By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
First Lady Fatima Maada Bioβs philanthropic drive towards FC Bai Bureh Warriors in Port Loko, North West Sierra Leone, has been described as a potent move by the First Lady towards the future of the team.
The First Lady has donated football gear to Bai Bureh Warriors FC in addition to fifty million Leones.
Dr. Fatima Maada Bio donated whilst she was heading to Kambia District. She however stopped in Port Loko City to donate the football gear and cash to the Bai Bureh Warriors FC.
She said that through Dr. Sylvia Blyden, she received a letter from the club about their need for football wear, adding that as a football fanatic herself, she saw the need to intervene as she put it: “Football brings unity”.
She added: “I received a letter from Sylvia Blyden that you needed this stuff. You know I’m a football fanatic and I want to truly appreciate you a lot because they say football brings unity to the country. When we qualified for the Africa Nations cup, we saw how the country was unified. So, whenever someone talks to me about football, I will always do something about it,” she said.
The country’s First Lady went on to say that the name Bai Bureh is part of Sierra Leone’s history, adding that her donation is not about politics but a show of her love of football.
Madam Fatima called on the Football Club to use the gear for the intended purpose, adding that three sets of jerseys for away, matches and games are part of the package.
“Of course, I and Sylvia should have come here, so on her behalf also, I want to say thank you for reaching out. You asked for boots and jerseys but then I saw the need for balls also. ‘And I also thought the players needed something to eat,” First Lady Fatima Maada Bio added.
Chairman of Bai Bureh Warriors FC, expressed thanks and appreciation to the First Lady for such a laudable gift towards the club and for the timely intervention.
He said they’ve owed the players of Bai Bureh Warriors for three months, adding that recently “we sent for our jerseys to be printed for us in Turkey.”
He added: “May God bless you. May God save you from problems. Mama, may Allah grant you success in this world. To me, it is not a surprise.”
He added that the First Lady has done much for the Sierra Leone Premier League.
Strategic Communications Division
Office of The First Lady.
info@officeofthefirstlady.gov.sl
