The Executive Director of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Dr. Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, has been honoured by the Sierra Leone Premier League Board for his “Outstanding Leadership and Support towards Sports” in Sierra Leone.
The recognition was announced on Wednesday, 31st July, 2023 at the Board’s Premier League Awards Night held at the Kingtom Bank Complex.
In less than three months, Dr. Abdulai has orchestrated a remarkable transformation at the NSA, positioning the institution to fulfill its mandate effectively. He has overseen the implementation of the NSA Act 2017 and provided steadfast backing to both the male and female premier leagues, resulting in the creation of over 3,000 jobs across various sporting disciplines.
With financial support from the NSA, the gymnastics team secured an impressive 20 gold medals in Azerbaijan, while the Karate team achieved success with over 40 medals at the West Africa competition hosted in Freetown. Additionally, the U18 and U20 volleyball teams clinched gold medals to earn qualification to the world championship.
Dr. Abdulai’s initiatives have led to Leones Stars Coaches receiving monthly payments instead of quarterly, the drafting of three regulations covering Sports Development Fund, Anti-doping, and the Court of Arbitration.
Furthermore, the Leone Stars achieved a win and a draw in 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier under his leadership. Dr. Abdulai has instilled efficiency in sports expenditure by reducing delegations and cutting budget lines. He is currently conducting assessments of all state-owned sporting facilities to evaluate their condition.
Through his motivational approach and empowerment of staff to think and perform autonomously, Dr. Abdulai has fostered an unparalleled spirit of teamwork at the NSA. His selfless leadership exemplifies a commitment that promises to elevate the state of sports in the country.
