"Prime Minister of Sierra Leone Football" Lamin Bangura passes on

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson

The Sierra Leone football community is in mourning following the tragic passing of legendary defender Lamin Bangura. Bangura, an ex-Leone Stars defender, etched his name in history when he led his former club, Diamond Stars of Kono, to victory in the Sierra Leone Premier League Cup in 2012. Notably, he was the first coach to secure a national men’s top-tier title with a provincial team.

Bangura’s illustrious career spanned both playing and coaching. He proudly wore Sierra Leone’s national team jersey until his retirement from international football. As a coach, he served as the head coach of the Sierra Leone Premier League side Ports Authority Football Club from 2021.

Tragically, at the age of 59, Bangura lost his life in a road crash. The accident occurred while he was traveling with players and officials of his club to honor a league fixture against Kahunla Rangers of Kenema. Their hired team bus collided with a stationary truck along the Mile 91 - Bo Highway. The driver’s mate lost his life, and Bangura, along with six other players and officials, sustained severe injuries.

Despite rescue efforts by the Chairman of Bo Rangers Football Club and the owner of Southern Arena, Babadi Kamara, the injured players faced challenges accessing medical care due to the lack of adequately equipped health centers along the Mile 91 - Freetown highway. Eventually, they were transported to Rokupa and Emergency Hospitals in Freetown.

The Iconic Lamin Bangura (Late) pictured during team training with Ports Authority at the Attouga Mini stadium in Freetown by Alusine Rehme Wilson📸

In the wake of Bangura’s passing, all Sierra Leone men’s top-tier league matches scheduled for Wednesday and the upcoming weekend have been postponed. Victor Lewis, Chairman of the 2023/24 Sierra Leone Premier League Board, announced this decision.

Tributes have poured in for the iconic coach and former Sierra Leonean international footballer. Thomas Daddy Brima, President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), described Bangura as “a legendary footballer and coach who gave his all to Sierra Leone.” The entire football family, both at home and abroad, will forever miss him.

President Brima expressed concern about the alarming rate of night-time road crashes affecting the football community. He called for urgent discussions with partners to address transportation safety for players and officials.

Issa “Maggo” Tarawalie, Secretary General of Ports Authority Football Club, expressed his shock and grief, emphasizing that finding a suitable replacement for the fallen legend would be challenging.

The Iconic Lamin Bangura (Late) pictured during team training with Ports Authority at the Attouga Mini stadium in Freetown by Alusine Rehme Wilson📸

Bangura’s football journey included stints with Diamond Stars Football Club of Kono and three-time top-tier champions Real Republicans. He also played abroad in Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, and Tunisia for clubs like A.S Kaloum, ASEC Mimosas, and Etoile du Sahel.

As a coach, Bangura achieved remarkable success. He led AS Kaloum of Guinea to four titles in one season, including the Guinean National top-flight cup. Notably, he made history with Diamond Stars by winning the Sierra Leone Premier League back-to-back in 2012 and 2013 with a provincial-based team.

Returning home, Bangura contributed significantly to Sierra Leone’s football development. His impact extended beyond coaching, influencing footballers across Africa, including those at Central Parade and Santoba FC.

Iconic Lamin Bangura (Late) posed for a photograph at the Attouga Mini stadium in Freetown after an exclusive interview with Multimedia Journalist Alusine Rehme Wilson in 2021📸

His commitment to national service was evident as he served as an assistant coach for Sierra Leone’s senior national men’s team, Leone Stars, under Swedish-born coach Lars-Olof Mattsson. Bangura also played a crucial role in Sierra Leone’s historic return to the AFCON finals in 2021.

Leone Stars skipper and QPR defender Osman Kakay also paid tribute to Bangura on Facebook, recalling their valuable interactions during AFCON 2022.

The football community will remember Bangura as “the Prime Minister of Sierra Leone Football,” a gentle giant, and a man of integrity and discipline,” says Durosimi Thomas, a media consultant and African football expert with extensive experience covering major football events, including seven Nations Cup finals, a World Cup, several continental club championships, and Africa Club Championship final matches.

The Iconic Lamin Bangura will be laid to rest on Friday at the Kissy Cemetery in Freetown, leaving behind a legacy that will forever resonate in Sierra Leonean football.

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