By: Hawa Dauda
Freetown, Sierra Leone – August 23, 2026
Sierra Leone Aquatics has held an inclusive Technical Committee Meeting, bringing together coaches, athletes, officials, club representatives, Executive Committee members and media personnel to discuss the federation’s technical direction and long-term development.
The meeting, held on Saturday, August 22, 2026, and hosted by Aqua Sport Club, marked an important engagement following the appointment of Gibrilla Kanu Bamba as Technical Director and Head Coach.
The session provided stakeholders from swimming, open-water swimming and water polo with an opportunity to collectively review the federation’s technical programmes, identify areas requiring improvement and discuss a long-term roadmap aimed at strengthening aquatic sports across Sierra Leone.
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Committee, Reginald Brian Ojukutu Sawyerr, Acting Assistant Secretary General and PRO 1 of Sierra Leone Aquatics, described the meeting as more than a routine gathering, saying it provided an opportunity for the federation to “unify, reflect, plan and build.”
Sawyerr emphasised the importance of greater unity and collaboration among coaches, athletes, clubs and officials, noting that Sierra Leone Aquatics has significant potential through its talented athletes, committed coaches and dedicated clubs.
He stressed, however, that talent alone would not be enough to achieve international success, highlighting the importance of structure, discipline, teamwork, technical development and a clear long-term vision.
He also called for an honest assessment of the federation’s annual activities, including competition opportunities for athletes, coach development, club engagement, youth talent identification and preparations for regional, continental and international competitions.
A major focus of the meeting was the proposed Technical Roadmap, designed to provide a structured pathway for athlete development from grassroots and club levels through to national and international competition.
The roadmap is expected to prioritise coach education and certification, talent identification, regular competitions, training camps, technical clinics, performance monitoring, youth development, international exposure, sports science, athlete welfare and preparation for major competitions.
Sawyerr encouraged coaches to embrace continuous learning and modern coaching methods while urging athletes to complement their talent with discipline, consistency, commitment and sacrifice.
He further reaffirmed the Secretariat’s responsibility to create an enabling environment for technical development through improved communication, coordination and support for clubs, coaches and athletes.
Meanwhile, Technical Director and Head Coach Gibrilla Kanu Bamba presented the federation’s technical vision and roadmap. His presentation received positive feedback from participants, who welcomed the direction and work being undertaken by the Technical Department.
Participants expressed renewed optimism about a more coordinated, inclusive and progressive approach to the development of aquatic sports in Sierra Leone.
Access to the National Stadium Swimming Complex also emerged as a key issue during the engagement, with stakeholders viewing the facility as critical to the successful implementation of the federation’s technical plans and the establishment of a consistent high-performance training environment.
The meeting was brought to a close by Ruth Alma Turay, a coach and member of the Technical Committee, who summarised the discussions and highlighted the key issues and priorities emerging from the engagement before formally adjourning the session.
The gathering reinforced a sense of collective responsibility among stakeholders, who expressed a shared commitment to strengthening Sierra Leone Aquatics and improving the country’s competitiveness at regional, continental and international levels.
Sierra Leone Aquatics expressed appreciation to all participants for their contributions and to Aqua Sport Club for hosting the meeting.
As the federation moves towards implementing its Technical Roadmap, the central message from the meeting was clear: sustainable progress will require unity, professionalism, accountability, discipline, inclusivity and a shared commitment to developing the next generation of Sierra Leonean aquatic athletes.
