By Theresa Kef Sesay
At State House on Wednesday 5 August 2020 President Julius Maada Bio met with Board Members of the newly constituted National Sports Authority (NSA) and assured them of his Government’s support to the development of sports in the country.
Presenting the Board, Minister of Sports, Ibrahim Nyelenkeh, thanked the President for the audience, noting that the courtesy call was symbolic because for the first time the country is providing the kind of support required by the NSA. He said he was meeting the President to officially present the Board, adding that it is a very lucrative sporting agency that would create jobs across the country.
Chairman of the NSA Board, David Woobay, thanked President Bio for appointing them to rebrand sporting activities in the country in accordance with the New Direction Agenda. He said that the President was known for his successful history with sports in the country and added that they would look at sources of funding to augment Government’s allocation to sporting activities in the country.
National Executive Director for the NSA, Kenneth Brima, said that sports stakeholders are proud of the sustained political will, commitment and dedication of the President to supporting the sector. He added that they are thankful to the Government for providing the much-needed resources for the roll-out and implementation of the NSA.
In his response, President Bio said that Sierra Leone was once known for its sporting prowess in all disciplines and noted that the New Direction Government is about reviving sports and every aspect of human endeavour in the country. While congratulating the new Board members, the President also said that he was very impressed by the personalities in the Board and urged them to do more.
“We have great talents but we need to nurture them and I leave that task to you to help the Sports Ministry to bring these talents together so we can compete again at the international level. We are going to fight and make sure that you get not only the moral support but also the financial support to be able to move things,” he assured.
The NSA exists to coordinate, regulate, promote and support competitive sporting activities with a view to promoting national cohesion, professionalism, excellence in sports and international recognition.
