SLFA and Sierra Leone’s Head of State Launches the FIFA Kenema Artificial Turf

SLFA NEWS UPDATE
Friday February 28, 2020

Sierra Leone’s Head of State Launches State of the Art SLFA-FIFA Project in Kenema City

The Sierra Leone Football Association [SLFA] in partnership with the world governing body for football [FIFA]has today launched the State of the Art Artificial Turf Project in Kenema under the distinguished Grand Chief Patronage of Sierra Leone’s Head of State Brigadier Rtd. Julius Maada Bio and his wife the First Lady Madam Fatima Bio.

Also present at the historic event at the Kenema City Field were the Chief Minister of the government of Sierra Leone Proff. David Francis, Sports Minister Ibrahim Nyelenkeh, Executive Director of Sports Dr. Kenneth Brima, Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Sports Committee Hon. Charles Sam and a host of other dignitaries.

President Bio and SLFA President Madam Isha Johansen

SLFA was represented by its President Madam Isha Johansen and her Executive Committee Members; Vice President 1 Mr. Brima Mazola Kamara, Vice President 2 Mr. Alie Commoner Kargbo, Northern Region Football Association Chairman Mr. Brima Jalloh, Southern Region Football Association Acting Chairman Mr. Sadick Deen-Nyakoh and Ex-Officio Mr. Harold Nat-Johnson.

The President of SLFA Madam Isha Johansen in her statement thanked the people of kenema for their trust and patience in her and her Executive. ”Good things come to those who wait.”

“Some challenges are meant to happen in order to bring about closer ties and better understanding,” Madam Johansen said, referring to her and the FA’s strengthened working relationship with the Chief Minister Professor David Francis.

The event attracted thousands of people mainly youth and young adults who confessed that they have been ”looking forward to this day” for a long time.

When he was giving an overview of the project, the General Secretary of the Sierra Leone Football Association Mr. Christopher Kamara said ”the project will only last for three months”, adding that ”SLFA will be back in Kenema in the last week of May, this year to officially hand over the State of the Art Artificial Turf Pitch to the people of Kenema.”
”As a son of Kenema City, I am very proud to have contributed in uplifting the Kenema City Field to an international standard.” Mr. Kamara added.

In his keynote address, President Julius Maada Bio thanked the President of SLFA and her Executive for their relentless efforts in developing the game of football across the country despite the infighting that has existed in the country’s football in the past years.
His Excellency appealed to all football administrators to put politics aside and focus on the development of the game. ”There is time for politics and there is time for development.” The President added.

President Bio ended by congratulating the people of Kenema on the good gesture brought to them by FIFA through SLFA and assured them of his continued support in ensuring football plays across the country unhindered.

The event ended with President Bio’s symbolic installation of the Diamond Blade artificial turf and his Wife Madam Fatima Bio placed the ball on the turf leaving the enthusiastic crowd cheering up and the traditional drums beating loud.