By Ibrahim Karim Bangura (Tanko)

The Sierra Leone Football Association, SLFA, has embarked on several elite CAF coaching courses over the years but there is still nothing good to write home about in terms of performance both home and away matches. Taxpayers’ monies have been wasted on the men’s national team Leone Stars, U-20, U-21 and other categories of the national teams.

On Friday November 24, 2023 SLFA informed pressmen regarding the CAF evaluation coaching instructor’s course at their secretariat, Kingtom, in Freetown.

In his submissions, the Acting general secretary of SLFA, Mohamed Benson Bawoh, has confirmed to newsmen and the general public that CAF has realized that Africa coaches lack the ability and capacity in terms of global standard of coaching system and that Sierra Leone is not an exemption.

He added that the refresher training would enable them to upgrade to speed. “Restructure of coaching career in the country will aid to sort out more technical issues. CAF have understood that much is needed to be done for coaches in Africa,” he suggested.

According to the Elite CAF instructors, Steve Coetzee, he affirmed that the 13 participants of this year’s coaching course would be certified based on merit and credible award await those with outstanding performance, adding that diploma certificates would be given to well performing coaching course participants as license sports men.

“The standard of coaches in Africa especially West Africa are falling, we need to upgrade them by given them trustworthy career path.

The representation of coaches in  Sierra Leone are not up to the task but, with the support of CAF and other football donor aids much will be expected and  the outcome of the ongoing training will relief elite coaches in the country”, he promised.

Meanwhile, the Technical director of the Sierra Leone Football Association, Ibrahim Bah, said the coaching department is highly under resource at the moment and they are seeking to develop the right coaches in the country.

“We have three coaches in Ghana on the similar course though it is challenging. SLFA has trained 27 elite CAF coaches in recent time but only 13 were committed,” he said.

However, the Head of Woman’s Football of CAF, Maskerem Tacless Goshime encouraged female coaches to be focus hardworking and firm in their job though their job is difficult.

“We need to develop the structure of coaching in Sierra Leone, quality coach dually produces good players, and generation of upright coach will build a better football team in the future.

“I have learned to be strong, patient, persistent, and passionate. Football has taught me the value of hard work, consistency, and being a team player,” he said.

“That’s why I am making it my mission to give a chance for every girl in the world to experience the joy of football and the life lesson that can be learned through it.”