By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
The Sierra Leone Premier League has for the first time in recent years signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Leone Rock Metal Group to be the headline sponsor for the 2023/2024 league season.
At the Raddison Blu Hotel, the MOU was signed at a press conference in the presence of the Minister of Sports, Executive Director of National Sport Authority, Vice President of SLFA and other football and mining stakeholders entails eighty Thousand (80,000 $) United States dollars, referees officiating kits, player and coach of the month awards and an exclusive right of the league’s change of name to Leone Rock Premier League.
Making a statement on behalf of the Premier League Board, the chairman Victor Lewis commended Leone Rock Metal Group for their support towards football and thanking them for making his day with such sponsorship deal for the 18 premier clubs. Victor Lewis used the opportunity to call on government for more financial support as that is what will make the league successful. “Madam Minister I want to kindly pass this message to the president Dr Julius Maada Bio. He has been very much instrumental towards football. In his first year, he gave the board 3.4 billion old Leones, the following year 2.5 billion, and last year 2.4billion. The support is coming down, we are pleading with him to increase the support as football needs his help,” Chairman Lewis said.
Speaking on behalf of the Sierra Leone Football Association, the Vice President 1, Harold Nat Johnson thanked Leone Rock for the support adding that it is very timely for such sponsorship opportunities especially at a time when football is struggling with funds.
Making the official pronouncement, the Chief Technical Officer of Leone Rock Metal Group, Salim Sillah narrated how far they have come in promoting football in Sierra Leone and how cooperative the football family has been since they started investing in the beautiful game.
The Chief Technical Officer assured all present that as part of their cooperate social responsibility, Leone Rock Metal Group will continue to support football and they hope to come back in the next league with something much more bigger than this year.
The Leone Rock Premier League will officially kick start on Friday November 3rd with breathtaking and mouthwatering fixtures as FC Kallon will host Old Edwardians FC at Angola Field, Freetonians SLIFA will lock horns with Luawa FC at Trade Centre.
On Saturday, the two newly promoted sides Kahunla Rangers and Bhantal FC will face each other in Kenema Field.
Lamboi FC will host Real Republicans in Lungi. Wusum Field will witness a start of the North-East derby as Wusum Stars will host Kholifa Stars and Bai Bureh Warriors will play against Wilberforce Strikers in Portloko.
On Sunday, the giants East End Lions will host Mighty Blackpool at Trade Centre Field while defending champions Bo Rangers will open their campaign against the City Boys – Freetown City Football Club.
PLB MEDIA
