The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) is investigating the head coach of Old Edwardians Football Club, Abdulai ‘Kaloga’ Bah for sexual allegations.
Coach Kaloga was accused in 2021 by three players of the Sierra Leone Female team.
The move by FIFA is precipitated by the lack of ‘independence and scope’ by the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA). The World Football Body has said that their ethics’ committee will handle the matter.
One of the players that accused the coach is Bilkisu Kandeh-Turay who said that the coach sent her nude photos after she complained about the poor standard of treatment they get as players of the female team.
Kandeh-Turay said she had reported the coach several times to relevant authorities but that they fail to take action. She said they hinted to her that Kaloga is ‘very powerful’.
Another player that accused the coach is Zainab Conteh, a goalkeeper for FC Kallon Female team. She said the coach had asked her for sex and even requested she sent nude videos for her.
The SLFA initially took action and suspended the coach in October 2021 and he was also locked up for more than nine days after the report surfaced but has since been on bail.
The police, however, recently they said that there is not enough evidence to further the case. The Inspector-General of Police was in particular quoted to have said that photos and messages were not enough evidence.
Late yesterday, the Old Edwardians Football Club were Kaloga works as head coach refuted the report that he was under investigation by FIFA and that no correspondence has been sent to the club.
Whether Kaloga will be on the touch line this weekend for Old Edwardians will depend on how fast the investigation will go. But if the coach is found guilty of the offence, he could lose his license or face possible suspension.