Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai (PhD), the newly appointed Executive Director of the National Sports Authority (NSA), has made it clear that associations failing to organize local competitions to showcase athletes and their sports to Sierra Leoneans will not receive financial support or verbal assurances from the government.
Abdulai emphasized the importance of taking sports to schools, enabling associations to engage young talents early on, thus ensuring their participation in sports from a young age. Additionally, he stressed the need for associations to extend various sporting disciplines to the provinces, allowing people in those regions to also be part of the sports community.
Addressing his vision for the organization to staff members, Abdulai expressed his commitment to working collaboratively with the Board Chair to build a strong organization. He emphasized the value of collaboration and teamwork in achieving their goals.
Rejecting any notion of favoritism based on ethnicity or political affiliation, Abdulai asserted that his focus is on delivering on the NSA’s mandate as Sierra Leoneans first and foremost. He underscored that individual success within the organization is linked to its overall success and the nation’s progress. Abdulai urged staff members to prioritize efficiency, punctuality, respect, and adherence to the law, highlighting the importance of implementing the NSA Act rigorously. While acknowledging existing challenges, he called for collective efforts to overcome them, emphasizing the need to earn credibility and respect through dedicated action. BT/18/4/2024