The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has today 30th July 2020 announced the disbursement of a total of $1,300,000 FIFA and CAF COVID-19 relief funds. In a nationwide broadcast of a press conference held at the Atlantic Hall, at Stadium Hostels, Brookfields, Freetown, decisions made by stakeholders and Executive Committee of the FA were announced to the press and nation.
In her opening statements, the President of SLFA Madam Isha Johansen expressed gratitude to the football family for coming together for the sake of Sierra Leone’s development. She explained that stakeholders of the FA were engaged in a consultation meeting where they recommended to the Executive Committee on the disbursement of the pending FIFA and CAF COVID-19 relief funds. She described it as “the most fulfilling days, witnessed in my whole tenure in football administration in Sierra Leone, where I saw all of you come together with one vision one goal and one aim.”
Madam Johansen further explained that the FIFA President engaged all the Presidents of member Associations to suggest ways of how FIFA can support these member Associations. These recommendations led to the disbursement of $1 million for each member Association. The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) also have $300,000 to its members.
She further stated that her association did not just sit and wait for the FIFA and CAF funds, but rather provided relief funds totalling $340,000 for clubs and regional associations to cushion the effects of the pandemic.
The presentation of the disbursements plan was done by the Secretary General of SLFA – Christopher Kamara, who described it as “unprecedented”. He said that the consultation process was inclusive of all stakeholders from across the country.
Chris Kamara presented series of resolutions made by the Executive Committee of the FA after thorough consultations with the football stakeholders.
He however started by highlighting the many good gestures undertaken by the FA recently, including the provision of COVID-19 solidarity fund, the transformation of the FA’s secretariat as a COVID-19 centre, the ongoing installation of artificial turf and the construction of a perimeter fence at the Kenema City Field, and the construction of a perimeter fence at the Koidu Field in Kono.
Chris carefully announced the various beneficiaries of the FIFA and CAF relief funds, ranging from both male and female national teams, associations, premier league clubs, sports journalists, the Premier League Board (PLB) and wider football associations. The 14 Premier League clubs will receive the sum of $15,000 each, while the Premier League Board will receive $200,000 (the biggest beneficiary), and so on. See details on the attached file below
However, the funds will be disbursed in two tranches – first disbursements expected to be made in July 2020 (depending on the time FIFA make its own disbursements to FAs), and the second disbursement will happen in January 2021.
Meanwhile, another sum of $500,000 was announced by the Secretary General. The fund is also provided by FIFA for women’s football development in Sierra Leone.
The SLFA was showered with great commendations from the media and joyous fans for their show of transparent and effective administration.
By Ibrahim Sorious Samura
