The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has banned the national stadium at brook fields in Freetown from hosting international matches.
This ban came as a result of the dilapidated status of the stadium, because facilities are in bad shape and could not meet international standards, including the pitch, dressing rooms, toilet facilities and inadequate benches for substitutes.
Our Investigative reporter Saidu Bah went about the street of Freetown to sound the public views, comments and indebt analysis of the consequences of this banned to the country.
Francis Senesie
I am disappointed with the banning of our national stadium by the Federation of International Foot ball Association (FIFA) due to lack of maintenance of the pitch, dressing rooms and toilet facilities.
I am also sad that we are not going to host any International match at the stadium, but the problem lies with the ministry of education youth and sports and the Sierra Leone Foot ball Association who are using the national stadium and misusing it without checks and balances.
I am kindly appealing to the government to separate the Ministry of Education from the Youth and Sports so that, much attention will be paid to the development of sports in the country.
Alhaji Ibrahim Jalloh
This government has started to kill sport slowly as our national stadium has now become a social center for the launching of albums and crusades which is the main reason that prompted FIFA to ban the stadium.
As a foot ball player of the Eastern Lions foot ball club, we are disappointed in the banning of the stadium, but we blame the stadium management for misusing it. As monies collected from hosting games and other social programmes should be used to repair the pitch, toilet and dressing rooms, but unfortunately they are siphoned with impunity by the authorities.
I only hope and pray that, the Anti-Corruption Commission will soon start to investigate some of the corrupt practices of sport officials.
Alpha Kabia
I am not happy with the banning of the national stadium, but some of the sport officials are in the constant habit of using the national stadium for social programs such as album launching, festivals and crusades and monies generated are judiciously utilized for the repair of the stadium.
The government most ensure that, the use of the national stadium is monitored to the later with transparency and accountability
.Madam Sia Mackie
I am a resident of the national stadium area, the banning of the national stadium is a disgrace to us in this country and I think the hosting of album launching by musicians is the major cause for the dilapidation of the national stadium, but crusades are not too bad because they only go there to pray.
The only thing government can do now, is to facilitate the immediate maintenance of the stadium, then FIFA will inspect it and determine weather it is fit for use or not.
Swarray A Fomoh
It is true that Sierra Leoneans lack the culture of maintenance that is why FIFA banned the national Stadium from hosting any International march.
I only hope that the government will ensure that all programs hosted at the national stadium must meet certain criteria before they use the stadium, and monies collected must be used to repair and pay the stadium staff so that, they can take good care of the place and also adopt the culture of maintenance.
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