March 19, 2021
By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
The Sierra Leone Athletics Association (SLAA) is set to commence two days National Championship for athletes across the country and the event is earmarked to take place n Bo city, southern province.
The aim of the championship is to prepare athletes for the upcoming International competitions this year. The Association is embarking on three main competitions the first one will be the Kaduna Competition that is set to take place in Nigeria next month April 2021 for junior athletes.
The second competition at hand will also take place in Algeria in June 2021 and while in July the Association will be preparing athletes for the Olympic Games in Japan 2021.
According to the Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Athletics Association, Abu Bakarr Spaky, “a total of 95 athletes will assemble at the Bo Mini Stadium to compete with each other.”
Athletes will be coming from all the regions around the Country. It is expected that 30 athlete’s will come from the Western Area, 25 from the Northern Region, 20 from the Southern Region and 20 from the East End Region. This will amount to a total 95 athlete’s for the National Championship.
One key challenge the Association is facing currently according to the Secretary General has to do with Finance. He said they are in dire need of funds to acquire accommodation, feeding and transportation fare for the athletes, as well as the Technical team for the number of days they will be spending during the National Championship.
However, he said they have contacted the National Sports Authority to help the Association in terms of funding so that the Championship will take place as planned.
The Technical Director of the Sierra Leone Athletics Association, Harold Palmer said there has been massive improvement with the athlete’s since their last trials organized at the Siaka Stevens Stadium in which many records were set. He further assured that some athletes have worked on their timing.
Many of the athletes have told A-Z Sports that their confidence level is as they are working assiduously to qualify.