National Stadium (Sierra Leone)

National Stadium
Full name Freetown National Stadium
Location Freetown, Sierra Leone
Owner Government of Sierra Leone
Operator Sierra Leone Ministry of Sport
Capacity 36,000[1]
Surface Grass
Construction
Built 1980
Opened 1980
Tenants
Sierra Leone national football team, East End Lions, Mighty Blackpool, Ports Authority F.C., Kallon F.C.

Siaka Stevens Stadium commonly known informally as Freetown National Stadium, is the national stadium of Sierra Leone, located in the capital city of Freetown. It is used mostly for football matches and it also has athletics facilities. It is the largest stadium in Sierra Leone and has a 36,000 capacity.[2]. The stadium serves as the exclusive home of the Sierra Leone national football team, known as the Leone Stars.

Several professional Sierra Leonean football clubs in the Sierra Leone National Premier League play their home games at the stadium. The stadium is also occasionally used as a venue for social, cultural, religious, and political events, including the inauguration of a newly elected President of Sierra Leone.

The stadium is named after Sierra Leone"s first president Siaka Stevens, who signed and approved the budget for the construction of the stadium in 1980.

History

Built in 1979 as Siaka Stevens Stadium (named after President Siaka Stevens), the stadium's name was changed in 1992 when a coup was launched by a group of young military officers which established themselves as the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC). In 2008, fans called for the change of the name back to Siaka Stevens Stadium, citing a lack of sporting success since the change.[3]

The previous stadium that was there was called Reckrie Stadium. It was completely demolished in the late 70s, and China won a contract to build a stadium originally named National Stadium. It was changed to Siaka Steven Stadium before the official opening 18th April 1979[4].

References

  1. ↑ http://wikimapia.org/5500487/Sierra-Leone-National-Stadium
  2. ↑ FussballTempel Archived 2010-04-02 at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ Fans Call for Change of Stadium Name Archived 2008-07-01 at the Wayback Machine. Sierra Express, 16 June 2008
  4. ↑ official invitation to the opening

Coordinates: 8°28′46.4″N 13°14′56.6″W / 8.479556°N 13.249056°W / 8.479556; -13.249056

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