Anthony Junior Navo, head of Public Relations of the Mining Company African Minerals Ltd (AML) has refuted report that his company has thrown its weight behind the candidacy of Madam Isha Johansen to become the next President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA).

Navo was reacting to report posted on Facebook on Saturday 13th April 2013 (See full post below) by the Press Attache of the Sierra Leone Embassy in Belgium Chernor Ojuku Sesay that the country rep of AML Moseray Fadika has committed the Mining Company’s full sponsorship of the country's national teams (Leone Stars, Sierra Stars, Shooting Stars and Sierra Queens), but only if Isha heads the SLFA.

He said “What Ojuku has posted on facebook about AML backing the candidacy of Madam Isha Johansen is NOT true. We as responsible company will not and will never do such a thing.”

“We are a public company and our support for football will not be determined by the outcome of the SLFA elections. We’ve been given support to football all these years and we’ll continue our support to the game regardless of whosoever wins the SLFA Presidential election.

“We have a Public Relations Unit at AML, so if we want to put out information we do it through our PR Unit NOT through Chernor Ojuku Sesay or anyone.

But Navo who doubles up as Vice Chairman of East End Lions FC confirmed his personal support for Madam Johansen. “Personally I’m supporting Madam Johansen to become the next SLFA President because my club East End Lions have taken a position to endorse her candidacy.”

“As for my boss Moseray Fadika, I can’t speak for him but he decides to support Isha or anyone, he’s doing it in his personal capacity Not as AML country rep.

Meanwhile,Navo in a telephone interview with me[Amadu Lamrana Bah]this morning denied Sorie Ibrahim's comment that Moseray Fadika declared AML's support to Isha at Cape Verde.

By Mohamed Fajah Barrie