November 18, 2021
The Sierra Leone Athletics Association (SLAA) will on Saturday heads to the polls in Kenema to elect new members that will stairs the affairs of Athletics in the Country for the next four years.
The Elective Congress has long been overdue because there have been many issues that has to do with delegates issues, such as change of the Constitution and lack of development for the Association has been the problems that has stalled the election, whereas the membership has agreed that this weekend they are ready to hold their elective congress to elect new Executive members.
According to Alhaji Abdul Karim the outgoing President he is set to contest again in the upcoming Elective Congress because the delegates had agreed that in an extraordinary congress in Lunsar.
He said it is not novelty because it is something that has been happening in the international body and even in Senegal the President of Athletics is currently serving his second term and he will be going for the third term, and that the congress has agreed to such.
” … as long as the delegates want me to continue my good work since I have been President many laurels in the Country, the last time Athletes went to Nigeria where they brought many medals that have clearly shown a clear indication that the sport has taken a different trajectory in the Country” Bangura said.
He further that if delegates vote him in Office below will be the areas of focus:
1. The Commonwealth Games is just around the corner my ambition is to see that the Sierra Leone Athletic Association reached the final in the games.
2. Secondly, he will set up an office space for the association where the public can contact the association if they want to do business with the association. That will also be the same for the regions that are my areas of the target.
In terms of capacity building, I have done training for coaches to help them with software knowledge in data entry, looking forward to doing the same for the athletes as well.
He added that “I know delegates are human beings but am confident that they will vote for me because they believe in what I have done for the association and they know if they vote me there will be transformation and more development for the sports in the country.”
According to Martin Bangura the outgoing Vice President one said “I decided to contest for the Presidency because a lot of things have gone wrong in the association over the years and no development for Athletics in the Country.
He added that the issues of a third term was never agreed upon by the membership and we have challenged that decision with the competent bodies but that proved fruitfulness, and the final option is to head for an elective Congress and change the current system.
“if delegates vote for me my first task is to bring all members on board with unity and ones among the athletics family and protests the interest of the athletes in the international stage.”
According to one of the Electoral Commissioner, Edmond Abu said he wish to conduct free and fear election because of all pending issues must be handle before heading for an election.
The National Olympic Committee of Sierra Leone has urged all sporting disciplines that have issues should try and resolve them before the Commonwealth games, if not, they will not participate in the upcoming Commonwealth Games.