On Friday, 22 May 2026, newly appointed National Sports Authority Executive Director Mohamed Alphaka Conteh Esq, joined President Babadi Kamara at the SLFA Academy Field in Kingtom to witness the turning of the sod for the construction of a new 435-seater pavilion, a landmark infrastructure project aimed at enhancing football development in Sierra Leone.
Addressing stakeholders and guests at the ceremony, the NSA ED began by conveying greetings from the Government of Sierra Leone and expressed gratitude to Almighty God and President Julius Maada Bio for the confidence reposed in him through his appointment. He pledged to serve the sporting sector with humility, discipline, respect, and dedication while working closely with all stakeholders to advance sports in the country.
Reflecting on recent tensions within football administration, the Executive Director acknowledged that the sporting sector had experienced serious disagreements and conflicts over authority and governance. He publicly apologized to the Ministry of Sports for the misunderstandings that had emerged in recent times and emphasized the need for unity, cooperation, and mutual respect moving forward.
Mohamed Alphaka Conteh Esq praised the role played by the Minister of Sports Madam Augusta James-Teima in restoring cordial relations within the sector, noting that previously strained relationships had improved significantly over recent weeks. He stressed that no institution or official should consider themselves above constituted authority, explaining that the Ministry of Sports remains the highest executive authority in the sector because it directly interfaces with Cabinet and Parliament.
Speaking directly to the football family, the ED expressed appreciation for the support and opportunities they had extended to him over the years. He stated that although many people focused on the conflicts that characterized football administration, those difficult experiences became lessons that prepared him for leadership.
According to him, President Bio appointed him with a clear mandate to restore decorum, strengthen governance, and instill discipline within the sporting sector. He emphasized that achieving this objective would require the doctrine of esprit de corps – teamwork, unity, and collective responsibility among all sporting stakeholders.
He further stated that sports should not be associated with insults, conflict, and unnecessary confrontations but rather with discipline, progress, action, and measurable results. He reaffirmed his determination not to fail the President, the Government, or the people of Sierra Leone in delivering on that mandate.
In a lighter moment during his address, ED Conteh humorously referenced comments from people who had told him that his appointment should signal “no more fighting” within sports administration. While acknowledging the humour, he admitted that such remarks reflected the unfortunate perception that the sector had become synonymous with conflict and division.
Concluding his statement, the Executive Director of NSA called on all stakeholders to unite for the benefit of Sierra Leone, particularly for the development of young people through sports. He appealed for collective support for the President, the Ministry of Sports, and the Government to transform football and sports generally into effective tools for national development.
He ended by reaffirming that although he comes from the football family, he remains committed to serving the entire sporting sector of Sierra Leone with equal passion, dedication, and professionalism.
