By Nenneh Fofanah

Freetown, September 1, 2025 –  In a season marked by fierce competition, emotional turning points, and unwavering ambition, East End Lions Football Club has reclaimed its place at the summit of Sierra Leonean football, clinching the 2024/2025 Leone Rock Premier League title after five trophyless years.

The triumph is more than just silverware it is a testament to months of strategic planning, administrative discipline, and sheer determination. Speaking on behalf of the club, Alhassan Idriss Bangura, Head of Administration, described the victory as deeply personal for everyone connected to East End Lions.

“For a very long time, we’ve been building toward this moment,” Bangura said. “Watching Bo Rangers dominate for three straight seasons was painful. We are one of the greatest clubs in Sierra Leone’s football history, and we knew we had to respond. So, as an executive, we worked tirelessly to assemble the right minds and personnel.”

The season began with two opening draws, a familiar slow start for the Lions. But the team soon found its rhythm, racking up emphatic wins before suffering a setback in an away match against Bo Rangers. “That loss stung,” Bangura admitted, “but we regrouped and showed consistency. From December to the end of the season, we stayed on top. That speaks volumes about our hard work.”

Beyond the pitch, East End Lions demonstrated strong financial and emotional support for its players. “We have five foreign players and four more on trial. We pay our players monthly without fail the lowest earning NLe800, the highest NLe6,600,” Bangura revealed. He also shared a poignant moment involving player Ozil, who delivered the club’s first win of the season shortly after losing his wife. “We all attended the funeral and supported him with over NLe500,000 more than the league’s prize money. That’s the kind of family we are.”

Head Coach Mohammed Lamin Kamara, in his debut season with the club, reflected on the journey with pride. “We started with 35 players and trimmed the squad to 25. We shared our vision and fought through every obstacle. This is my first league title as a coach, and for 95% of the team, it’s their first too.”

Kamara also paid tribute to his squad, singling out the late Samuel Bekeo as his favorite player. “He was someone you could rely on, someone who could act on your behalf. Sadly, he’s no longer with us.”

Team captain and Ghanaian defender Abdul Nyamekye, who joined the club in 2021, expressed his joy at the achievement. “Moving to Sierra Leone opened doors for me. My teammates, coaches, and fans have made me feel at home. This title means everything.”

Despite their league dominance, only one East End Lions player was named in the 26-man squad for the Leone Stars’ upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Guinea-Bissau and Ethiopia on September 4 and 9. The squad, selected by Head Coach Mohamed Kallon, has sparked debate.

In an interview on Truth FM’s Morning Devotion, Ibrahim Kamara, Head of Communications at the Sierra Leone Football Association, defended the selection. “Coach Kallon is building a team mostly with home-based players, not to disrespect foreign-based ones, but to strengthen local talent. When it comes to selection, it’s not about the club,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     it’s about the individual player’s fit.”

Kamara added, “We’ve entrusted Kallon with this responsibility. If he fails, he’ll be held accountable. I’ve spoken with him directly, and he believes only one East End Lions player fits his system.”