The Chairman of the 2019/2020 Premier League season, Allieu Vandy Koroma Esq. has said that the 2019/2020 Premier League season has been cancelled. He said that the decision had been taken by the 14 participating teams in a meeting on Wednesday July 15, 2020, following the approval of the Sierra Leone Football Association.
The cancellation of the season means that no team will be crowned as champion for the season, nor relegated from or promoted to the Premier League.
Koroma added that “It was also agreed in the meeting that Bo Rangers, Kamboi Eagles and East End Lions should decide among themselves the two teams to represent Sierra Leone in African continental club competitions.” He added that after the three clubs would have decided on the two teams then the board will recommend to the SLFA the chosen teams. He added that in the event that the three clubs do not agree, the Board will then decide on the two clubs to represent Sierra Leone as against CAF’s deadline for the submission of names of teams which expires in August.
He went on to say that they would recommend for SLFA not to relegate any club because of the circumstance the country was faced with during the Coronavirus pandemic.
FC Johansen and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces Football Club were the last teams to represent Sierra Leone in CAF Champions League and Total CAF Confederations Cup in 2017.
Bo Rangers led the Sierra Leone Premier League Table, before the Corona outbreak and subsequent cancellation of the league with Kamboi Eagles in the second spot.
Speaking to the Team Manager of East End Lions Football Club, Alhaji Alpha Rashid, he told Premier News that the FA, should have reverted to the previous league champions which could have averted the possible turmoil that would result from the proposed selection format.
The kick-off date for the 2020/2021 season for the SLPL is subject to the full reopening of the country by the government and the approval of the health authorities.
By Desmond Tunde Coker
17/07/2020. ISSUE NO.: 7868