By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
Sierra Leone National Under-15 side on 15th August 2022 departed for Liberia ahead of the 2nd edition of the West Africa Football Union (WAFU) under-15 male tournament.
Before the team’s departure, the Sierra Leone Football Association held a press conference at their Secretariat in Kingtom to update Journalists about the team’s latest development ahead of the tournament.
Lamin Tarawallie the Media and Marketing Officer at the Sierra Leone Football Association said “As Football Federation they have put in place all necessary arrangements for the U-15 entire delegation to Liberia, as this is the second time Sierra Leone takes part in the tournament the last edition was in Guinea Conakry where the Countries like Senegal, Liberia, and Mail including the host represented the West A zone in the tournament. He noted that the essence of the tournament is to give members Federations to build their grassroots football with the young players which is why CAF is organizing such competitions.
He confirmed that this year’s tournament will see nine countries such as Guinea, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Cape Verde, Mali, Senegal, and Liberia the host nation will partake; adding that it is set to kick off on the 18th of August, 2022 in Liberia.
He further that the team is made up of 30 man delegation which comprises 23 players and officials and that the entire delegation is solely funded by the Sierra Leone Football Association. He said they have written to Government informing them about the participation but they knew Government has a lot in their hand to settle but they are taking the team with what they have at hand for the boys to actualize their dream.
The Head Coach, Alieu Koroma said that it was a rigorous process meted with so many challenges in putting the boys together from trials to selecting a final twenty-23-man squad for the tournament.
“It has not been an easy process but with a committed Technical team we tried as much as possible to recruit twenty-23- players strictly on merit base”, he said.
Despite the challenges, coach Alieu acknowledged the efforts of SLFA for being very supportive and giving him and his team free will to execute their job diligently. He also ushered praises on the current Youth Football Coordinator at SLFA, Alimamy Kuriash Conteh for his tremendous support throughout this time.
“I would like to thank the Sierra Leone Football Association for their support and also special thanks and appreciation to our dynamic Youth Football Coordinator Alimamy Kuriash Conteh for being with us and he has been very supportive to the team”, he said.
“We have got a team of determined and focused young boys and I would like to state here that this is the first time to recruit up to twelve players from the provinces which shows how biased-free the process was”, he disclosed.
The local tactician however assured us that they are going into this year’s tournament to creating create a difference – not only to compete.
“I believe in this team and I’m highly confident that we will yield positive results”, he assured me.
The Competitions Officer at SLFA Abdul Karim Kabba intimated to the media that the FA has provided all logistical support needed for the team. He also noted that the FA remained committed to building and promoting grass root football in the country.
“The team is well prepared and the FA has done all it could in terms of logistical and administrative support to the team and they will be departing Liberia for the tournament”, he said.
The team is expected to hold their first session and brace up for their first match in the WAFU zone A tournament.
