Selected Ag. President, others Accused of Monopolizing Badminton Association Sierra Leone

By Father Aliko

The Indigenes Newspaper, during an investigation posed salient questions to the Secretary General, Saa Ferdinand Kpulun of Badminton Association-Sierra Leone if the Czech Republic event is true? If not, then why were the players of Badminton Association did not take part? It is alleged that the erstwhile president of the Badminton Association-Sierra Leone, Chief Michael Mustapha, who is out of the country, *single-handedly* appointed Yusufu A. Bangura to serve in the capacity of Ag. President of the said Association and that, selected few of the executive members are using this sport as trade. As it is, it is said that there is no training ground for the Association and that it is being run as a one-man show; there are no facilities for the athletes.

To make matters worse, it is strongly alleged by the suspended National Coach, commonly known as Coach Pee that some executive members are selling Shengeh visas to outsiders who are not athletes and the actual athletes who have given up themselves for the sport are left stranded. Based on information gathered, it is unfortunate to know that athletes did not travel this year. No national competition is being organized, no African competition has been played either and the sport looks funny right now.

Is it true that Badminton Federation Africa has suspended the erstwhile President, Chief Michael Samson Mustapha on the grounds of suspected fraud activities? Another question was posed to the Secretary General of the aforesaid Association.

Is it also true that Chief Michael has alone withheld the pin code and activity plans of the association?

Is it true that the legitimate National Coach, Osman Kamara, commonly known as Coach Pee, was indefinitely suspended because he has been resisting manipulating attempts to jeopardize the image of the Association?

Those were the concerns forwarded by the aggrieved executive members.

Responding to the aforementioned concerns raised by the suspended National Coach and other aggrieved members, Saa Ferdinand Kpulun,the substantive Secretary General of the

association had this to say

“1. The Czech Republic program is real, and players did not participate due to financial constraints on the side of the association to facilitate travelling arrangements and requirements as set out by our Czech Republic counterparts.

2. The Czech program was not a sponsorship. Rather, our partners were responsible for lodging, feeding, and other internal arrangements as per agreement. All travelling expenses, insurances, tickets, sportswear, tickets to Ghana for VISA arrangements, VISA FEES were to be undertaken by the association, etc. We explored many avenues to no avail and therefore decided to cancel the trip.

3. There is nothing in our constitution that makes provision for quorum to be formed before the vice president of the association is approved to act as president. It is expressly provided for in our constitution that in the absence of the president, the vice president acts in that capacity till such time when the president returns. In fact, to legalize such action, a formal correspondence was written informing those concerned to direct all Badminton engagements to the acting president.

4. We, as an association, are ready to challenge evidence to any allegation of trading the integrity of the association.

5. We have currently secured two training grounds for the association since we were asked out of our previous training ground at Methodist Boys High School. However, neither international federation nor government have ever assisted the association to get a training facility or equipments, all is borne out of our hard earned resources.

6. Evidence on the sale of shengeh visas is also required and can be challenged at all levels.

7. Athletes did not travel because no travel opportunity came for them. The trip to only Czech Republic did not hold due to financial constraints.

8. To organize a national championship requires money, ministry, NSA, etc. They did not provide funds for any sporting activity involving Badminton so far.

9. Correspondence relating to the suspension of Mr. Mustapha by the Africa federation was not communicated to us as an association.

10. I did not understand what you mean about the pin code. The association does not use pin code.

11. The legitimate national coach, as you put it, has been suspended indefinitely by a unanimous decision by 2/3 majority of members of the executive for insubordination and it is very conspicable that he is involved in a slanderous blasphemous, and incitement of athletes against the executive that is geared towards throwing the image and integrity of the association into disrepute. As evidence in what he is doing now by falsely informing you, when he does not have any idea on sport administration.

It is for the sake of this so-called investigation that I decided to lend you my attention”. It is unfortunate to refer to a professional investigation being “so-called” by the Secretary General of Badminton Association.

Watch this space for subsequent publications on this matter.