As the sport of cricket in Sierra Leone faces a period of uncertainty, concerns have been raised about the decline in performance and governance under the current leadership of Chairman Francis Trevor Samura in Cricket Sierra Leone, formerly known as the Sierra Leone Cricket Association (SLCA). A sport that was once thriving and united has now become one of the most divided sporting disciplines in the country, plagued by issues of misappropriation of funds, violations of the constitution, and governance challenges.
The former Minister of Sports, Hon. Ibrahim Nyelenkeh, made genuine efforts to address the concerns raised by three out of the five Board Members of Cricket Sierra Leone, against Chairman Francis Trevor Samura, but the deliberate delay tactics employed by the erstwhile Executive Director of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Dr. Kenneth Brima, and Steven Keifala, Director of Participation and Sustainable Sports at the NSA, obstructed justice and perpetuated a state of disarray within the Cricket Association.
One glaring example of these obstructive actions was the falsified letter issued by the NSA, dated on a Saturday, when the institution does not operate. This deceitful tactic was orchestrated to justify unwavering support for Chairman Francis Trevor Samura, despite the valid concerns raised against his leadership. The unwavering support of senior members of the NSA and the Ministry of Sports towards Francis Trevor Samura further exacerbated the already troubled state of the Sierra Leone Cricket, leading to a deepening of internal issues and a lack of accountability.
Under the Beresford Bournes-Coker administration, cricket in Sierra Leone experienced a surge in popularity and international success. The sport was flourishing, with increased participation and notable achievements on the global stage. However, since Francis Trevor Samura took office in 2021, the performance of cricket has declined significantly, with no gold medals in international tournaments, and both the national Men and Women’s teams failing to qualify for the All Africa Games, featuring cricket for the first time.
The current leadership of Chairman Francis Trevor Samura has been marred by reports of mismanagement, misappropriation of funds, constitutional violations, and a lack of accountability. These issues have led to a decrease in the quality of competitions, diminished interest from sponsors, and a lack of grassroots development initiatives, further impacting the growth of cricket in Sierra Leone.
Critics argue that the current leadership has failed to capitalize on the successes achieved under Beresford Bournes-Coker administration, resulting in a stagnation of progress and a missed opportunity to elevate Sierra Leone cricket on the global stage.
As concerns continue to mount within the cricket community, there are calls for the new Executive Director of the National Sports Authority to address the challenges facing the sport, and take proactive measures to revitalize cricket in Sierra Leone. The Cricket stakeholders, who took the Association to court, have expressed optimism over the appointment of Dr. Emmanuel Saffa-Abdulai as the new Executive Director, furthering that they believe that had Dr. Saffa Abdulai been in-charge of the NSA when these issues were raised, they would not have gone to Court, as they believe he would have ensured that justice prevail and the best interest of Sierra Leone above all else is sought.