FIFA’s ROLE, AND SIERRA LEONEAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION; A Pact Towards Progressive Growth
According to available records, the current Sierra Leonean Football Association was founded in 1960 and affiliated with FIFA the same year. It organises and runs the national leagues, including the Sierra Leone National Premier League, and Sierra Leonean FA Cup, and the national football teams, including the under-17, under-20, under-23, and the senior national team.
As the FIFA Forward Global report on development activities, 2016-2022, rightly affirms:
“Investment in football is our responsibility and obligation to our 211 member
associations. However, the ecosystem in each member association is different, so
further bespoke building of capacity and capability is important to support projects of
each member association that will make a difference, tailored to their specific needs.
“To run a successful football association, continuous staff education is paramount.
Training and retraining staff will also keep them up to date with the latest trends in the
industry.”
Against this backdrop, and in collaboration with the International Centre for Sports
Studies (CIES), FIFA launched a Football Executive Programme for the general
secretaries of African FIFA member associations to improve administration and
management skills.
The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) enrolled two of their employees on the
programme, namely the SLFA General Secretary and the SLFA Finance Manager, who
participated in the four-session programme at Nelson Mandela University, Port
Elizabeth, South Africa.
Their participation was financed entirely with FIFA Forward funds. At the end of the
programme, the Sierra Leoneans presented their plans for the development of a
women’s football centre in the country.
According to the FIFA document, Sierra Leone was entitled to a total sum of $11.4
million of which 71.6 per cent or $8.2 million has been approved. And a breakdown of
the approved funds spent cover the following:
- Admin and Governance
- National Teams
- Infrastructure
- Equipment and others
- Competitions
- Women’s Football
- Unused Football operating expenses
- Capacity development.
Sums expended on each heading are in order of enumeration, counting from one to
down to eight in order of prominence.
Besides these, there were allocations to Operational costs, Projects, Travel and
Equipment. “With the third cycle of the FIFA Forward Development Programme now
underway,” noted FIFA President Gianni Infantino, “we have the perfect opportunity to
reflect on the programme’s achievements in all member nations,” including Sierra
Leone.
“From the very start, we pledged that revenues generated by football would be used for
the benefit of our sport all around the world: for girls and boys, for women and men –
and we have been as good as our word.”
