By Ibrahim Karim Bangura (Tanko)

Football clubs in Sierra Leone have secured $80, 000 dollar from Leone Rock Metal Group.

The deal is meant for rebrand 2023/24 league campaign and so the domestic tournament was re-named the Leone Rock Premier League, this year.

The compact  is signed by the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) and Premier League Board of the 2023/24 with Leone Rock Premier League being  the first-ever sponsorship sporting contest by a mining company.

The latest information was revealed on in a joint presser at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Freetown last year, 2023.

The occasion was graced by the Minister of Sports, Augusta James Teima, officials of the Sierra Leone Football Association VP 1 Harold Nat Johnson, members of the press and other dignitaries.

“Leone Rock mining company is supporting the Sierra Leone Premier League season with $80,000 Eighty United States Dollars. The League is now officially known as the Leone Rock Premier League for the 2023/2024 season,” the miners have confirmed.

Speaking during the event, Minister of Sports, Madam Augusta Tema, says Leone Rock Metal Group is the first mining company to fully sponsor the men’s top-tier football club competition.

The season kicked off on November 3rd and the winner will go home with 500 million Leones when the league ends, with the runners-up getting 250 million Leones, as per SLFA board’s announcement.

But could SLPLB give each club 80 million Old Leones before kick-starting the season as a booster?

In an interview with clubs managers and others they say they are highly unhappy with the money being given to them , citing financial crisis in the country. Adding that the money given earlier, ($80,000) to Sierra Leone Premier League Board is huge but too sad that lot has not been given to the 18 Premier League clubs.