By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara
The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), with support from FIFA, is strengthening the capacity of women’s football administrators through a three-day workshop aimed at improving strategic planning, programme management and safeguarding in the country’s football sector.
The workshop, which brought together more than 30 participants from across Sierra Leone, continued on Thursday, October 29, with discussions and practical sessions focusing on the implementation of the country’s newly launched Women’s Football Strategy, monitoring and evaluation, and the protection of individuals involved in football.
FIFA facilitators Tsholofelo Candy Setlhoko from Botswana and Thubaelih Bridgette Sibanda from Zimbabwe led sessions on strategic planning, SWOT analysis, action planning and the development of SMART goals and key performance indicators (KPIs) to help participants set clear objectives and measure progress in their respective roles.
The sessions were designed to equip participants with practical skills to develop effective plans, identify challenges and opportunities, and improve the delivery of women’s football programmes across the country.
Safeguarding also featured prominently during the second day of the workshop, with SLFA Safeguarding Officer Makallay Kamara, supported by the Association’s Women’s Football Manager, Elizabeth Alberta Kailey, leading discussions on the importance of protecting everyone involved in football.
The session highlighted the need to create safe, inclusive and supportive environments for players, administrators and other stakeholders. Participants also took part in practical safeguarding scenarios and a quiz aimed at strengthening their understanding of safeguarding principles and their application within football.
The capacity-building initiative follows the launch of Sierra Leone’s first-ever Women’s Football Strategy on Wednesday, October 28, at the Empower Africa Business Centre in Freetown.
The strategy is expected to provide a framework for advancing women’s football in the country, while the workshop seeks to equip administrators with the knowledge and skills required to translate its objectives into practical programmes and measurable results.
The final day of the workshop, scheduled for Friday, October 30, will focus on sustainable club management, project design and management, sponsorship, financial management and community engagement.
These sessions are expected to strengthen participants’ ability to manage football activities effectively, mobilise resources, build partnerships and promote greater community involvement in women’s football.
Participants are expected to receive approved certificates of participation at the closing ceremony.
The workshop represents a further step towards strengthening the administration of women’s football in Sierra Leone, with emphasis on strategic leadership, accountability, safeguarding and the effective implementation of programmes to support the development of the women’s game.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 2nd November 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
