The National Sports Authority (NSA) has on the 20th June, 2024, brought together sports stakeholders in a bid to have a sealed discussion towards the National Sports Development Fund.

It was reported that, the engagement was aimed at bringing together these individuals in having their vital contributions as well as incorporating valuable ideas from different representatives within 61 organizations across the board which are key highlights to the draft statutory instrument relate to its governance structure, revenue resources, eligibility, institutional roles and responsibilities, among others, adding that since President Bio launched the National Sports Basket Fund on December 10, 2021, and donated ten billion old Leones to the initiative, two good years have elapsed for which they have to come on-board to have the sector moving and achieving diverse goals.

The Executive Director of NSA, Dr Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai Esq, said the NSA has developed the regulations for the conduct of the Sports Development Foundation, for which the stakeholders should establish the institutional framework through expert contributions. “In the coming weeks, we are going to engage you again for your varied contributions to the Anti-doping and Court of Arbitration instruments to take sports to prosperous heights,” he said.

On the need to thrive beyond the current space, Dr. Abdulai called on sporting organizations to stop the internal fights and work towards concrete development. “This is not business as usual. You have six months to put your houses in order.

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They maintained that, by next year, any sporting discipline that fails to meet our established benchmarks will be starved from benefiting from Government support,” he pointed out, adding that he wants to see the growth of all sporting organizations.

In his statement,  the Chairman of the Parliamentary Sports Oversight Committee, Hon. Hindolo Mohamed Ngevao, thanked Dr. Abdulai for making the day possible and for bringing good omen to sports development. “I am satisfied with the way the new NSA Executive Director expended government money. Our responsibility is to supervise government expenditures,” he said, stating that sport brings people together and has the power to control human nerves.

Madam Augusta James-Teima the Minister of Sports, maintained that, sporting is a vital tool in the country and has taken a positive turn in development which has to be built upon, as it is gathering the central support and vision.

She expressed her ministry’s commitment towards enhancing the sporting sector in the country as well as pledging her Ministry’s support to work with all to push development forward with the Development Fund in mind.

She added that, the Ministry of Sports and the NSA are working together as they consult with each other in order to deliver sports for the people of Sierra Leone.