In a landmark move to boost football and sports in Sierra Leone, Leone Rock Metal Group, a leading mining company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) to sponsor the 2024 Premier League with a substantial contribution of $150,000.
During the signing ceremony, Dr. Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, Director of the National Sports Authority (NSA), commended Leone Rock Metal Group for its commitment to supporting sports beyond football in Sierra Leone. He highlighted that this is the first time the private sector has made such a significant investment in the nation’s football.
“The highest goal scorer always takes the lead, and today Leone Rock Metal Group leads in supporting Sierra Leone’s sports,” Dr. Abdulai remarked. He added that the NSA’s primary role is to regulate, manage, control, and develop sports in the country, emphasizing that sports require substantial investment to thrive as a billion-dollar industry. He further praised President Julius Maada Bio for prioritizing sports development, describing the President as holding “the key to Sierra Leone’s football future.”
The SLFA President, Thomas Daddy Brima, expressed gratitude to Leone Rock Metal Group for their sponsorship. “This is exactly the kind of support we’ve been waiting for,” Brima said. He acknowledged the challenges faced, including the national team Leone Stars’ inability to qualify for the 2024 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), but remained optimistic about future success.
Imran Sillah, Community Training Officer for Leone Rock Metal Group, also spoke at the event, reflecting on how the company’s support for sports began humbly but has grown significantly. He noted that in 2023, the company contributed $89,000 to the Premier League and has now nearly doubled its support for 2024.
Sillah emphasized that the company views its contributions through the lens of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). “We believe in accountability. After the 2023 tournament, we only requested a report to understand the impact of our investment,” he explained. Sillah also highlighted the unifying power of football, stating that it transcends religion, tribe, culture, and politics.
Augusta James Teima, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Sport, applauded Leone Rock Metal Group for its dedication to fostering sports development, particularly the Premier League. She acknowledged the role of sports in uniting people and fostering national growth, aligning with President Bio’s vision for human capital development.
“Leone Rock has shown the reality of President Bio’s human capital development agenda through its unwavering support for football and other sectors,” she said, urging critics to refrain from baseless negativity.
Leone Rock Metal Group’s sponsorship reflects the growing recognition of sports as a crucial tool for unity, development, and national pride in Sierra Leone.
