By Ralph Simeon Sesay
The recent resumption of football under the New Direction Government has had a very resounding impact on all sectors and human endeavours in the country.The decision by President Bio to resume football despite FIFA ban was commendable and the results of such a decision has been very much conspicuous on the peace and tranquality, national cohesion and small scale businesses in the country.
The recent resumption of football has seen increased investment into the game by both private companies and individuals. This has no doubt left foot prints in terms of creating employment and also injecting some Leones into the economy. Government has reportedly noted that the resumption of the league has created over 5,000 jobs. Unofficially the league and its extracurricular have created over 5,000 jobs in various mediums. This is also having a great toll on small businesses as the number of petty traders who make their way to the national stadium on weekends and other match days are enormous, bars restaurants and other petty businesses are doing quite well as a result of the premier league.
Sierra Leoneans youths devoid of political and regional considerations thronged the Siaka Stevens stadium to cheer up their local teams and many say the issue of the economy would have escalated to another point if there was no meeting point for youths. The thousands of talented football players in the country have had a new hope of rekindling their god-given talents and the LEONE STARTS are yet looking forward for an opportunity under the retired Brigadier to countenance Africa’s biggest football arena the African Nations Cup.
The Sierra Leone Premier league has also reported that they have raised a total of over six hundred millions Leones in the first phase of the league, major player transfers have also taken place and for the first time the league has been able to record as high a fifty million Leone for a player. There is hope from the look of things that the issue of sponsorships for major clubs and the buying of players will definitely take a huge turn as it is happening in other leagues across Africa.
The Premier league Board under Emmanuel Saffa Abdulia Esq has shown transparency, discipline and accountability in the management of funds allocated by Government to run the game. It is also very much clear that the issue of security for matches, the suitability of most venues where some matches are played as well as the refereeing remains challenges for the game in the country.
These developments are happening against the backdrop that the country remains banned from international competitions and the World Governing Body FIFA is closely watching developments in the country with country high court still to determine the corruption case against Africa’s only President for an African football Association, Isha Johansen and his scribe Christopher Kamara. They are in court for alleged corruption of funds allocated by CAF and FIFA.