National Stadium (Sierra Leone)
Encyclopedia
Brookfields National Stadium is a multi-use 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 45,000 capacity. The stadium serves as the exclusive home of the Sierra Leone national football team
, as well as a venue for social, cultural, and religious events.
), 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 back to Siaka Stevens Stadium, citing a lack of sporting success since the change.
The previous stadium that was there was called Reckrie. Reckrie 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 in 1980.
National stadium
Many countries have a national football stadium, which typically serves as the primary or exclusive home for one or more of a country's national representative sports teams. The term is most often used in reference to an association football stadium. Usually, a national stadium will be in or very...
of Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, located in the capital city of Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
. It is used mostly for football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
matches and it also has athletics facilities. It is the largest stadium in Sierra Leone and has a 45,000 capacity. The stadium serves as the exclusive home of the Sierra Leone national football team
Sierra Leone national football team
The Sierra Leone national football team, nicknamed the Leone Stars, is the national team of Sierra Leone and is controlled by the Sierra Leone Football Association...
, as well as a venue for social, cultural, and religious events.
History
Built in 1980 as Siaka Stevens Stadium (named after President Siaka StevensSiaka Stevens
Siaka Probyn Stevens was the 3rd prime minister of Sierra Leone from 1967–1971 and the 1st president of Sierra Leone from 1971–1985. Stevens is generally criticised for dictatorial methods of government in which many of his political opponents were executed, as well as for mismanaging...
), the stadium's name was changed in 1992 when a coup
1992 Sierra Leonean coup d'état
The 1992 Sierra Leonean coup d'état was a coup d'état against the government of Sierra Leone by a group of young military officers, led by 25-year-old Captain Valentine Strasser on 29 April 1992.-Results:...
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 back to Siaka Stevens Stadium, citing a lack of sporting success since the change.
The previous stadium that was there was called Reckrie. Reckrie 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 in 1980.