By Mohamed Juma Jalloh
The Chairman of the East End Lions Football Club has revealed that the club has received Le600million from private sector sponsors, while unveiling the club home and away kit ahead of their clash with Mighty Blackpool on Sunday 27th January 2019, at the AYV media empire headquarters in Freetown.
Ambassador Navo disclosed that the major sponsor is Gento Group with Le 200million, Africell with Le 150 million, Sierra Fisheries 120million, AYV Le70 million, Khodami Enterprises Le60 million,vwhiles furthering that the AYV has pledged to support the Sierra Leone Premier League with Le100 million worth of media advertising.
Junior Navo called on institutions like banks, parastatals and other business entities to support the club, which he describes as the biggest and oldest in Sierra Leone.
The Chairman used the occasion to unveil the head coach, John Keister, and the assistant team coach, John Sama, who was captain of the club during the 1990s.
“The club is undergoing transformation and we will soon launch a project, which will involve establishing Under 17, Under 14, a female team and the creation of a football academy,” the Chairman disclosed.
Mr. Navo urged the fans of the club to buy the supporter’s jersey, which is in the club’s traditional colour of red where he further prevailed on the fans to flock the Siaka Stevens Stadium on Sunday evening as the team will lock horns with arch rivals, Mighty Blackpool.
He concluded by introducing the rest of the executive. Popular among them are Mohamed Gento Kamara, as Vice Chairman, popular singer Nasser Ayoub as vice team manager and Assmah James, Manager of Radio Democracy as Chairlady of the club.
The vice Chairman, Mohamed Gento Kamara, started by thanking the government and particularly the Premier League Board for reviving football after a long time.
Mr. Gento said E.E. Lions was founded in 1928, which makes it the oldest football club in Sierra Leone. The club prides itself in having the largest fan base in the country, but further admonished the fans not to engage in acts of violence because Sierra Leone is bigger than everyone.
The Manager of Gento Group recalled, as a small boy, when late President Momoh supported Blackpool, E.E. Lions always defeated them and they will also beat them this Sunday.