New Name In LFA Race

By Julu M. Johnson, Jr.

  There could be four persons vying for the leadership position of the Liberia Football Association (LFA) with the emergence of the President of the Promoters of Liberian Athletes (PROLA) in the contest.     

  It was already being known that the current LFA, Cllr. Izetta Wesley along with Petroleum Businessman Musa Bility and former Lone Star striker Musa Shannon were in the race for the 2010 elections.

  However, a popular group called the Youth for Soccer Development (YSD) has petitioned the renowned football guru, Mr. Joseph Farkollie to contest the position of President of the Liberia Football Association (LFA) during the 2010 elections.

  In the petition presented to Mr. Farkollie, the YSD says it recognizes Mr. Farkollie as a capable leader that can reunite what is seen as a divided LFA.

  The youth soccer group argues that it prefers a new face like Mr. Farkollie taking over the mantle of authority of the LFA to heal the wounds of the local football governing body instead of allowing one conflicting party to take over from the other, thereby creating more rows in Liberian football.

  The YSD noted that its selection of the man popularly known as ‘Farko’ for the duty of heading the LFA was not a mistake, considering his countless contributions to football growth and development coupled with his strong advocacies against vices that have destroyed and undermined the world’s most loved game over the years.

  The YSD, in the petition, calls on Mr. Farkollie to consider the task seriously for the sake of reviving football and to encourage other Liberians with football passion to directly get involved in the transformation of the game.

  According to the YSD, it has been keeping track of the activities of Mr. Farkollie since 1982, dating back to his days with the LPRC Oilers in 1985, LPMC Planters, Lofa County Sports Association, Invincible Eleven (IE) and now the Promoters of Liberian Athletes (PROLA).

  The group expressed the confidence that with Mr. Farkollie’s long experience as a football administrator and patron, he would without doubt be able to transform Liberian football into what it used to be in the past.

  Responding, Mr. Farkollie lauded the youth soccer group for giving him the challenge of restoring peace to the nation’s soccer program.

  He appealed to the YSD to grant him sufficient time to ponder over their petition before responding.         

  The PROLA President says he shares the views of the group as it relates to division and conflicts within the LFA over the years.

Mr. Farkollie mentioned that where he to be in the position to head the LFA, reconciling the association would be the hallmark of his leadership.

  He, meanwhile, admonished football stakeholders to allow the current LFA President, Cllr. Izetta Wesley to complete her tenure other than calling for her removal.

  Mr. Farkollie declared that anyone seeking for a change should wait for the proper time in 2010.

  The renowned sportsman urged clubs to concentrate on the ongoing national league in order to adequately prepare local clubs for international competitions.

  He warned stakeholders to beware that football and politics do not mix together.

  Mr. Farkollie has been involved in the area of sports promotion for numerous years.

  In 1983, he helped to form the LPRC Oilers Sports Association and served as Sports Director of the Lofa County Sports Association.

  The PROLA President was Founder and President of the Agricultural Sports Association (ASA) in Voinjama, Lofa County.

Mr. Farkollie became President of the LPMC Planters between 1992 and 1997.      

  He later served as Board Member of the Invincible Eleven (IE) Majestic Sports Association. Mr. Farkollie remains a staunch member of IE presently.