Former Sierra Leone defender Bangura dies in bus crash
A former Sierra Leone international, Lamin Bangura, passed away at the age of 59 following a road accident in the West African nation on Tuesday night.
The incident occurred in the village of Konta Line when a bus transporting Ports Authority FC, the team Bangura coached, collided with a stationary truck.
The team was en route from the capital, Freetown, to Kenema for a Sierra Leone Premier League match.
Idrissa Tarawally, the secretary-general of Ports Authority, stated that Bangura was rushed to a hospital in Freetown but succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of Wednesday.
“It’s a sad day for Sierra Leone football,” Tarawally told BBC Sport Africa.
“This is shocking and I’m devastated. I’m speechless. A legend and good coach has gone so soon.”
Six players sustained injuries in the accident in Tonkolili district, with some in critical condition, and they are currently receiving medical treatment in Freetown.
The Premier League match scheduled for Wednesday against Kahunla Rangers has been postponed.
Bangura, a central defender, played a crucial role in helping Sierra Leone qualify for the 1994 and 1996 Africa Cup of Nations finals, and he participated in both tournaments. Additionally, he served as a member of the technical staff for the Leone Stars during the 2021 Nations Cup in Cameroon.
Amidu Karim, the coach of Sierra Leone, who was Bangura’s teammate on the national team in the 1990s, expressed his profound grief, describing Bangura as not just a colleague but a friend, brother, and mentor whom he deeply mourns.
“He was my senior in the national team and he motivated us, the younger ones, at the time to do well,” added Karim.
“A true legend is no more. I’m very sad.”
Thomas Daddy Brima, president of the Sierra Leone FA, was among others who paid tribute to Bangura.
“He was a legend who gave his all for Sierra Leone both as a player and coach,” he said. “We’ll miss him.”
Brima also added he would ask the body running the Sierra Leone Premier League to put the league on hold until a serious discussion on road safety is held.
“We’ve now had four accidents involving football teams in the country [with] most happening in the night,” he added.
“This is a cause for concern. We should put the league on hold to have serious discussions around transportation and safety of the teams.”
Throughout his playing career, Bangura represented Sierra Leonean clubs Diamond Stars and Real Republicans, before venturing to AS Kaloum in Guinea, ASEC Mimosas in Ivory Coast, and Etoile du Sahel in Tunisia.
Transitioning to coaching, he guided AS Kaloum to a league championship in Guinea and secured consecutive Sierra Leone Premier League titles with Diamond Stars in 2012 and 2013.
He later managed Central Parade (now known as Wilberforce Strikers) and Santoba in Guinea before assuming the role of Ports Authority head coach in August 2021. Under his leadership, the Freetown-based club reached the semi-finals of the Sierra Leone FA Cup this season.
Bangura, who also served as head coach for Sierra Leone’s Under-17, U20, and U23 teams, will be laid to rest on Friday.