Babadie Kamara: A Candidate Without Borders

In a country where football stirs more emotion than politics, the race for the presidency of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has become a national conversation. And at the center of it stands a man whose name is quickly becoming synonymous with transformation —Babadie Kamara. With a campaign built on transparency, development, and global vision, Kamara has earned the moniker “A Candidate Without Borders” — not just for his international experience, but for his boundary-breaking vision for Sierra Leonean football.
Babadie Kamara’s journey into the world of football administration began years ago, not in stadium boardrooms, but in grassroots pitches across Bo and Freetown, where he helped fund and organize youth tournaments. Over time, his involvement grew, leading him into player management and club development. Kamara has worked extensively with African and European football stakeholders, building networks that span from London to Lagos, Dakar to Dubai. He has brokered scouting deals, facilitated player transfers, and most notably, helped young Sierra Leonean talents access international.
“My goal is simple,” Kamara said at a recent meeting in Freetown.
“To give our players, clubs, coaches, and fans the system they deserve — one that works, one that’s fair, and one that connects Sierra Leone to the global football family.” Babadie Kamara’s influence and support cuts across club owners, district executives, retired players, youth leagues, and even football fans on the streets.
“Babadie is different,” says Hon Papa Bangura, a member of Parliament from the opposition APC and a top football executive from Makeni “He’s not here to play politics. He’s here to build football.”
Kamara’s independent approach hasn’t gone unnoticed by football stakeholders, some of whom accuse him of being “too connected to the North and West” or “not grounded in traditional SLFA circles.” His response? Calm, confident, and unshaken.
“I have no borders in my thinking, and football shouldn’t either. The days of closed-door deals and inner circles must end. Sierra Leone has talent that can compete anywhere in the world — it’s time our football administration matched that potential.”
“Babadie is speaking our language,” said football journalist Bei Santigie Kamara “He’s not just promising change — he’s showing us how it can happen.”
As the SLFA election approaches, Babadie Kamara’s campaign is gathering both speed and scrutiny. Whether he emerges victorious or not, many agree he has already reshaped the conversation — challenging the notion of what football leadership in Sierra Leone can look like.
“A Candidate Without Borders” may be a campaign slogan, but for Kamara, it’s a principle. A belief that football can unite communities, transcend politics, and carry a nation’s pride far beyond its shores.