By Alusine Fullah
A high-powered government delegation led by the Minister of Sports (MOS) Madam Augusta James-Teima and the Executive Director of National Sports Authority Dr. Kenneth Brima yesterday Thursday, January 24, visited the Sierra Leone Football Academy ground to follow up on the ongoing FIFA Artificial Turf Projects across the country.
Updating the government entourage, the Acting General Secretary of the Sierra Leone Football Association Mohamed Benson Bawoh said that the SLFA is on the verge of completing the construction of four standard artificial turf pitches at the SLFA Academy and Approved School in Freetown, Port Loko Town Field and the Coronation Field in Bo. He cited “March ending this year” as the convenient deadline date for the completion of work, adding that the renovation and installation of flood lights at the Koidu Field and Kenema City Field are part of the said projects.
Also part of the delegation were senior officials from both the Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Authority including the Deputy Executive Director of NSA Dr. Abdulrahaman Swaray, Director of Participation Steven Keifala, Director of Cooperation Alie Sesay and the Director of Sports (MOS) Haroun Korji.
Benson Bawoh further disclosed that, “upon completion, all the pitches will have a perimeter fence, floodlights installed, a 100 seater pavilion and a 100 KVA generator at each playing venue”.
In her response, the Minister of Sports Madam James-Teima expressed great excitement over the rapid development in the country’s football, referencing the ongoing FIFA Artificial Turf Pitch construction across Sierra Leone. She added by assuring the FA of government’s resolute support in actualizing all football developmental activities within and out of Sierra Leone.
