Mohamed M. Sesay
The new facelift accorded to football in Bo District and Sierra Leone at large, by the Manager of the Bo Rangers Football Club Babadi Kamara, who also doubles as the Manager for the Leone Stars National Team through the timely erection of FIFA accredited, certified and sanctified Southern Arena Stadium in Bo.
This has indeed given immeasurable pride not only to the Bo Rangers Football Club, but also to the football family across the country.
The construction of this admirable modern and monumental edifice (The Southern Arena), is indeed geared towards complimenting President Bio’s New Direction Government’s colossal sacrifice in restoring the once lost glory and dignity to sporting related activities, particularly soccer across the territorial enclave of Sierra Leone.
The convergence of thousands of football loving fans at the occasion of the official unveiling and commissioning of the FIFA’s standardized accredited Southern Arena Stadium in Bo, depicts that indeed Sierra Leone is a football loving nation.
Citizens were in their adoring and celebrating mood for the Manager of the Bo Rangers who also doubles as the Manager for the country’s Football Team Leone Stars, for placing such huge investment in football.
That patriotic tendency displayed by the Leone Stars Manager Babadi Kamara, enthralled President Julius Maada Bio. The American Adage which says, “Don’t ask what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”, has been explicitly and pragmatically manifested by Babadi Kamara through his nationalistic investment in the mighty Southern Arena Stadium.
That mesmerizing moment gave an uncontrollable urge to President Bio to instantaneously make a clarion call on every citizen to replicate the patriotic footsteps of Babadi Kamara.
Serving as the keynote speaker, President Julius Maada Bio asserted that for him football is not just a game, but a passion to unite the country just as his Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) motto depicts “one country, one people”. President Bio lavished praise on Babadi kamara for given pride to football especially in the Southern Region.
It is worth noting that after over 26 years when the country’s football glory was in shambles, it was President Bio who resuscitated football from a life supporting coma, to that of a revitalized and fashionably civilized sport for youths and football loving fans. That vim and vigor in President Bio in restoring life to football across the country, was evidenced in the country’s maiden qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations after 26 years.
There is no gainsaying that Leone Stars only participated in the AFCON with the tremendous support from President Bio since assuming governance in 2018.
That mammoth support from President Bio towards Women’s Football Team, has been widely visible to the blind and equally audible to the deaf. He had also supported University athletic teams.
President Bio recognizes the lack of infrastructural support to football as a very perennial challenge which he intends to address in his next administration.
President Bio therefore, commended Babadi Kamara for the construction of about 6,000 or more-seater stadium.
He added that the just commissioned football infrastructure would definitely support the Human Capital Development. He appealed that football is not about hooliganism and other conflict but to support the spirit of peace and unity.
The Chief Executive Officer of the newly unveiled Southern Arena Babadi kamara, was honored by the presence of President Bio to have delivered a statement on the occasion of the commissioning of the Southern Arena Stadium.
He adores President Bio’s leadership especially in the area of football which served as an inspiration to him that led to the construction of such a magnificent edifice. Babadi Kamara was in determination to complete the construction of the stadium in just two years. He gave tribute to the Traditional Rulers of Bo for given him the land to construct the stadium.
He described the beautiful edifice as a game changer in the history of the country’s football infrastructural transition.
Babadi Kamara recalled that when President Bio was running for the 2018 elections, he promised the nation of Human Capital Development of which he delivered through the implementation of the Free Quality Education. He added that President Bio also promised to improve on football and other related sporting disciplines of which tremendous efforts and gains have been underscored in the creation of a national league across the country.
He acknowledged and appreciated President Bio for translating his 2018 New Direction Manifesto into fruitful gains through the Leone Stars momentous qualification to the Africa Cup of Nations after more than 27 years. The construction of the Southern Arena was in compliment of President Bio’s vision in promoting football across the country. The Leone Stars Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the Southern Arena, expressed undying elation and assured President Bio that he would ever remain to be very grateful to the leadership of President Bio towards redefining and transmogrifying football across the country.
“I want to thank all my brothers and other family relations for the various and tremendous support towards my journey which led to the constriction of the Southern Arena Stadium. I want to assure that this facility is one of the best facility to host even international games. I would like to conclude by registering my sincere thanks and appreciation for the various support”, said Babadi Kamara.
President for SLFA Daddy Brima, described the commissioning of the Southern Arena as a historic event that will go down memory lane. He added that the facility is definitely meant to compliment the development of football across the country. He described Babadi Kamara as a patriotic citizen for not naming the stadium after his name, but prefer to name it the Southern Arena. He also encouraged other citizens to replicate the foot step of Babadi Kamara in order to touch the lives of others. He on behalf of the football family expressed profound thanks and appreciation to Babadi Kamara.
Minister of Sport Ibrahim Nyalekeh, edified that leadership is something that inspires other citizens to do development.
He added that since President Bio took over governance in 2018, he had been promoting football across the country. The construction of the Southern Arena, is not unconnected to the visionary and inspirational leadership of President Bio. He encouraged other corporate institutions to replicate same towards developing sport and other areas of government policies. He assured President Bio that the sporting family of Sierra Leone would definitely pay him back on the 24th of June 2023.
