By Hassan Osman Kargbo
The President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), Babadi Kamara, has made a generous donation of modern stadium equipment to East End Lions Football Club to support the ongoing construction of the club’s artificial turf at the Trade Centre Field in Freetown.
The donation, made in his personal capacity, includes a modern substitute bench for both home and visiting teams, dedicated seats for match commissioners and coordinators, and 30 bags of crumb rubber — a vital component used to enhance the comfort, safety, and durability of artificial turf surfaces.
Presenting the equipment to the club’s leadership, President Kamara commended East End Lions for taking the bold initiative to invest in their own football infrastructure. He described the project as a major step in strengthening football development at the club and national levels.
“I want to sincerely applaud East End Lions for this visionary project,” he said. “Clubs should not only focus on winning matches but also on building facilities that will sustain the game and inspire future generations. What East End Lions are doing is in line with modern football standards and should be emulated by other clubs.”
President Kamara noted that infrastructure development remains one of the key requirements of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) under its Club Licensing Regulations. He emphasized that for Sierra Leonean clubs to compete effectively at continental levels, they must meet the CAF standards for playing facilities, administration, and governance.
He explained that his gesture was part of his personal commitment to supporting the growth of football infrastructure across Sierra Leone. “Football development is not only about administration and tournaments; it is about creating the right environment for players to train, play, and progress,” he said. “This is my way of contributing to the game beyond the SLFA. I believe every effort counts.”
President Kamara, who is also the developer of the Southern Arena in Bo City — Sierra Leone’s first privately owned modern stadium — said the completion of the East End Lions artificial turf would not only benefit the club but also provide young people from the Dock Yard and surrounding communities with access to a safe and modern sporting facility.
Receiving the items on behalf of the club, East End Lions Chairman, Anthony Junior Navo, expressed deep gratitude to President Kamara for his timely and impactful support. He praised the SLFA President for being the first individual to assist the club’s turf construction project.
“This is a remarkable gesture and a true example of leadership,” Navo said. “President Kamara continues to demonstrate his commitment to football development through action, not just words. His investment in the Southern Arena inspired us to start this project, and today he is supporting us again.”
Both men also used the occasion to appeal to the Government of Sierra Leone and the Chinese Embassy to speed up the renovation of the Siaka Stevens Stadium. They underscored the need for the country to have a fully functional national stadium capable of hosting international football matches and other major sporting events on home soil.
The donation has been widely praised by football fans and sports administrators as another example of Babadi Kamara’s dedication to improving the standards of football in Sierra Leone.
