Kallon Breaks Silence on Leone Stars Exit, Cites Contract Disputes and Administrative Tensions

Former Leone Stars head coach Mohamed Kallon has publicly addressed his controversial departure, citing contractual disagreements, administrative confusion, and internal tensions within the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) as key factors behind his exit.

Speaking during a live session, Kallon expressed deep gratitude to the people of Sierra Leone and the global Sierra Leonean community for their unwavering support throughout his playing and coaching career.

“I just want to continuously say thank you for the trust and belief,” he said, acknowledging both fans and his technical team for their dedication during his tenure.

Kallon praised his backroom staff, including Paul Parker and Musa Kallon, describing their contributions as “marvelous” and “fantastic.” He also commended the players he worked with over the past year, noting their commitment and professionalism.

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According to Kallon, he assessed between 80 and 100 home-based players, emphasizing their potential and contributions to the national team setup.

He revealed that he initially declined the coaching role when approached by former SLFA President Thomas Daddy Brima, as he was focused on developing a football academy. However, after multiple discussions involving SLFA officials, including the Executive Director, he eventually accepted the position.

Kallon stated that his acceptance was based on specific conditions, including full control over team selection and technical decisions, the ability to appoint his own backroom staff, and assurance of full institutional support.

“These were the key conditions for me to take the job,” he explained.

Following the election of new SLFA President Babadi Kamara, Kallon said he was reassured of continued support and a results-oriented approach from the new administration.

However, tensions reportedly began to emerge during contract renegotiations initiated by the new executive.

A major sticking point, Kallon disclosed, was a disagreement over salary responsibility between the SLFA and the National Sports Authority (NSA). He noted that while the NSA had traditionally handled coaches’ salaries, the new arrangement suggested the SLFA would assume that responsibility, creating confusion over accountability.

“At one point, SLFA said they would pay me, while NSA said they would pay. I didn’t know who to engage,” he stated.

Kallon firmly denied allegations that he signed any separate agreement with the NSA, stressing that he remained professional throughout the process.

He also pointed to ongoing disputes between the SLFA, NSA, and the Ministry of Sports, which he said placed him “in the middle” of broader administrative conflicts.

The former coach criticized what he described as a pattern of poor treatment of coaches, including delays in issuing contracts and failure to honor agreements.

Kallon emphasized the need for structural reform in Sierra Leone football, particularly in ensuring transparency, accountability, and professionalism in coaching appointments.

“If we want to develop football, we must get it right from the beginning,” he said, highlighting the importance of granting coaches autonomy and clear contractual backing.

Kallon, a former international football star, was appointed head coach of the Leone Stars in February last year. His tenure lasted approximately 13 months and included efforts to rebuild the national team with a focus on home-based talent.

His statement comes amid growing public debate and protests over his dismissal, as well as broader concerns about football governance in Sierra Leone.