The Citizens United for the Promotion and Development of Sports (CUPDS) has criticized the appointment of Emmett Crayton, the former President of Gardnerville Football Club, as the new Secretary General of the Liberia Football Association (LFA).
The group argues that this appointment constitutes a conflict of interest. Gardnerville FC, currently owned by Montserrado County Senator Saah H. Joseph, was previously the feeder club for the Liberian Shipping and Corporate Registry Football Club (LISCR FC), where the current LFA President, Mustapha Raji, serves as Chief Executive Officer.
Emmett Crayton was the President of Gardnerville FC during this time. Crayton’s appointment was endorsed by the LFA Executive Committee on June 18 and he was officially introduced to LFA staff on June 20.
He succeeds Atty. Kollie Dorko, who resigned on April 30 after 16 months in the role, following Isaac T.Z. Montgomery’s four-year term. The unveiling ceremony was attended by LFA President Mustapha Raji, 1st Vice President Professor Sekou Konneh, and numerous LFA employees.
CUPDS in a statement, expressed concern that while there may be no explicit legal prohibition against Crayton’s appointment, the move compromises the independence of the LFA Secretariat. The group emphasized the need for an autonomous and dynamic secretariat to effectively foster the development of football in Liberia.
“The Citizens United for the Promotion and Development of Sports views the recent appointment of Mr. Emmett Crayton as Secretary General of the Liberia Football Association as a conflict of interest. We believe the LFA requires an independent and vibrant Secretariat to advance Liberian football. Appointing Crayton, who once led Gardnerville FC under Raji’s ownership, does not bode well for the sport’s development,” the statement read. Critics often label us as anti-Raji, but our goal is to urge sports policymakers to enhance football, the most popular sport in our country,” the statement continued.
The CUPDS insists that their primary aim is to promote the improvement of sports, especially football, through advocating for transparent and fair administrative practices within the LFA.
