More Errors At LFA!
-Club Leaders Running The League

By Peter N. Toby

The Liberia Football Association National Premiership union is about seven weeks old now and the race continues to produce setbacks and lack of surprise for the 18 participating teams in their quest for the designation.

Since the opening of the opposition on March 28, 2009 across the five difference endorsed venues by the football house 74 matches have been recorded so far in the top journey while 33 in both first and second division sorts.

But as players continue to showcase in the seven week old trial as well as followers of the fixture reaching every venue to see what the kids have to demonstrate in this so called premiership, some key errors have been unearthed by a technician which are unhealthy for the growth of the game.

A member of the LFA Youth Football Committee and former President of Borough Old-Timers and Fraternity Association Mr. Alfred Chie Sayon has commented on some scandalous issues that he believes is damaging for the enlargement of the entertainment in this part of the world.

Mr. Sayon said despite the vast knowledge, inquiries by some of FA top officials at various FIFA and CAF conferences in recent time, the football house was still engaging in wrongful acts for the progress of the global leather.

He further said it was shameful to see Club Presidents serving as Match Commissioners during the national league.

 “Where in the world do you see club leaders taking part in the rivalry and serving as match officials? No where does is happen because the independence of the league becomes questionable,” he pointed out.

 The Liberian sports administrator, who is the sponsor of the LFA 2009 Premiership Leaguer Table and Top Scorers Sheet in the Primer Sports Newspaper, noted that FA’s judgment to place participating club presidents as major actors in the league was totally incorrect and against the global policy of the world’s most popular game ‘football’.

 “Authorities at the football house should stop making mockery of the amusement here. FA authority should understand that football is huge investment across the world now as such those entrusted with responsibilities of running the game should live up to the task in their implementation.”

The Liberian football administrator, who is at the Service Agency as Coordinator for the Senior Executive Service Program, maintained that it was a serious embarrassment to see those who are playing in the league running the same union.

Indeed the may be a distinction examination on Mr. Alfred Chie Sayon’s comment strikes because it is an obvious concern that the competition can not be managed by the direct participants if the game is to move forward.

The Barclay Premiership, Spanish Primera La Liga, Italian Serie A, French Ligue-1, German Bundesliga among others are all free from club presidents or Executive Committee Members involvement. 

These leagues are the role models for other leagues in the world to learn and follow and Liberia’s case is no exception.

The rivalry committee in other parts of the world is free from club privileged or FA executive committee members but in the Liberian leagues presidents of clubs are operating the leagues and serving as match officials in the same leagues they are playing in. How will the opposition have fairness and transparency when club officials are preparing the fixture and grading referees?

How will you serve as a referee and player and expect things to improve?

It no secret that in other parts of the world the leagues are run by special committees who do not have any allegiance to clubs or at the head of authority.

The football house should think now and learn from other big football nations as to who the world global game is running.

We think the local football governing body should see the Youth Football Committee Member’s comment as in the best interest of developing the game in this part of the world. It is also our hope that the FA will act now if we are to move forward.