By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
The Sierra Leone Canoe Federation (SLCF) has officially unveiled its maiden National Canoe Championship, scheduled to take place on April 27, 2026, at Sea Coach Express, Aberdeen Beach, as part of the country’s Independence Day celebrations.
Speaking during a press conference held at 82 Dundas Street in Freetown, SLCF President Abdul Karim Koroma Junior described the championship as a major milestone for the federation, which has been in existence for five years.
He explained that the delay in organizing a national event was due to efforts to properly structure the federation and secure recognition at both national and international levels.
“We are the body charged with the responsibility to organize all canoeing activities, including boat and kayak competitions. This is our first major event because we wanted to ensure that we built a solid foundation and met all registration requirements locally and internationally,” he said.
Koroma noted that the federation is now fully recognized by the National Sports Authority (NSA), the National Olympic Committee, the Confederation of African Canoeing, and the International Canoe Federation (ICF), giving it the mandate to organize competitions that meet international standards.
He further highlighted that previous canoe-related activities in the country lacked international standards, largely due to the absence of the required equipment and technical structures.
On safety arrangements, the SLCF President assured that adequate measures have been put in place, with the Sierra Leone Police providing venue security, while the Navy will ensure the safety of athletes and equipment on the water.
Also speaking, Sahr Morris Jnr, President of the Sports Writers Association of Sierra Leone (SWASAL), commended the federation for recognizing the role of the media in developing the sport.
He emphasized that canoeing has long existed in Sierra Leone but lacked professional structure, noting that the emergence of a recognized federation is a significant step forward.
“Sierra Leone is among the 171 nations affiliated with the International Canoe Federation. As journalists, it is important that we understand the sport we report on,” he said.
Morris revealed that SWASAL is in discussions with the federation to organise the country’s first training programme for sports journalists in canoeing, aimed at strengthening media coverage and promoting the sport nationwide.
Highlighting the objectives of the championship, SLCF Secretary General Daniel Kalokkoh said the competition is primarily aimed at identifying talents for the formation of a national canoe team.
“We want to identify athletes from various coastal communities who will form a strong national team capable of representing Sierra Leone in international competitions,” he stated.
He added that although canoeing features 10 disciplines, the federation is currently focusing on Sprint Canoe and Dragon Canoe for development purposes.
A total of 16 communities are expected to participate, including Tassoh (North-West Region), Tombo, Mama Beach, Bureh Beach, Kent Beach, John Obey, Black Johnson, York, Tokeh, River Number Two, Sussex, Lakka, Goderich, Lumley, and Aberdeen, while Bonthe will field three teams.
The championship will feature four race categories, all under canoe sprint: the one-man (200m), two-man (200m), five-man (200m), and the 10-man Dragon race (500m).
The event is expected to mark a significant step in the growth and professionalization of canoeing in Sierra Leone, with organizers hopeful it will pave the way for the sport to compete with other major disciplines in the country.