STANDARD TIMES PRESS SIERRA LEONE Kenema Town Councilor Exposes Mayor For Bragging About Le1.7 Million Support To Kamboi Eagles PAGE

Following wide spread accusations that the Kenema City Council has neglected the Kamboi Eagles Football Team in terms of financial,moral and other supports to enable the club record victories in the on going Sierra Leone Premier League ,the Chairman of the Education Youth and Sport Committee of the Council, Councilor Ahmidu Bah has refuted reports that the One Million Seven Hundred Thousand Leones (1,700,000)that was dished out to the Management of Kamboi Eagles was allegedly from the pocket of the Mayor of the Kenema City Council, Mr. Brima Kargbo.Councilor Bah explained that the money was not from the pocket of the Mayor as reported or circulated by his supporters.

He said that the Mayor can make whatever financial gesture he intends to make from his pocket, but the financial contribution made to the team was from the Council Fund which the entire Council members decided to help the team with to support players and honour away matches. He said that the council had received funds for sporting activities from the devolved grant and money collected from the use of the city, adding that the Council will continue to support the team and promote sporting activity in the Kenema municipality. Councilor Bah said that the Mayor was wrong to have told the people that the money he gave to the Management of Kamboi Eagles was from his personal coffer which has subjected the Council to constant criticism from the people.

The Vice Chairman of Kamboi Eagle, Mr. Sallu P. Bangura when contacted, said that they received the amount from the Mayor as a form of assistance for the transfer of players and to honour away matches. �Whether it was from the Mayor�s pocket or from the Council fund, we as a Management is happy for the gesture and thanked those behind the donation� Remarked Mr. Bangura, and added that the Mayor provided three vehicles to transport supporters to Bo last week when they had a match with Nepean Stars in Bo, but could not explain whether or not the vehicles were provided and fueled by the Mayor or the Council.

Meanwhile, Mayor Kargbo has told this reporter in a telephone conversation that the issue of Kamboi Eagles was initially not accepted by many Councilors, and explained that though he is not a member of any Football Club in the Country, he was just trying to help. Mayor Brima Kargbo said he does not feel intimidated or embarrassed by the statement of the Councilors because a the Council dished out the money willingly.Many residents have referred to the Mayor as a confused and inconsistent man, who should apologize to the Council and residents of Kenema

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