Infrastructure is the backbone of sports. Several empirical studies have established sports as a beneficial activity with positive impacts on the state of health, education and the economy.
In recent years, it has been acknowledged that the construction and refurbishment of sports infrastructure can stimulate economic development, whether it involves large facilities or small. Therefore, the development of such infrastructure plays a significant role in urban and rural planning.
With regards to the lack of proper sport infrastructure in the country, on February 27, 2021 the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) banned the country’s National Stadium due to its deplorable condition from the poor pitch to the lack of facilities although overturned in a short period the fact of the matter remains visible and true on the ground.
This is just a fraction of the issue. Comparing lack of improved sport infrastructure in the country, it is undoubtedly certain that the Sierra Leone Premier League has been in existence for about 55 years (1967) and yet to brag of standard stadia without mentioning the National Stadium and Southern Arena.
The Sierra Leone Premier League is the biggest sport league in the country which is yet to enjoy standard football pitches. Amidst the 2021/2022 Sierra Leone Premier League season, Sierra Leoneans have reacted and requested that the SLFA double up their game and improve field conditions around the country.
The Premier League among other leagues in the country can only boast of Bo Stadium, the Southern Arena, which is yet to be completed. Other football pitches which host major league games are the way the used to be years back. Attouga, Approved school, Parade ground, Angola town, Police field within the capital are instances from the bigger picture without artificial turf or much improvements. The provincial part of the country are not exceptional since the capital still struggles.
Commenting of the issue at hand Bangalie Baa Traore disclosed “We keep on asking about how the funds are been used by SLFA for the intended purposes and nobody will be held accountable or take responsibility of the huge embezzlement.”
“Exactly, this is not the kind of field our players should be playing anymore” Osman John Kargbo reacted to the issue.
Football within these years have been invested so much at, progress has been seen but the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has to look into this issue of poor football conditions and make amends.
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