By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
A delegation from Cricket Sierra Leone has held high-level discussions with the Inspector General of Police, William Fayia Sellu, focusing on infrastructure challenges affecting the growth and commercial prospects of the sport.
The meeting, led by board chairman Francis Trevor Samura at Kingtom Police Barracks, centered on access to the Kingtom Police Playing Field the country’s primary cricket training and competition venue. Discussions examined how current operational constraints could impact efforts to attract sponsorship and expand domestic competitions.
Samura described the visit as addressing matters of national importance to the growth of sport. He expressed concern that the fields temporary use as a storage site for vehicles have disrupted training schedules and match preparation. According to him, limited access to the venue could undermine negotiations with potential sponsors, revealing that an Indian company has already shown interest in backing a major cricket competition in Sierra Leone.
He stressed that restoring full access to the field would allow for the installation of temporary infrastructure such as canopies, improve match-day organisation, and increase spectator capacity all critical factors for enhancing the sports commercial appeal. As an alternative, Samura proposed the Sierra Leone Peacekeeping and Law Enforcement Academy as a possible venue for weekend fixtures.
Beyond infrastructure, the chairman also raised governance concerns, citing reports that the conduct of certain police officers who are members of the cricket team had affected team cohesion. However, he commended the police for their continued support in granting access to the Kingtom Field and enabling officers to participate in cricket activities.
In response, Sellu acknowledged the important role played by police personnel and the Kingtom Barracks community in the development of cricket, describing the partnership as mutually beneficial.
Addressing concerns over vehicles occupying the playing field, the police chief explained that the site had been designated as a temporary holding area under a nationwide operation to remove abandoned vehicles from public roads. He assured the delegation that plans were underway to relocate the vehicles and restore the field to full sporting use.
On the proposal to utilise the law enforcement academy as an alternative venue, Sellu noted that construction work is expected to commence there under a programme supported by the United Nations Development Programme. He advised Cricket Sierra Leone to prioritise improvements to the Kingtom facility in the meantime.
Regarding allegations of misconduct involving police personnel, the Inspector General encouraged the cricket body to submit a formal complaint through established disciplinary procedures to ensure due process.
The meeting concluded with both parties reaffirming their commitment to strengthening institutional collaboration, with a shared vision of transforming the Kingtom Field into a modern, multi-disciplinary sporting facility development stakeholders believe could significantly enhance the commercial and developmental future of cricket in Sierra Leone.