Kaba
Takes Over LIFRA Authority
February 12, 2006
The Liberia Football Referees Association (LIFRA) just ended elections
which were characterized by a lot of divisions as a result of which it
drew public concern is now over with the former international referee
Idrissa Kaba emerging as the winner.
A well attended General Assembly held at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium
(ATS), which lasted for an hour, saw former referee Kaba defeat his
opponent Sylvester Rennie 55 to 51 to become LIFRA's next President.
Patrick Smith said it was just hard to believe that Idrissa Kaba has
won the LIFRA elections with all the negative things that were said
about him.
"Even at the eleventh hour to the elections the LIFRA President S.
Wiaka Peters had informed the public that Kaba was charged for
financial malpractices and as such he was allegedly banned from taking
part in the elections," he pointed out.
According to him, Idrissa Kaba's victory is a clear indication that
many people cannot live by what people say about a person.
"I hope that many people will learn from the just ended Referees
elections especially within the football cycles," he concluded.
Alice Dennis, a student of University of Liberia, who walked into our
offices on Tuesday, February 6, said she was filled with joy upon
receiving the news that Idrissa Kaba has won the Referees elections.
"There was too much negative campaign against this man especially in
the Press ahead of the Referees elections. I have been following his
track record since 1988 and I know what he is made of. But I could
just not believe that some people are so wicked," she noted.
"What was more surprising to me was that people he encouraged and even
brought up in the refereeing business even turned their backs against
him during the campaign and even went as far as calling him a
criminal," she pointed out.
Moreover Miss Dennis said she convinced that the former Chief and
International Referee's victory was the will of God and as such his
leadership will bring luck to the image of the institution.
Also commenting on Kaba's victory was Dencontee Koon of the United
Methodic University (UMU) who said the win was not a surprise.
According to her, those who campaigned against Mr.
Kaba were just detractors impeding the growth of the association.
"Those who were campaigning against Kaba know within themselves that
Kaba is the only person who can revamp LIFRA at this crucial time of
our country story," she said.
"People should now begin to put their institution before their
self-interest if the country is to move forward, especially in the
sporting area," she pointed out.
The UMU Junior student hoped that member s of the association would
see Kaba's ascendancy at the top of LIFRA as a new day for the Whistle
family and rallying around him will be good for the growth of the
LIFRA.
"Thank God Kaba has won the Referees presidency. All the things said
about him were just to confuse the people to vote the other way,"
Moses Teah said.
He said the former referee should see the mandate by the referees as a
serious commitment to bring relief to this professional institution.
At the same elections, Spenser Harris was elected as Vice President of
the association and three other persons were elected to serve as board
members including John Sua Karnga, Alex Nagbo and Momod Somah.
Meanwhile, the newly elected President Idrissa Kaba has described his
victory as the will of the people and said he is prepared for such
challenge.
Mr. Kaba said his victory is for all LIFRA members despite the
negative campaign against him. "This is the time that all LIFRA
members should put all their differences aside so as to move the
association forward," he said.
According to him, Liberia has some of the finest Referees on the
continent, but they only need the push with the cooperation of members
as well as Liberia Football Association (LFA).
The elected LIFRA boss further used the occasion to extend an early
olive branch to the defeated candidate Sylvester Rennie and others to
join him in bringing the lost image of the association.
In a related development, Liberian Referees based in the United States
of America have congratulated Mr. Idrissa Kaba for his recent victory
in the just ended LIFRA elections.
The Referees, through their spokesman Mason Goe, said the former
referee's victory is a sign of a new day for the LIFRA family.
"The former referee has the experience and leadership ability to move
LIFRA forward and the decision by his colleagues is in the right
direction for the survival of the association," they said.
The former Liberia Chief Referee has urged all LIFRA members to rally
around the new leadership for its total growth of the association.
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