The Southern Arena has been described as one of the biggest indigenous community investments and community development initiatives in Sierra Leone and Africa and has attracted the global following and admiration of a former Nigerian football professional, Yakubu Aiyegbeni.
Yakubu Ayegbeni (born 22 November 1982), known as Yakubu, is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a striker. His nickname is “The Yak”.
Yakubu in excitement has expressed admiration for the vision of establishing a privately owned ultra-modern stadium in Sierra Leone. He described this as having a big heart to take up the challenge of building a country, influencing change in the community, and helping the young generation of players to actualize their dreams of becoming professional footballers.
He was overwhelmed and shocked by the facilities he saw at the Southern Arena and called it a world-class investment. Yakubu expressed thanks and appreciation to Mr. Babadi Kamara, CEO of the Southern Arena, and congratulated him for his ability to not only dream but also for his courage, passion, and vision to make his country a better place through football. This big move he said will also benefit other young talents in the West African sub-region and Africa at large.
He fondly said will become an ambassador of this world-class football project in Africa but most importantly expressed his desire to help in the development of football in Sierra Leone.
Babadi stated that the Southern Arena which will be soon opened to the public and the football community of Sierra Leone and Africa is an initiative that is driven by the desire to use football to build communities and open up the socio-economic prospect of the Sierra Leone football industry. He further said that the project will not only benefits players alone but hundreds of workers and thousands of business and community people.
Babadi said as once stated by Marianne Williamson that “In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it.”
He also said Herman Melville once said “We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men.”
The CEO of the Southern Arena, Babadi acknowledges the great emotional and community support he received in the establishment of this project.
Ending with smiles, knowledge, and experience sharing Yakubu promised to keep in touch and will contribute in ways he can to ensure that the dream of Babadi Kamara is actualized and the younger generation of players will attain their full potential through the influence and professional skills development that this project brings.
