By Francis Kamara
As the ‘Shooting Stars’ of Sierra Leone prepare for their U-20 WAFU trip to Mauritania, the secretary general for the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Christopher Kamara, has called out the boys to put up their best performance and bring home the trophy. He gave the inspirational farewell speech to the boys on Wednesday 17th August, 2022, as they departed for camping in Kenema.
The Sierra Leone national men’s football U-20 team also known as ‘Shooting Stars’ have been drawn alongside host Mauritania, Guinea Bissau and Mali in the U-20 WAFU competition that is set to commence on 28th August 2022, in Nouakchott, Mauritania.
The SLFA General Secretary Christopher Kamara, in his statement acknowledged the tremendous effort and determination of the boys. He asserted that the last time Sierra Leone had a qualification in the youth category in terms of football, was in 2003, and getting a good result from this tournament will make up for lost times and will be a big boost for the youth category in terms of football.
He concluded that the support of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) is strongly behind the boys as well as the love and support of over 7 million Sierra Leoneans. He advised them to stay humble and be determined, as scouts from different parts of the globe will be gracing the tournament in search of young talents.
In his statement the Deputy General Secretary Mr. Benson Bawoh urged the boys to grab the opportunity with both hands, as the gap between the U-20 and the national team is not a broad one, and there’s a great possibility of being spotted by the coaches but it’s all down to the performance on the pitch.
He added that there is going to be lots of scouts in Mauritania and African football is being taken very seriously today, as there are lots of talents across the continent and therefore, they should be very determined for such a golden chance.
Antony Foday, the Team Manager for the U-20 team assured the boys all what they need to prepare for the tournament will be provided. He urged them not to focus on the financial aspect of things, but rather be more focused on their dreams of becoming professional football players.
He emphasized that he is expecting utmost seriousness from the boys as they are looking forward to getting good results and raise the flag of Sierra Leone high on the international stage.
He concluded that they should learn from previous mistakes made in the past and be more ready to face the challenges ahead. He urged them to keep working as they have the trust of the SLFA and Sierra Leoneans, as the country is going through a difficult period, their performance in the upcoming U-20 football tournament will be able to change the narrative and put smiles on the faces of so many Sierra Leoneans.
The boys thanked the SLFA secretary general, team manager, coaches, and other stakeholders for the support and love that they have shown to them. They assured the dignitaries, as well as Sierra Leoneans that they will fight as gladiators and put Sierra Leone on the map.
The event ended with pleasantries, and well wishes to the boys as they depart for camping in Kenema.
