By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), through its regional affiliate, the Southern Region Football Association, concluded the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Diploma D Coaching Course on 9 February 2026 at the Pastoral Centre in Bo, the Southern regional city.
The capacity-building training, aimed at enhancing and broadening the knowledge of grassroots coaches, is part of SLFA President Babadi Kamara and his Executive Committee’s plan to transform the football ecosystem in Sierra Leone.
According to Kessel K. Kanneh, a CAF instructor and Head of Coaches Education at the Liberia Football Association, he was impressed with the performance of the trainees and encouraged them to apply the knowledge gained. “We (facilitators) will be very happy when our students implement what we normally train them,” he said.
Mr. Kanneh emphasized that better coaches produce better players and noted that the trained coaches can now practice anywhere in Africa. He described the coaches as “ambassadors” for football development and added: “I can assure you that this group of coaches could represent us anywhere in Africa when the need arises.”
He further revealed that fourteen (14) coaches were trained, and based on their theory and practical performance, all successfully passed. Mr. Kanneh added that he would submit the records to the SLFA Secretariat for the preparation of their certificates.
Bo District Football Association Chairman, Mr. Abdul Ahmed Bangura, who served as the keynote speaker, praised the initiative, noting that it reflects the SLFA President’s commitment to decentralizing football development. “When he was vying for the SLFA presidency, he promised to decentralize football developmental activities, and he is delivering on that promise,” Mr. Bangura said.
He encouraged the coaches to replicate the knowledge they have gained and thanked the Liberia Football Association for sending an instructor to facilitate the training. The training lasted seven days, in accordance with CAF training policy.