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Sierra Leonean entertainer and musician, Nasser Ayoub has raised concern over the deplorable state of the Craig Bellamy Football Academy located in Tombo, Western Rural District.
“The once famous Craig Bellamy Football Foundation now a ghost field,” Ayoub said in a post on his Facebook page.
He furthered by expressing a state of sadness over the condition of the academy.
The entertainer also called on authorities to revive the football school.
The foundation was started by former Liverpool and Manchester City football, Craig Bellamy in 2008 in what was Sierra Leone’s first professional football academy.
The charity organised football galas for under 12s and 14s while providing school fees for hundreds of participating kids.
The charity recruited several talented kids from youth clubs across the country into the academy.
One of the most famous among other graduates from the academy was Anderlecht forward Mustapha Bundu.
Bundu now plays for the Sierra Leonean national team and was named 2021 Leone Stars AFCON squad.
The academy, however, spiralled into the doldrums due to mismanagement and had to shutdown in 2017 without notice.
Bellamy has been commended by many locals for the gesture in investing in Sierra Leonean football.
The former Welsh International announced bankruptcy earlier in 2023 in an emotional letter to the public.
