Post a comment 
The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has officially received the report of its Ad Hoc Committee established to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of former Mighty Blackpool player, Bureh Ganso Koroma.
The report was presented to SLFA President Babadi Kamara at the FA Secretariat in Kingtom on Friday, 20 February 2026.
The five-member committee, chaired by Victor Idrissa Lansana Esq, was constituted on 29 November 2025 pursuant to Article 55 of the SLFA Statutes. Its establishment followed widespread public concerns and allegations of negligence after the player’s death in November last year.
The Committee was mandated to review and investigate claims of neglect in connection with Koroma’s passing, which occurred after an on-pitch collision during a friendly match between Mighty Blackpool and the national team.
In its findings, the Committee concluded that although there was a heavy collision during the match, it did not result in a brain fracture. The report stated that the player was not medically fit to have participated in the friendly and later died due to a combination of factors, including lack of adequate follow-up medical care, substance abuse, and failure to adhere to medical advice.
The Committee further observed that both the national team and Mighty Blackpool failed to ensure sustainable access to quality medical care for the player.
The report also highlighted broader systemic gaps within Sierra Leone football, including the absence of structured medical policies at both club and national levels, lack of mandatory medical fitness tests before local friendlies and training sessions, unavailability of standby ambulances at match venues, and the absence of a comprehensive doping policy and testing regime.
Additionally, it pointed to poor coordination within the national team’s medical structure and longstanding institutional challenges among key stakeholders in the sports sector.
Among its key recommendations, the Committee proposed: Financial support for the education of the late player’s two children; establishment of medical schemes and emergency funds for players; Introduction of doping education and testing programmes; Improved collaboration between coaches and medical teams; Formal agreements among football stakeholders to clearly define roles and responsibilities.
Receiving the report, President Babadi Kamara commended the Committee for what he described as thorough and professional work. He assured that the document would be submitted to the Executive Committee to determine a clear timeline for implementing its recommendations.
The SLFA President disclosed that the Association has engaged the 34 Military Hospital, with plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to provide medical support for Premier League and national team players.
He also announced plans to establish a joint emergency medical fund, to be financed by contributions from the SLFA and Premier League clubs, aimed at addressing urgent health situations involving players.
President Kamara reaffirmed the Association’s commitment to proactively implementing the Committee’s recommendations and stated that the SLFA intends to provide additional support to the family of the late Bureh Ganso Koroma beyond what was proposed in the report.
