Jaeploe Condemns Sherif 

By Julu M. Johnson, Jr.

  A former Executive Committee Member of the Liberia Football Association (LFA), Alexander N. Jaeploe, I, has come down hard on the defeated candidate for President of the LFA, Siaka A. Sherif.

  As contained in his letter of congratulations to LFA President, Cllr. Sombo Izetta Wesley, describing himself as the doyen of the LFA Executive Committee, who has served all of the past president of the LFA since the Samuel Kanyon Doe era, he declared that never had any incumbent President, whether completing a term or someone else’, faced such a “deceitful opponent.”

  Now in the United States, Japloe said: “I have been an active insider except for these few days leave of absence granted.

  “At no time, have you, the vice president, complained to the Executive Committee or express a gesture of discontent of being left out.”

  He claimed remembering Sherif as being the one that headed the financial offices as evidenced by his (Sherif) “loud defense” at Congresses, when it came to financial report.

  The former Executive Committee Member of the LFA added, “He is further remembered as the one who identified the contractors and supervised the completion of the stadium  after Snowe left office.”

  According to Mr. Jaeploe, Sherif allegedly  presided over Executive Committee meetings  whenever  the President was excused and stood in her stead  at all important meetings, receiving international guests for little more over his role as Vice President for Operations.

  “So, accounting for his numerous role played both as Vice Presidents, how could he turn his back at you knowing that he was highly involved in all major decisions like every other executive committee member, due to your culture of meetings before reaching decision.

  “Permit me to also congratulate all those who have refused to allow evil to prevail over good by electing you.

  “I thank God for them, because the bad precedent that some of their colleagues were almost about to set, it would have not just ended at this election but would have penetrated all clubs, creating room for vice presidents to undermine their presidents.

  “This method if succeeded would have opened a floor gate for vice presidents to undermine their presidents just to challenge, bringing conflict within the football family.”

  He then described this action as a recipe for future chaos and suggested that it be opposed and discouraged at anytime and anyplace in a civilized society.

  The only qualified voter who was not present during the elections, Mr. Jaeploe indicated that the football environment has to be calm and stable for its growth and not a place for war and imposition.

  “In concluding, as I stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you, I call on all men and women of good council to join me in rallying around the “dream team” under your capable leadership for a positive growth in the history of football development in Liberia.”