By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
The Sierra Leone Football Association in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Authority on 9th October 2023 officially unveiled the Technical Team of Leone Stars ahead of the Africa World Cup qualifiers.
The Unveiling process took place at the Howe Sweetie Hotel at Aberdeen in Freetown.
Harold Nat Johnson the Vice President of the Sierra Leone Football Association while making his statement said the Football Federation has a constitutional mandate which is to ensure Football at all level; noting that the Unveiling of Coaches is not new as it has been part of the Football Federation.
He confirmed that, the three coaches that have been appointed are not new as they have been around the National team Leone Stars coach John Edward Keister and they have also played for the Senior National team Leone Stars and they as a Federation looked at several pointers before appointing the coaches, Leadership, Communications, Technical know-how as Coaches.
Harold Nat Johnson said the Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Authority has given a mandate this time around to qualify the Country to the World Cup and they been on their necks to get these coaches to start up the World Cup campaign, noting that as part of the World Cup Africa qualifiers Preparations is concerned the Sierra Leone Football Association has line two international Friendlies against Benin and Somila to be played in Morocco from the 14, and 17th October 2023.
Mohamed Benson Bawoh the acting General Secretary of the Sierra Leone Football Association updating Journalists said the Africa World Cup campaign start in November against Ethiopia and on the 20th November 2023 Sierra Leone will host Egypt in Liberia. Nothing that campaign is going to ends in October 2024.
He affirmed that as part of getting the campaign on the way the Football Federation has line two international Friendlies to give the Technical Team more strength and options in terms of selecting players, that the two international Friendlies will be in two categories one is an Official match and the other match will give the opportunity to the Technical Team to feature some players who are yet to play for Leone Stars.
He noted that, if everything remains equal Sierra Leone will have the opportunity to host their second home match in Freetown.
Stevens Kelefala the Director of Participation and sustainable development at the National Sports Authority said as a Government agency they have reached a Common ground with Football Association on the appointment of Leone Stars Technical Team, that what they asking for this time is the results because Government cannot be spending tax payers money on Football without no results.
He said going forward they will set up Committee that will be in charge of teams delegations adding that they are working tirelessly to be conducting training for Sporting disciplines to help them with capacity building.
Amidu Karim the newly appointed head Coach of Leone Stars started off by appreciating the Football Federation and the Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Authority for his appointment, that with the Support of the Government and Football Federation they are ready to take this nation to a high height.
He further that he has been around the National team Leone Stars for some time and know all what it takes to lead the team to get a better results in not a long distance feature.
Leone Stars will start their Africa World Cup campaign in November against Ethiopia away from home.
