KENEMA, Oct. 3, 2026 – The National Sports Authority (NSA) has commended the Sierra Leone Boxing Association (SLBA) for its ongoing efforts to decentralise boxing and expand the sport’s reach across the country.
The initiative, which targeted the Eastern and Southern Regions over the weekend, included the donation of modern boxing equipment worth millions of Leones, the introduction of boxing in selected schools, and the training of coaches and trainers to strengthen grassroots development.
According to the NSA, the decentralisation programme aligns with its mandate to promote sports development nationwide and encourage greater participation in various sporting disciplines.
Speaking at the official presentation of the equipment at the Kenema City Field on Saturday, NSA Eastern Regional Coordinator, Mr. James Kanu, welcomed the delegation from the SLBA national office and applauded the association for what he described as a timely intervention.
He described the donation as a positive step towards strengthening boxing in the region and encouraged local athletes to make effective use of the equipment to improve their training and competitiveness.
Representing SLBA National President Solomon D. Kargbo, Eastern Regional Vice President Abdul Mansaray, popularly known as Bebeto, expressed appreciation to the NSA for its continued support and to the association’s national executive for providing the equipment.
“This is a huge motivator. Our aim as a region is to produce boxers capable of representing Sierra Leone in national and international competitions in the future,” Mansaray said.
He described the donation as the first of its kind in the history of boxing development in the Eastern Region and urged beneficiaries to seize the opportunity to enhance their skills and performance.
The event also featured a training-of-trainers session involving representatives from the Eastern and Southern Regions who recently participated in the International Boxing Coaching and Development Course held in Freetown.
The course was organised by the Sierra Leone Boxing Association and the National Olympic Committee of Sierra Leone (NOC-SL) with support from Olympic Solidarity and World Boxing.
Sports stakeholders say the decentralisation initiative is expected to strengthen grassroots boxing, identify new talent and create pathways for young athletes to compete at national and international levels.