Just a few months after the longest-serving Chairman of the Central One Football Association passes on, a new executive has been elected to carry on the day to day affairs of the association which is why on Tuesday they pay a courtesy call on the Minister of Sports at the Bishop House Office in Freetown.
The Minister of Sports, Ibrahim Yelenkeh, welcomed cross-section of the newly appointed Central One Football Association (COFA) Executive.
The newly appointed Chairman of COFA, Philipson Cline Cole, who was the Association Secretary General, thanked the Minister of Sports for the warm reception and for the patronage extended during the death of their former Chairman, the Late Pa Sama Sesay.
He explained that the purpose of the visit was to present the new team to the Minister. He then informed the Minister about the challenges the Association is facing with regards the rehabilitation of the Parade grounds and with finding a sustainable pathway to development.
“COFA is aiming at moving higher irrespective of the present circumstances and challenges,” Chairman Cole noted.
Minister of Sports while responding, thanked the COFA Executive for the visit, and heaped praises on them for their enduring strides for keeping grassroots football alive. He pledged his personal support, and registered the government’s willingness to develop sports and sporting facilities in the country.
“There are ongoing plans to construct mordan sporting facilities, and the Parade grounds will be considered when things materialized,” he added.
He encouraged the squad to be steadfast and to work in the interest of sport development.
“This is a crucial time for your Association. I hope you work together with all what you have for the interest of all now that you are new in your various positions,” Minister Nyelenkeh added.
The Minster urged them to make good use of the National Sports Authority (NSA), as it is the one charged with the mandate to look after sporting associations and affiliated members.
The new Vice-Chairman of COFA, Mohammad Yapo Sillah, presented an official letter to the Hon. Minister on his conferment as a Lifetime Member and Executive Patron of the Central One Football Association.
By Desmond Tunde Coker
24/02/2021. ISSUE NO: 8008