Silenced by Corruption, Hunted by Tradition…
Alpha Kamara Runs for his life
In a nation where true athletic talent is scarce and patriotism even scarcer, one would expect those who bear the weight of our flag on international stages to be celebrated, protected, and immortalized. But for Alpha Breezy Kamara—a sprinter who has proudly represented Sierra Leone since 2017—his reward has not been medals or monuments. Instead, it has been betrayal, abandonment, and a chilling silence from the very institutions sworn to uplift athletes.
Kamara’s nightmare began during the 2019 All-Africa Games in Morocco, where he was among the few athletes selected to represent the country. The Government of Sierra Leone reportedly allocated $2,500 per athlete—a modest yet critical sum intended to cover accommodation, feeding, and other welfare needs. But Kamara and others say they received a mere $500. The rest? Allegedly siphoned off by corrupt officials within the Sierra Leone Athletics Association (SLAA) and the National Olympic Committee (NOC).
Unlike many of his peers who chose silence out of fear of retribution, Kamara spoke out. Boldly and publicly, he denounced what he described as “grand corruption” and the exploitation of Sierra Leonean athletes. He revealed a rotten system where athletes are often forced to fund their own travel and visa expenses, or risk being replaced by individuals with no athletic merit—only deep pockets or political connections.
Kamara’s courageous whistleblowing came at a cost.
Despite meeting international qualifying standards, he was systematically excluded from future competitions. Not due to injury or performance—but for daring to question authority. His defiance of the corrupt establishment earned him enemies. What followed was a campaign of isolation, intimidation, and terror.
Sources close to Kamara say he became a marked man. He survived multiple attacks by unidentified assailants—suspected to be acting on orders from those he exposed. The threats didn’t stop at personal retaliation; his family, too, became targets of a broader effort to silence him permanently.
But the dangers Kamara faced were not only political—they were also cultural. According to family insiders, Alpha was being pursued by members of the powerful Poro Society, a secretive traditional group in Sierra Leone. His late father was a high-ranking member, and custom demands that the mantle be passed on to the son. Kamara, however, refused to take up the role. That defiance may have compounded his vulnerability—placing him in the crosshairs of both state corruption and secret society enforcement.
Today, Alpha Breezy Kamara’s whereabouts remain unknown. Whether he has gone underground for safety, fled the country, or—God forbid—met a darker fate, no one can say with certainty. What is certain is that a national asset has been lost, not to injury or retirement, but to a system that rewards silence and punishes integrity.
Kamara’s story is more than the tragic sidelining of an athlete. It is a mirror held up to our failed institutions, our toxic traditions, and our dangerous indifference. The SLAA, NOC, and all those complicit in his disappearance should not only be ashamed—they should be held accountable.
We must ask ourselves:
How many more Alpha Kamaras will we sacrifice on the altar of corruption and cultural coercion?
How long will we allow the voices of truth to be drowned by threats and violence?
Until justice is served and the truth about Kamara’s fate is uncovered, the silence from our government, our sports authorities, and our traditional leaders is not just troubling—it is damning.
This is not just about one man.
This is about every honest athlete, every brave whistleblower, and every young Sierra Leonean who still dares to dream.