Vickie Remoe Institute of Digital Communications

Mohamed Kallon Fmr. Leone Stars Capt. detained then released on bail in Sierra Leone

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Mohamed Kallon

Mohamed Kallon at a FC Johansen CAF match in 2013
Photo (c) GoWomanAfrica

After voluntarily reporting to the police, Mohamed Kallon, the former captain of Sierra Leone’s national football team, was today detained for 7 hours and later released on bail according to a statement made by his lawyer Emmanuel Abdulai.

Kallon was allegedly  detained for intimidating, and assaulting Isha Johansen, the nation’s Football Association president. Many were shocked to hear Kallon had been taken in because media reports had confirmed that Johansen had slapped Kallon.Witnesses on the scene told sports reporter Sahr Morris that Kallon verbally provoked Johansen, but no one had said that Kallon had physically assaulted Johansen in the altercation, who says she slapped Kallon out of self defence after he grabbed her.

In Mohamed F. Barrie’ report to the BBC Kallon had said he was going to file charges against Johansen, but it seems she has beat him to it.

“The incident happened after a FA Cup match involving Kallon’s team, Kallon FC Jr, in Freetown on Thursday.

“I was asked by Isha to talk to Kallon FC fans to leave the ground after the game because the fans were making comments against the referees. But I told her that she should ask them out herself,” the ex-Inter Milan and Monaco striker told BBC Sport.

“She then slapped me on the back of my neck. I didn’t retaliate, and I even restrained my supporters from retaliating.

“I have reported the matter to the police and I’m taking legal action.

“My fans were making comments because they were not happy about the poor officiating of the game.”

Johansen has refused to comment on the matter, but SLFA spokesman John Konteh revealed Johansen has also reported the issue to the police.

“Isha Johansen will not make any comment for now so as not to prejudice the police investigation,” he said.

Johansen’s report to the police states that she slapped Kallon in self defence because he pushed her.

The report further states that Kallon had used abusive language against Johansen when he was having an argument with the owner of the winning team before the slapping incident.

There has been bad feeling between Kallon and Johansen since the SLFA elections last August.

Both Kallon and Johansen were nominated for the position of president but Kallon was disqualified while Johansen was elected unopposedto become the first female boss of the SLFA.”

Source: BBC

 

4 comments

  1. Henry Coker 11 March, 2014 at 07:16 Reply

    I know it was an alleged assault and the protection of the individual is paramount in a country, but please let us be adult in this instance and resolve the underlining problem. The refusal of the males in the FA to accept the Lady as president of the FA. It is a macho thing that these men feel they can do a better job and how dare a woman stepping up to invade their territory. Well the reality is that men invented the world and are in danger of destroying it so we need a different species to save this world. Honestly as a man how far and what has SLFA achieved in over 100 years. not much to show just empty chest beating and pounding. Let this woman carry on with the job and you will have your chance to wallow in the success or failure, but I doubt if she will fail. Good luck Madam our society still do not understand that it is not because you played football so you can be an administrator. Belt up you all work to forward the FA not pull it apart, football is a team sport. Sadly in Sierra Leone personalities worshiping clouds our good sense of judgements, to be dispassionate, in our choice of candidates to do the job.

    • Charles Fillie 12 March, 2014 at 15:17 Reply

      Honestly, some people are missing the point or being deliberately dishonest because of affiliation and connections. Diverting or slanting the issue towards the gender debate is wrong and misleading. The issue in not that of a woman becoming head of SLFA. In fact, Sierra Leoneans are very tolerant of women leader(save the north). The issue is openly and unashamedly rigging the football process leading to the appointment of Aisa Johanssen. I can remember vividly, seated in my office one Suday afternoon, then suddenly on TV came an press release! Who was on air? One journalist lady as part of a committee overseeing the SLFA election process including Alie Fornah, etc. What business and technical expertise would any of these appointees have in football? By the middle of the press release, I had smelled foul play. Indeed, the saga that followed justified my fears and expectations. Unless we become truthful to ourselves in this nation, we shall never progress or prosper.
      Thus, the issue is the selection(should have been election) process rather the gender issue. Please lets wake up to move this nation forward.

  2. Henry Coker 15 March, 2014 at 13:09 Reply

    A quote from Charles Fillie
    “Honestly, some people are missing the point or being deliberately dishonest because of affiliation and connections. Diverting or slanting the issue towards the gender debate is wrong and misleading. The issue in not that of a woman becoming head of SLFA”.
    This is:
    Some angry words in an otherwise controllable situation. Why is it that we first see the point from an attacking position rather than a conciliatory angle. At last what was been requested had being arrived at without much opprobrium. We must learn to accept that there are shades of views on any matter and should not draw daggers when you are confronted with a contrary argument. Argument is necessary for resolution of matters however complex. This is the way we play our politics no room for arguments and reasoning – tell us why it has nothing to do with gender and show us evidence how the society has represented the pinnacle of gender equality.

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