By Fatima Kpaka
Freetown, Sierra Leone – February 23, 2025: The President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), Thomas Daddy Brima Babadi Kamara, appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Sports at Tower Hill, Freetown, where he highlighted achievements under his leadership and the challenges facing football in the country.
Speaking after the session, President Kamara explained that his administration has prioritized reforms, transparency, and structured development since assuming office. Within six months, he noted, the SLFA successfully organized domestic competitions, including the FA Cup, which he described as historic in terms of coordination and participation.
He further revealed improvements in player registration and data management, with all league players now registered through FIFA’s Transfer Matching System and FIFA Connect platform. This, he said, has enhanced credibility and transparency in football records.
On infrastructure, Kamara assured parliamentarians that the SLFA Secretariat will undergo a major facelift before August 2025. He also emphasized training and capacity building, pointing to consistent coaching courses—License D and C—with plans to advance to higher certifications. Foreign experts have also been engaged to train administrators and technical staff on modern football management systems.
In sponsorship, Kamara disclosed that revenue has grown beyond the $180,000 he inherited, with a landmark $150,000 package secured for the Sierra Leone Women’s Premier League—the first major sponsorship in the history of women’s football in the country.
Despite these gains, he acknowledged the ongoing challenge of Sierra Leone’s inability to host international matches at home due to the lack of a CAF and FIFA-approved stadium. He described this as a major disadvantage, depriving the national team of fan support, national pride, and financial benefits.
Kamara informed the committee that the SLFA is working with FIFA and Saudi Arabia on a global initiative worth $1 billion to support stadium construction in countries without approved facilities. He expressed optimism that Sierra Leone will benefit, noting that regulations require any new stadium to be within 200 kilometres of Lungi International Airport, making the Western Area a strategic location.
President Kamara concluded by reaffirming his administration’s commitment to strengthening governance, expanding sponsorship, improving infrastructure, and ensuring Sierra Leone returns to hosting international matches on home soil.