By Dadson A. Musa
What is Thomas Daddy Brima’s crime in heading footballing activities in Sierra Leone that he should deserve the level of hate, vilification, backbiting and attempts to pull him down. Is it that being the president of the football association is a crime that should attract and generate haters.? Daddy Brima has not been alone in this. The man was away on national assignment and the detractors were busy shutting down the secretariat. It was cowardly and unpatriotic, to say the least. And it is not only about football it is the “salone man bad heart” at its best.
To the best of my memory, it started with Nahim Kadi and then Isha Johansen. The Sierra Leonean attitude for now is so stereotyped that once you are put in a position whether selected or elected the hate against you will show up its ugly head. And for some people, it is not that they can provide better alternative to what you are doing but to get you out of the way, period. We saw something similar in Cameroon against Samuel Eto’o who has brought so much laurels for his country and the continent. In fact, Daddy Brima has come out lucky, Isha and Nahim Kadi were so hated that the game of football almost came to extinction in Sierra Leone. Reportedly, Nahim Kadi had to fly to England for fear for his life.
Not denying the fact that Babadi Kamara, the new kid on the block has not done any good to football. In fact, he has started surprisingly nicely. But should not allow self-serving individuals to rush him. He still has time and should learn his trade well so once he is there then we are assured that he can do a perfect job.
Daddy Brima has been around leadership for years. He may have his flaws, but some Babadi apologists are pushing things in a way that is going to create a lot of tension in the country. What we saw in the postponed FA Cup final in the north of the country is a reminder that it promises to be ugly. And that is what Sierra Leone does not need for now. We were absent from the continental tournament for over two decades and under Thomas Daddy Brima’s tenure we made it again with an honourable exit. The premier league in Sierra Leone is running uninterrupted for the last few years now. Let us face it, Sierra Leone is playing home matches in foreign countries yet we are still doing well. Artificial turfs are across the country and we are going to see a look of a refurbished international -standard stadium. Babadi is advised to use his money wisely and not to waste it on praise-singers and bootlickers.
They are behind him now for the money, period and not for the good of football (QED). Point to Daddy Brima’s greatest evil to football and I will say he does not deserve a second term. This piece is meant to calm nerves and allow natural courses to have their way. Let us allow the game of football to grow. Our youths need jobs; they deserve so much now that this government is ready to give them opportunities especially in sports. Both Daddy Brima and Babadi Kamara are fine gentlemen. One should be complementing the efforts of the other and not pitching them against each other.
Copyright –Published in print in Expo Times Newspaper on Friday, June 14th , 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
