Lawrence Behind Ballah's Rejection

By Julu M. Johnson, Jr.

As Executive Committee Members of the Liberia Football Association (LFA) meet on Tuesday to decide on the appointment of a new Secretary-General, it has been revealed that the nominee in John Rufus Ballah would be rejected.

The head of the Division Two Side Diamond FC, Ebenezer Barclay claimed: "Adolph Lawrence stated in a gathering of First Division clubs on Monday, August 7, 2006 that Ballah will be rejected on the basis that he helped to prepare the financial report presented to Congress in Kakata, which said Congress had problem with."

Barclay added, "He also mentioned that Cllr. (Izetta) Wesley is contemplating on nominating Jeremy Russell if Ballah is rejected."

He then expressed concern over the way out for the LFA when there are issues to be looked at for the development of the game.

The Diamond FC President reminded Mr. Lawrence, who is Vice President for Operations of the LFA, that he overwhelmingly got the support of Congress by receiving 53 votes out of 88 votes.

Therefore, he urged the LFA Vice President for Operations to work for the improvement of the game instead of wasting time on the issue of Secretary-General.

"He should now disembark from his plans of undermining the leadership that he is part of and concentrate on how he will get Careca to Liberia to construct soccer academies and improve the Media and Marketing Committee to get sponsors for our league."

Barclay alleged that there are promises Lawrence made to the clubs during the latter's campaign speeches.

Barclay says he looks forward to seeing Ballah endorsed by the LFA Executive Committee Members on Tuesday in that the representatives of the 2nd Division in "Abayomi Caulcrick and Urias Glaygbo are doing all they can in their powers in seeing to it that Ballah is endorsed as the new Secretary-General by lobbying with the rest of the Executive Committee Members."

When contacted, Mr. Lawrence promised to respond to our call so as to answer to allegations brought against him, but did not do so up to the time this medium went to press.