Premier League defending Champions, East End Lions Football Club, have confirmed former U-17 skipper, Ibrahim Sillah, as the new head coach to replace John Keister, who was recently appointed as the Leone Stars Head Coach.
The former Lions player, who will be assisted by the Club’s ex-players, Gibrilla Woobay and Kei Gborie, was unveiled on Thursday September 17 2020 during the presentation of the Club’s 2019 Annual Report to the Sierra Leone Football Association at a press conference held at the African Young Voices media house at Tower Hill.
In her statement, East End Lions Chairlady, Asma James, who doubles as Chairperson of the occasion, said, as one of the oldest clubs in the country, Lions have prepared their Annual Report with well audited financial account for the Year 2019, which will be submitted to the SLFA as per law. She went further to express thanks and appreciation to the outgoing coach, John Keister, for the wonderful job done for the Club.
Presenting the 2019 Annual Report to the SLFA’s Scribe, Chris Kamara, East End Lions National Secretary General, Alpha Jalloh, said they always create while other follows, citing that, in his 12 years services in the Club’s executive, everything they did stands to be the first done by the Club.
“The amounts of things we have done, which others were unable to do, are so much. And we have the most vibrant executive; as a Club we have an obligation we are mandated by the rules of the game that we have to submit or report to the Football Association on a yearly basis. We are not joking to follow the law, which is the primary reason we are here today. We have other functions but, primarily, we are here to abide by the dictates of FIFA statutes. So, on behalf of the Elders, we have produced our annual report for 2019. On behalf of the Elders’ Committee, the Chairman, the Executive, the Fan Club, the players and the supporters of East End Lions, it’s my pleasure, as the Secretary General, to present to the SLFA East End Lion’s FC Annual Report for 2019,” he stated.
In his speech, the Chairman of East End Lions FC, Anthony Navo Junior, said his administration took over 2019. He said, as executive, they succeeded in winning the first league back to back unbeaten.
“It is a history for East End Lions and football in Sierra Leone. As it stands, we are still the defending champion of the Sierra Leone Premier League. We are here today; after one year, since we were took over as executive of the club, after being the vice Chairman under Sanusi Bruski for seven years. This is my first season as Chairman. And my executive won the league,” he boasted.
“East End Lions belongs to the people, so every year we are to give annual reports. Traditionally we have the Elders Committee, the Fan Club and the supporters, which is why we use this occasion to present our report to the SLFA. We have the unbeaten coach whose performance for Lions was recognized and was rewarded with a national team job as Coach. We also want to thank him; we also want to thank our media officers who were appointed by the SLFA. We also want to present to you our new Head Coach and his assistant,” Navo stated.
He went further to express thanks and appreciation to the Sierra Leone Football Association, especially the President, Madam Isha Johansen and Chris Kamara, for the disbursement of the COVID-19 Relief Fund.
“We, the executive, thought it fit to contribute and add to the ninety one million Leones given to us by the FA, to share among the players, Technical Team and the Elders Committee, the Fan Club, the Media team and more,” he said.
He concluded by presenting the new Head Coach, Ibrahim Sillah, and his assistants, Gibrilla Woobay and Kei Gborie. “It’s an honor to present to you the new Head Coach, Ibrahim Sillah, and his assistants, Gibrilla Woobay and Kei Gborie.”
Certificates of appreciation were presented to the outgoing Coach, John Keister, and members of the Elders Committee by East End Lions Global Representative, Madam Fatu Taqi, and statements were also made by Vice Chairman, Mohamed Gento Kamara, Financial Secretary, Festus Sowa, Aunty Kadie, member of the Elders Committee with the Public Relation Officer, Desmond Gbanya.