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East End Lions Football Club has secured its 13th Sierra Leone Premier League (SLPL) title, capping off a successful 2024/25 season under the guidance of head coach Mohamed Lamin Kamara.
The team was crowned champions on Monday evening at the Approved School playing field following a 1-1 draw with Star Sports Academy. With one match remaining, the Lions have accumulated 70 points from 33 games, recording 21 wins, 7 draws, and 5 losses.
Speaking to Awoko Newspaper, Coach Kamara reflected on the challenges faced during the campaign, citing focus, resilience, and determination as central to their success. He acknowledged making personal sacrifices, such as adjusting training schedules and covering transport expenses, to ensure the team stayed on course.
“Becoming league champions, this season involved overcoming numerous hurdles, he stated. Our focus, resilience, and unwavering determination allowed us to surpass rivals, navigate challenges, and ultimately succeed.”
Kamara’s return to East End Lions, after coaching Wusum Stars, proved decisive. He explained that while Wusum Stars is a strong club, he saw greater opportunities to win the league with the Lions. His leadership also balanced dual roles, as he continued serving as a national team coach.
“Wusum Stars is a great club, but I did not see immediate prospects of winning the league there,” he said. “When the opportunity to coach Lions came, I embraced it and we transformed quickly, culminating in this historic triumph.”
Earlier this year, Kamara guided Sierra Leone’s U-20 team, the Shooting Stars to their first-ever appearance at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, where they were eliminated by Morocco. He believes the experience enhanced his tactical approach to club football.
Looking ahead, East End Lions will represent Sierra Leone in the preliminary round of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League. Kamara, who holds an A License certification from both the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), expressed confidence in the team’s prospects if preparations are handled properly.
“East End Lions can go as far we prepare and get things right,” he stated.
He also encouraged other coaches to remain committed and avoid distractions, emphasizing discipline and perseverance as keys to success.
“My dream is to continually improve and serve those who believe in me and my work”, he said.
East End Lions’ latest triumph strengthens their position as one of Sierra Leone’s most successful football clubs since the Premier League’s inception in 1980.
