November 26, 2021
The Chairman of the Sierra Leone Premier League board has on Wednesday 24th November 2021 disclosed that the board is working assiduously to end the second round of the Premier League in spite of the challenge the board faced in the first round of the 2020/2021 League season.
According to Chairman of the Premier League Board Alieu Vandy Koroma Esq, they have been faced with series of challenges during the course of the first round of Premier League. He made mention of some of these challenges including the way the clubs are structured, the way supports have been given to the organizing committee. He stated that the Premier League board retains the sole right to govern football in the Country.
He added that as Premier League Board ther League with 1.9 billion that was given to them by the Football Association as parts of the Covid-19 relief fund. He said part of that money was given to the (18) Premier League clubs
He affirmed that Freetown being the Capital City it is intensive for both Football Administrators, Organizing committees, to run 153 matches all over the Country.
Alieu Vandy Koroma Esq. Said another challenge they face as a Premier League board has to do with match Venues because teams in have not much challenge in terms of playing Venues because some have playing Venue, but the key challenge has to do with teams in the Western Area because out of the (18) Premier League teams five in the Provinces have a lesser problem with match Venues but in Freetown 13th Premier League clubs depend on the Siaka Stevens Stadium and out that number ten have a fixed playing venue.
He further that the arrangement of fixtures sometimes is a serious challenge with the Premier League board because they have released fixtures beat by beat all these boiled down because there are not many playing Venues with the Western.
Alieu Vandy Koroma said that indiscipline the Premier League has been another challenge they have ben contending with.
“Football does not tolerate hooliganism, because it is a decent sport with Professional standards. It has already started to be a habit for some clubs fans who think they can misbehave we are currently working on disciplinary action for such misbehavior..
On the area of whether the Premier League will continue, he said: “” It surprises me when I hear people raising concerns as to whether the league will continue or not I making it clear that we are going to start the second rounds of the Premier League in January 2022.”
He said as a board they going to meet to decide when to start the seconds noting that issues discussed at the planned meeting will be communicated to the public. He assured Football loving fans that they are going to complete the second round and it will start as soon as possible.
Allieu Vandy said that sponsorship has been affecting them in running the Premier League, but their relationship with clubs is good.
He called on the Government of Sierra Leone and corporate institution to always consider them for help in developing local football.