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The Executive Committee of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has announced 1st March, 2025 as the new date for the holding of its Ordinary Congress. A Notification signed by Nine (9) out of Eleven (11) Committee members says the decision was “in line with Article 26, Par. 2” of the Association’s statutes.
Clearly, the move was in compliance to a recent court order that stopped the FA from proceeding with a planned Congress since its previous notice fell short of indicating a date and proper venue – an ominous omission that contravenes SLFA laws.
According to some observers, the omission was a deliberate ploy to disenfranchise certain candidates ahead of a Congress that would determine the future of football administration in Sierra Leone. The new development is also believed to be the outcome of an out-of-court settlement between the FA and agrieved parties.
As the drama unfolds, we have been reliably informed that football executives and stakeholders from the Northern and Northwestern Regions of Sierra Leone are throwing their support for Bo Rangers Executive Chairman, Babadi Kamara for the FA presidency.
The Northern stakeholders have based their decision to support someone outside their region on Kamara’s unparalleled leadership, support and investment in the game. They mentioned several instances when the Bo Rangers Chairman (who once served as Team Manager for the National Team, Leone Stars) has gone out of his way to support struggling football teams across the country.
Prominent among these Northern Region delegates is Member of Parliament from Bombali, Mohamed Papa Bangura who is also a senior executive of the Wusum Stars Football Club. The Member of Parliament from Bombali was emphatic when we averred:
“I believe he has the capacity and passion to develop football in Sierra Leone. We have seen people who have been exposed to opportunities in football but such opportunities have not translated to the growth of the game…..in the case of Babadi, it’s a different story.”
Hon Mohamed Papa Bangura further reiterated that, districts in the entire Northern Region are throwing their support for the business tycoon and that, football stakeholders in that region have resolved to reject any form of regional, ethical or political pressure in their decision to elect the person that would become the next SLFA President.
“Politics or region should have no place in football” he stressed.
Other Nothern Region Football executives, including the Secretary of the Port Loko District Football Association and the Bai Bureh Warriors FC, Alhaji Salifu Kargbo shared similar sentiments.
“As a Region and a District, we are united in our support for Babadi Kamara. We believe in his leadership and ability to transform football to the level we will all be proud of”
While Babadi Kamara himself is yet to publicly declare his intention to run for the FA Presidency, there are many who believe that the man who has single handedly built a 6,000 capacity stadium in the Southern Region, re-established a modern football club and spent over SLe1.5 Billion (old Leones) to support football tournaments across the country is firmly on course to become the first gentleman of the country’s football association .
