By Ebrima Mbaye
The upcoming elections of the Central River Region Football Association (CRR FA), slated for May 22, 2025, have sparked controversy and growing unrest among key stakeholders, as accusations of constitutional violations and bias threaten to undermine the credibility of the entire process.
Tensions have risen following the appointment of Mr. Yahya Faal as Chairman of the Electoral Committee and the selection of Magies Lodge as the venue for the elective congress. Both decisions have drawn sharp criticism from Team Abdoulie Kamana Ceesay, one of the leading camps vying for the presidency.
In a strongly-worded letter addressed to the incumbent CRR FA President and the Executive Council, dated May 2, 2025, the team condemned what it described as a blatant disregard for the association’s constitution and democratic principles. The letter, signed by the team’s Secretary General, Muhammed L. Saidykhan, minced no words in calling out what it sees as an orchestrated attempt to manipulate the electoral outcome in favor of the rival camp, Team Usman.
“We strongly reject and condemn the unconstitutional appointment of Mr. Yahya Faal as Chairman of the Electoral Committee,” the statement reads, referencing Section 30.2 of the CRR FA Constitution which mandates that the electoral committee “shall be elected by the General Assembly one year before the election.”
According to the team, the formation of the committee outside of that constitutional framework is both reckless and illegal, and signals a deliberate effort to subvert the democratic process. The letter further decried the selection of Magies Lodge, owned by the sitting CRR FA President as the congress venue, calling it a “conflict of interest” given the President’s alleged support for Team Usman.
“This venue selection is not only unethical but reeks of bias… the leadership is actively complicit in tilting the playing field,” the team asserted.
Team Abdoulie Kamana Ceesay has since demanded the immediate nullification of Mr. Faal’s appointment, the disbandment of the electoral committee, and the relocation of the congress to a neutral venue, warning that failure to do so could plunge the association into a crisis of legitimacy.
The letter, which was also copied to the Gambia Football Federation (GFF), ended with a strong call for constitutional order and democratic accountability within the region’s football leadership.
As the May 22nd congress approaches, all eyes remain on the CRR FA leadership and how it will respond to growing pressure for reform and impartiality in the conduct of its elections.
