Two of the three disqualified presidential candidates for the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) election, Mohamed Kallon and Rodney Michael, have reacted angrily to the decision to ban them from the Saturday August 3 elective congress.

According to the world governing body FIFA constituted Normalization Committee, Kallon was disqualified on the grounds that he did not meet the requirement of Article 32(4) of the SLFA Constitution, which states that: "The members of the executive committee shall be citizens of Sierra Leone and shall have resided in Sierra Leone for a period of no less than five (5) years prior to the congress of which they seek to be elected."

However, Kallon has refuted the Committee's decision, stating that he was disappointed with the verdict.

"I'm very disappointed with the decision and I believe it was politically motivated because the Sports Minister, Paul Kamara, has publicly backed Isha. I know I'm qualified [to contest in the election]," he said.

"I have given over 19 years of my life playing for Sierra Leone, spent a lot of cash on Kallon FC and helped to develop kids; more than 15 boys now have a professional football abroadcareer. I've produced 80% of the players now playing for the Leone Stars; but is this how they are paying me back for all my contributions?

"I now know that I'm not appreciated and wanted in Sierra Leone by the government as a whole. In this regard my team Kallon FC is dead. I don't want anything to do with Sierra Leone football again."

On the other hand, Rodney Michael was disqualified by the Committee for allegedly contravening Article25 of the FIFA Code of Ethics, which states that: "Persons bound by this code shall be forbidden from taking part in, either directly or indirectly, or otherwise being associated with betting, gambling, lotteries and similar events or transactions connected with football. They are forbidden from having stakes either actively or passively in companies, concerns, organizations etc. that promote, and broker, arrange or conduct such events."

In his reaction, Michael stated that he is not going to accept the decision and that he is waiting on his legal team to follow his next line of action.

The other presidential candidate, Foday Turay and vice presidential runner, Idrissa'Mago' Tarawallie were also disqualified under the same provision.

However, the decision saw hundreds of supporters of the disqualified candidates carrying placards of both Kallon and Michaelon Sunday evening marching their way to the Presidential Lodge in protesting against the Committee's decision to proscribe their candidates.

They were however denied access to see the president by security personnel.