By Alfred B Koroma

Soccer has today become the most interesting and enterprising game in all sporting activities right across the globe.

Football in its real sense has a lot of merits that are geared towards the socio-economic development of any nation.

Sierra Leone is one of the nations in the sub-region that is deeply involved in active and competitive soccer, locally and internationally as far back in the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

Taking a clear look at the history of soccer in Sierra Leone, it is imperative on the part of the football governing body FIFA, the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA),to do all it could to try very, and very hard to improve the standard of soccer in the country.

Over the years, the standard of football in the country, both at national and international levels, is not satisfactory to say the least.

Every honest, sincere and patriotic Sierra Leonean will agree with me that, the standard of football in the country is fluctuating steadily.

However, there are several factors for the apparent inconsistencies.

To create a formidable national team, the football governing body in Sierra Leone (SLFA), must be prepared to face the challenges, both financially and otherwise.

The SLFA, must at all cost, develop meaningful strategies to properly manage the affairs of football by providing adequate medical and other facilities and must also make proper management of the finances of the game.

Soccer improvement does not only rest on the management; the players themselves have the most integral part to play towards upgrading the game in the country.

Our players also must inculcate the culture of discipline, patriotism and sportsmanship at all level by way of having respect for authority at all times.

On the technical team, they still have to do something more to improve itself.

In another look, their major problem is the inability to be able to blend talents together.

The Coaches on the other hand, need to improve the players on the scoring ability which is one major problem that render us normally not to win matches.

Members of the public should also give a helping hand in terms of financial support in order to sustain the national team called ‘LEONE STARS’’.

Sierra Leone has no reason to fall short in football if only we manage our resources properly.