BY ALIMAMY CONTEH – Intern FBC
Sports Writers Association of Sierra Leone (SWASAL) in a press release dated 17th November 2022, has called on the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to investigate the Sierra Leone Senior National team football trip to the United Arab Emirates.
This request came after the selection of players and officials by the Sierra Leone Football Association, Ministry of Sports and National Sports Authority which was done in secret and some of the Officials who made the trip had no significance to either the players or the friendlies but were however included probably for a jolly ride or collections of per diem.
“The UAE Trip is suspicious and calls for an investigation. The government and its agencies responsible for sports in the country should be more responsible, transparent and accountable in carrying out their duties. It is disrespectful to the local media and the citizens for the authorities to make such an international trip without officially informing the public”. Said Sahr Morris Jnr. The President of the Sports Writers Association of Sierra Leone.
He added that there are other important questions that the authorities need to answer – like who organised the said friendlies? what is the engagement fee? and who are the opponent teams? The Sierra Leone’s Senior National team who are said to play two friendlies in the United Arab Emirates with Algeria on Saturday 19th November 2022, which is the same day as Algeria’s friendly with Sweden. And the other opponent they will face in UAE is unknown.
According to Morris Jnr, it is an unfortunate and sheer waste of insufficient resources that could be utilized for the use of development of other sporting disciplines. He asserted that football is popular, but other sporting disciplines are in dire need of financial as well as emotional support from the sports ministry and the government.
He emphasized that SWASAL condemns the negative tradition of including Government officials and other people in the Leone Stars delegation, which at times has proven to be counterproductive and with negative outcomes.
SWASAL calls on the ACC to look into these issues. As they continue to commend the government’s dedication towards football, but urges them to seriously consider the allocation of funds and other resources.
