By Hassan Osman Kargbo
East End Lions Football Club has issued a scathing public statement condemning the conduct of Leone Stars National Team Head Coach, Mohamed Kallon, accusing him of unethical and unprofessional behaviour in his dealings with the club’s players.
The club alleges that Kallon approached two East End Lions players for a trip to Nigeria without proper authorization, initially presenting the arrangement as a club assignment with FC Kallon, which he owns. However, the club says Kallon later misrepresented the trip as a home-based Leone Stars engagement in an attempt to secure the players’ participation.
According to East End Lions, the proposed trip was not sanctioned by the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), nor did the club receive any official communication or invitation regarding the players’ involvement. The club has since reported the matter to the SLFA, Confederation of African Football (CAF), FIFA, and the organizers of the Nigerian tournament.
In their statement, the club emphasized that this is not a FIFA international window, and as such, they are under no obligation to release any player for national duty or friendly engagements. They have warned that any player who chooses to travel without the club’s consent would face disciplinary consequences.
Beyond the unauthorized player approach, East End Lions raised serious concerns over Mohamed Kallon’s dual role as both the head coach of the national team and owner of FC Kallon. The club argues such represents a clear conflict of interest and undermines the fairness of player selection for national team duties.
The statement accuses Kallon of leveraging his national team position to pressure players into joining FC Kallon with the implied promise of international exposure. “This conduct violates the principles of integrity, meritocracy, and transparency in the game,” the club stated.
East End Lions further pointed out that Kallon is the only local coach in Sierra Leone’s history to be appointed as national team manager while refusing to resign from his club coaching role, a situation they believe jeopardizes the credibility of national football operations.
“This dual role raises questions about fairness and accountability. It sends the wrong signal to players and clubs across the country, suggesting that national team selection is influenced by club affiliation rather than performance and merit,” the statement read.
In light of the allegations, East End Lions is calling on the SLFA to immediately investigate the matter and take appropriate action to protect the integrity and professionalism of Sierra Leonean football. The club insists that decisive steps are needed to prevent future incidents of such nature and to ensure that all stakeholders operate within the bounds of ethical conduct.
As the controversy unfolds, the football community in Sierra Leone is watching closely to see how the governing bodies will respond. The outcome may set a precedent for managing conflicts of interest and upholding transparency in national football management.
