Sports for Empowerment Foundation Supports Sierra Leone through Grassroots Sports Coaching and Player Development

By: Amadu Wurie Timbo

The Sports for Empowerment Foundation Sierra Leone has embarked on a transformative journey with its Nationwide Grassroots Coaches Education and Management Training. This drive, which began on October 14, 2023, with broader aims to enhance the skills of coaches and also seeks to empower young athletes with the tools they need to succeed both on and off the field. Led by a team of dedicated professionals, including Harry Varley, KAA Gent's Head scout in Africa, who came with a twofold mission; Seeking to identify promising talent for his Belgian club and as well as with the core focus to build a solid foundation for the future of Sierra Leone's sports, with a primary emphasis on grassroots coaching and youth player development. Since they arrived in Sierra Leone on October 13, the foundation's team has travelled to some parts of the country, conducting training sessions in key locations such as Lungi, Bo, Kenema, Kamakwie, and Kono, with plans to extend their reach even further across Sierra Leone.

In Kamakwie, a vital virgin ground but a hub for sports development, Desmond Paine, Alusine Lulu Bangura, and Harry Varley who served as the prominent figures of this initiative led a series of impactful modules that covered critical aspects of coaching, including the relationship between coaches, players, and parents, individual and community development, and the role sports can play in achieving the 17 Global Sustainable Development Goals. The training sessions proved highly productive, equipping the 44 participants with essential skills and knowledge coaches, who are considered to be the backbone of grassroots sports in Sierra Leone, underwent a practical session that enriched their potential to develop players and their technical understanding of the game.

One of the standout features of this initiative was the open trial sessions held at the end of the two-day event. These sessions provided a unique opportunity for players to showcase their talents and for Harry the International Scout to identify promising prospects. At the end of the event, all coaches who participated in the training amazingly received certification, recognizing their commitment to the program. Desmond Paine, the Founder of the Sports for Empowerment Foundation Sierra Leone and the Coordinator for Grassroots Coaches Education and Management Training, underscored the transformative power of this program. He stressed that the program is tailored exclusively for grassroots coaches, to shape their behaviour, attitudes, and skills when working with young athletes. Paine firmly believes that these coaches can become agents of change in society, nurturing positive values and attitudes in their players, both on and off the field.

Paine expressed his confidence in the participants' readiness to drive positive change in their communities. Adding that, the foundation will closely monitor and evaluate the impact of the training, with plans to expand into a second level of coaching which will witness under-12 football competitions, male and female volleyball competitions, and other sporting activities. Harry Varley, Head scout in Africa for KAA Gent in Belgium, shared his dual role in this mission, saying he aims to identify talented players between the ages of 17-20 for his club in Belgium while also focusing on refining coaching skills in grassroots football. Varley noted that the technical level of players he encountered was below par, which he attributed to coaching methods. He affirmed his commitment to helping Sierra Leone's football evolve to meet the standards of European football and expressed his intention to make regular scouting visits to the country. Coaches who participated in the program, including Patricia Bangura, the only female coach in Kamakwie, hailed the event, saying it's priceless. They stressed that the training will greatly facilitate their efforts to nurture players and shape their behaviour on and off the field.

Conclusively, they pledged to implement the knowledge gained and translate it into effective actions to bring about positive changes in players' performance and behaviour, both within and beyond the realm of football.