The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has on Thursday June 11, 2020, informed the general public that the Project to install an artificial football pitch in Kenema Artificial Turf Installation Project has been postponed due to the current covid-19 pandemic and the rains.
The release further stated that FIFA and SLFA’s priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic is health and safety, and in that light, Edel Grass, the project contractors, were therefore respecting travel restrictions and health measures set by the Government of Sierra Leone and restrictions in their home countries.
“Work is expected to resume in October 2020, subject to the lifting of health and travel regulations, during which the rains would have also subsided.” the release stated.
It could be recalled that the Ministry of Sport, Ibrahim Nyelenkeh, on Sunday 24 May 2020, inspected the material to be used in the construction of the artificial turf.
He said that they were doing a follow up on their last visit to Kenema on 29th February 2020, when the sod was turned for the new turf. He said they are in Kenema on the orders of President Bio who was eager to know the current state of the project.
According to the SLFA they were bitter at the Minister of Sports and the Executive Direct of Sports Dr. Kenneth Brima for visiting the site without the knowledge of the Sierra Leone Football Association.
The postponement of the construction means that Kenema’s Kambui Eagles Football Club would definitely have to wait a little longer to start using their refurbished playing pitch after it would have been completed.
Kambui Eagles Football Club is currently in second position before the Corona outbreak in the country, which caused the discontinuance of all football activities in the country in March 2020.
By Desmond Tunde Coker
17/6/2020. ISSUE NO.: 7847