The Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA) has intensified preparations for the 2026 Inter-Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) Football Tournament, unveiling its official team jerseys as the Authority sets its sights on winning the coveted championship trophy.
The unveiling ceremony took place on Monday, 26 October 2026, ahead of the team’s opening fixture against the Office of the President. The event brought together the Authority’s senior management, including Board Chairman Hon. Manso Dumbuya, Director General Yankuba Askia Bio, and Deputy Director General Judith Kosseh, alongside directors and staff members.
The team, popularly known as the Waterfront Boys, is entering the competition with a renewed determination to demonstrate its footballing strength and secure the ultimate prize in the inter-agency sporting contest.
Speaking at the ceremony, Director General Yankuba Askia Bio challenged the team’s match coordinators to ensure thorough planning and effective pre-match arrangements to give SLPHA a competitive advantage throughout the tournament.
He stressed that the championship had evolved beyond a recreational sporting event and should be approached with the seriousness and commitment required to emerge victorious. According to him, competing agencies are equally determined to win the trophy, making adequate preparation and tactical discipline essential to the team’s success.
Mr. Bio urged the technical team to prepare the players adequately, take every fixture seriously, and ensure that the Waterfront Boys demonstrate their footballing capabilities on the pitch.
Reflecting on the changing nature of the competition, the Director General noted that the tournament was no longer the light-hearted contest it was once considered, emphasising that the Authority’s ambition was firmly focused on winning the championship.
“It used to be a comic league, but not anymore. So, as your team captain, I want nothing besides that trophy,” Mr. Bio declared.
His remarks underscored the Authority’s determination to make a strong impression in this year’s competition, while placing responsibility on the players and technical team to translate management’s expectations into results on the field.
The jersey unveiling also served as a moment of encouragement for the Waterfront Boys, with the presence of the Authority’s top leadership highlighting the importance attached to staff participation, teamwork, and institutional representation through sports.
As the tournament progresses, SLPHA will be looking to combine effective preparation, team coordination, and competitive determination to overcome its opponents and position itself among the leading contenders for the championship.
The Waterfront Boys are scheduled to begin their campaign against the Office of the President on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the National Stadium Practising Field in Freetown.
The opening encounter will provide the team with its first opportunity to demonstrate its readiness for the competition and begin its pursuit of the 2026 Inter-MDA Football Tournament trophy.