President Kabbah Inspects Football Academy

His Excellency The President, Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, today made an on-the-spot inspection of the FIFA-funded Football Academy at Kingtom.

The President made the surprise visit to the Academy in order to make his own assessment of some of the work executed by the Sierra Leone Football Association so far.

Looking quite impressed with the facilities at the Academy, which consists of an Administration Building, a block of classrooms with conference and meeting halls, together with a 20-bedroom hostel each fitted with a television, shower and toilets and other amenities, the President opined that the Justice Tolla Thomson-led Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has made an indelible contribution to the development of Football in Sierra Leone.

A spokesperson for the outgoing Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Executive, Mr. Allie Forna, recounted how their executive had transformed the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) from an ineffectual body that was housed in a small basement office at the National Stadium to a vibrant organisation that could now lay claim to several buildings of high standards that will remain part of the football architecture of Sierra Leone.

He said those coming after them would have a strong foundation on which to build upon, pointing to the Academy as their legacy not only to generations of footballers but to the entire nation.

His Excellency the President, on his part, expressed that Sierra Leone could be a better place if people cultivate the spirit of patriotism and if they formed the culture of making their marks in positive ways such as building lasting structures and facilities for the general good.

The President lauded Justice Tolla Thomson and his team for leaving behind a Football Academy where generations of Sierra Leoneans will learn about not just how to score goals and win, but a place where the teaching of subjects such as Team-Building and Management of Football Clubs and Teams will form part of the curriculum.