Babadi Kamara at the Helm of SLFA: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of 100 Days in Office
By Edward Dictionary Caulker
When Babadi Kamara took the oath of office as President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) on August 2, 2025, the footballing nation erupted in cautious optimism. His victory speech rich with gratitude and humility promised to replace politics with purpose and to “develop football as a unifier of our people.”
One hundred days later three months and nine days into his presidency the question that confronts fans, stakeholders, and sports journalists alike is simple: Has Babadi begun to deliver on his promise?
For a game long choked by financial drought and administrative squabbles, Babadi Kamara’s first 100 days have been remarkably productive.
In a display of corporate diplomacy rarely witnessed in Sierra Leone’s football history, his administration secured $180,000 in sponsorship from Leone Rock Metal Group for the 2025/26 Premier League and an additional $150,000 from Marampa Mines Limited to support the Women’s Premier League the largest single investment ever recorded in the women’s game.
These deals have done more than just boost budgets; they have re-ignited confidence among clubs and players who, for years, operated under uncertainty and neglect.
Beyond sponsorships, the president has prioritized capacity building, organizing training programs for referees, media officers, and football administrators. This focus on human capital signals his recognition that financial inflows alone cannot fix the sport competence, ethics, and professionalism are equally vital.
The modernization of the SLFA Secretariat and plans to relocate to a new administrative complex also demonstrate Babadi’s intent to institutionalize efficiency. The conversion of the Kingtom Academy into a Technical Center represents another strategic step, aligning Sierra Leone with FIFA’s long-term vision of structured youth development and sustainability.
Even on the pitch, the Leone Stars have shown signs of revival two wins and a draw in four matches under his leadership rekindling hope among fans. His administration’s decision to provide free buses, meals, and jerseys during the Liberia fixtures turned national matches into a carnival of unity and pride.
In a football landscape often dominated by talk and little action, Babadi Kamara’s start feels deliberate, legalistic, and reform-minded.
Yet beneath the optimism lies a sobering reality.
While many reforms have been initiated, most remain at the policy or planning stage. The promised decentralization of football governance—bringing decision-making closer to regional and district bodies has not yet materialized. Clubs outside Freetown continue to complain about limited engagement, logistical challenges, and inadequate communication from the center.
Questions of financial transparency also linger. While corporate partnerships are welcome, there is growing public demand for clarity on how sponsorship funds are allocated and monitored. Will these resources reach grassroots clubs equitably, or will they be trapped in the same bureaucratic web that has historically plagued the SLFA?
Equally pressing is the unfinished reconciliation between the old SLFA loyalists and the new administration. Despite Babadi’s inclusive rhetoric, sections of the football family feel politically side-lined or suspicious of the new leadership’s intentions.
In some circles, whispers of over-centralization have emerged accusations that, despite the language of inclusivity, key decisions remain tightly controlled by a small executive circle.
No matter how progressive a reformer may be, Sierra Leone’s football politics remains a swamp that can easily swallow idealism.
The early days of Babadi’s presidency have not been free from controversy. Allegations of favoritism in appointments, uneven regional representation, and behind-the-scenes political alliances threaten to resurrect the same divisions that crippled the association in the past.
At the same time, public expectations have skyrocketed. In just 100 days, many fans want to see fully functional academies, a restructured league calendar, and improved international performances. The reality, however, is that rebuilding a broken football ecosystem takes time, discipline, and patience three commodities that are often in short supply in Sierra Leonean public life.
If the president fails to manage expectations and communicate timelines clearly, the wave of goodwill could fade as quickly as it formed.
One hundred days may be too short to judge a presidency but long enough to read intent.
Babadi Kamara’s intent appears reformative, lawful, and visionary. He has brought stability to an association once defined by infighting and structure to a game that long operated on improvisation. His administration’s commitment to FIFA compliance and governance frameworks has restored both legality and international credibility to the SLFA.
Yet football leadership is not a sprint it’s a marathon. The coming months will determine whether Babadi’s policies can evolve into sustainable systems, transparent governance, and consistent on-field results.
In the end, the story of his first 100 days is one of hope under construction progress tempered by caution, ambition shadowed by the ghosts of old habits.
As citizens, fans, and journalists watch, one question remains:
Can Babadi Kamara’s leadership truly liberate Sierra Leonean football from the politics, mediocrity, and mistrust that have long defined it?
For now, the ball is still rolling.
