The National Sports Authority (NSA) on Thursday April 8th 2021 presented a certificate to Football for A New Tomorrow FANT-Sierra Leone, who later donated sporting equipment to the sporting supervisory and regulatory body.
In his introductory statement, at the NSA’s Office at 145 Wilkinson Road in Freetown, the Director, Participation and Sustainable Sports and Head of Programmes, Steven Keifala, said, after receiving the application form from FANT, the Technical Committee of the National Sports Authority actually went through the documents and that they were satisfied.
“They met our criteria; we recognize them as a sport’s NGO. We called and told them, as an organization, we want it to be a ceremony of this nature, to let them know that they are not only just an association but also a body that’s doing the right thing. They also said that they want to do a presentation to the NSA and also they want to tell us what they are doing as an organization and what they are to intending to do in future,” he said.
He passed it to the Head of Media and Communication, Eric Fomba, who read the contents on the certificate of registration with the NSA before handing it over to the Executive Director, Dr. Kenneth Brima, who presented it to the Country Director of FANT-Sierra Leone, Richard Jimmy.
The Head of Media and Marketing of FANT-Sierra Leone, Osman Kondos Kamara, thanked the Ministry of Sports and the NSA for recognizing them as a sport’s NGO and also for assisting them to clear their 40 feet container on a free duty waiver. He underscored that they were only requested to be very transparent during the distributions of equipment to the various communities.
A total of 96 footballs (30 size 5, 30 size 4 and 36 size 3), 63 jerseys and helmets for cyclists, 15 Hummel football jerseys, three bags of assorted jerseys and tracksuits were donated to the National Sports Authority from FANT.
In his brief statement, FANT’s Project Manager, Mamadu Bah, thanked NSA for recognizing them, adding that the donations was just a small thing. He noted that the relationship is very important and that they really respect the relationship.
He went on to reveal that they will be embarking on two projects; the one will be at the Susan’s Bay Community, who very recently suffered from the fire accident.
“Susan’s Bay is one of our 10 operational communities in the country. We are going to assist 120 families in that community; each family will receive a bag of rice 25kg. The other one will be the ‘back to school’ project, which will ensure 30 children, from each community, who are the most vulnerable that their parents or guidance can’t afford to send them to school, will be sent to school and well catered for,” he stated.
Giving the keynote address, the Executive Director of the NSA, Dr. Kenneth, said he was really proud to be the first executive director of the NSA in Sierra Leone.
“It was not an easy task for us to be where we are today, but we were able to do what the government requested us to do. The secret behind our success is the new government, under the leadership of HE Retired Brigadier Dr Julius Maada Bio. If you go back into the history of this country, you will find out that the money this government has poured in sports; no other government has matched it. The President of this country is determined to see sports in general develop in this country. There are evidences to this. All sporting associations, that have applied to represent this country in international competitions, are 100% supported by government. I am really happy that we are going in that direction,” he said.
The Executive Director went on to state that he was really impressed with FANT-Sierra Leone regarding the work they’ve been doing things, citing the massive job well-done at SS Camp Field, Regent.
“That’s to show how determined you are to develop sports in Sierra Leone. I really appreciate you; that is why we are here today to present to you the certificate. I want to let you know that no other sporting association or NGO has ever presented to us such kinds of gift to us. So we are really happy. What you have done here today will ever remain in the good books of the NSA,” the Executive Director said.
He also stated that there are so many sporting associations, which have impasses, and that FANT-Sierra Leone should not follow such trend. They should ensure they continue the transparency and accountability and also the trust among themselves.
“I am assuring that, with the leadership and competent directors at the NSA, we will make sure we address the plenty issues within the sporting fraternity. We will ensure that peace and stability reign in sports,” Dr. Brima stressed.
Statement was also made by the deputy Executive Director of the NSA, Abdul Rahman Swarray, and the vote of thanks was done by NSA’s Secretary, Madam Humu Kargbo.