (LISCR FC) and
Rodney Wilson (Roots FC) are the new Executive Committee members.
Peter Kabia and Kadiatu Diarrah-Findley (IE) represents the First
Division.
The second division is being represented by Abayomi O.
Caulcrick (Devereux) and Urias Glaybo (Mighty Electrons). David E.
Kortie alias 519 is standing in for the Female Division. Joseph F.
Willie, President of the Inter-School Sport Association (ISSA), has
replaced Alexander Jaeploe on behalf of the Academicals.
At the same time, Beauford Weeks’ seat on the LFA Executive
Committee will now be occupied by PG Malcolm Wright for the Liberia
Old-timers National Associations (LONA).
Mighty Barrolle President Garmondeh Karnga
has taken over from James Jallah as representative of the
Sub-Associations of the LFA.
Mohammed Sheriff stayed on as the eye for
the LFA Sub-Committees, while Mrs. D. Sheba Browne also remained on
behalf of the Affiliates.
As a result of his election as President of
the Liberia Football Referees Association (LIFRA), Idrissa Kaba is now
an LFA Executive Committee member, taking over from S. Weaka Peters. |
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