By Alie Sonta Kamara
The SLFA presidential election is expected to occur on July 26, 2025, or on a date earlier than this. Whatever the actual date may be, cries have begun hitting our eager ears from distant hills and nearby valleys.
Incumbent Thomas Daddy Brima is scurrying on the brinks, keeping his eyes fixed on some positive tangibles. From witnessing the qualification of Leone Stars after 25 years in shackles to the rolling out of his artificial turf project and making football play from all tiers, this man believes he has a good chance of retaining the power until after a recently rumoured high-level engagement with top government officials.
The substantive Chairman of Bo Rangers Babadi Kamara holds a divergent views about football development. He is the current most talked about Presidential Candidate for the SLFA hot seat. He anchors his stakes in the contest drawing from his Southern Arena glory, from his initiative to build the first football clubhouse in Sierra Leone, and from his current three-time champion spell with Bo Rangers. He believes if he could attain this height outside the confines of SLFA, the sky is the limit if he is made the SLFA president.
Interesting common grounds! Both Thomas Daddy Brima and Babadi Kamara share similar political beliefs: they belong to the ruling SLPP party with some stakes at the top echelon. Next, they both come from Bo. Why fight? Why pull each other’s down? There is obvious war going on. Those on the fringes think if the stalemate between the two brothers cannot be resolved at the earliest call, then a third force and or a fourth force may be required.
However, reports say a top meeting involving both Daddy and Babadi was held. The aim is to let Daddy back down, giving way to the coronation of Babadi. While that seems to be a solution, which has not been felt in the energies of Daddy’s supporters, danger still looms.
Is Mohamed Kallon interested? Reports say he might show up to be the third force. Whether this is the case or not, his appearance won’t bring him victory. However, he would be a clean candidate who does not portray obvious affiliation with any political party. He showed up in the 2012 election but was disqualified on allegations of taking drugs. That’s Paul Kamara for you.
Is Junior Navo interested? It has not come from him yet, but discussions in high places say he might bounce in as what they describe ‘The Unifier’, pointing to claims that the two brothers from Bo have drawn daggers.
Navo has some APC link, which might bring in national politics into the SLFA contest. If he shows up, he might offset the strength of Babadi in the North and in the Northwest.
While the drums of war are being beaten, the 5th of June, 2025 is there to set a new deadlock. The term of the SLFA Executive will expire and the control will diminish.
Only Daddy and Benson Bawoh, the SLFA Scribe, will be considered by FIFA for communication.
From this very date, everything will be under FIFA’s directives and mandate. This means there is going to be news blackout.
At this juncture, it is safe to say it is not over until it is over.