-But tension heightens
By: Thomas Kojo Roulhac
Monrovia – Liberia Football Association (LFA) President Mustapha Raji instructed the secretariat not to formally invite former secretary-general Isaac T. Z. Montgomery to the 28th ordinary congress at the LFA headquarters in Congo Town on 13 April.
Per history and tradition, an invitation is sent to former presidents, vice presidents, and secretary-generals to attend the congress.
But Montgomery, who served from December 2018 to December 2022, was never given any invitation. “For those in charge of governance at our football house, is there any reason why I have not been extended an invitation to attend tomorrow’s congress as a former GS (general secretary)?” he questioned the authority.
Montgomery wrote in the Talk Football chat room on WhatsApp at 9:34 PM on 12 April.
“: “Last congress, I received [my invitation] through email. Is there any reason? Is there a plan to remove the table of former GS tomorrow at the congress?
This question is for those charged with governance please.”
The LFA invited former President Sombo Izetta Wesley (Cllr.) and secretary-generals Idrissa Kaba and Yanqueh Borsah.
Several persons, including Armah Baxter, Sensii Kiadii, Melton Yoko, Dr. Clarence Yaskey, and former Liberia internationals Washington Blay and Anthony Laffor, were invited as observers. Before the congress, Raji, who sued Montgomery for libel in December 2023, sent an emissary to call Montgomery for a truce during the closing ceremonies of the Orange first division at the Samuel Kanyon Doe sports complex practice pitch on 7 April.
Montgomery told former LFA Vice President Wilmot Smith, who disclosed it in the TalkFootball chat room on 9 April.
The former FIFA-badged referee informed Vice President Sekou Konneh, who was in India, about his exclusion by Raji.
Raji contacted on 15 April, didn’t respond to a WhatsApp message on why Montgomery was excluded from the congress as we went to press.
