July 29, 2021
By: Mohamed Jalloh
Solomon Bockarie, an athlete born in Sierra Leone is currently representing Holland in the ongoing Olympic Games in Japan, Tokyo instead of his home country because of what he described as unfair treatment meted out to him and other athletes by sport administrators back home.
Mr Bockarie came first amongst eight world class runners during the 200meters relay event in Tokyo as he represents his adopted country Holland.
After winning the 200m race in Tokyo, Solomon Bockarie a native of Kailahun district in Eastern Sierra Leone, was cheered by fans of his naturalized country-the Netherland (Holland)
The athlete said he bears no regret for shunning Sierra Leone because Sport administrators back home don`t value their talents and the efforts they make to represent the country under poor and unfavorable conditions.
He complained of bad treatment as resources that are normally disbursed for athletes by the central government and the International Sporting Bodies never reach the athletes who are the actual beneficiaries.
“In some cases where athletes are given money, the sport administrators would expect the athlete to share with them a certain percentage”, Mr Bockarie grumbled.
Mr Bockarie painted a dire situation back home in which athletes have to endure, as according to him, athletes sometimes go without food after training because the sports administrators don’t care about them.
The athletes went as far as urging other athletes in Sierra Leone to follow his footsteps by way of naturalizing in a country that attaches value and appreciate their talents and efforts.
He cited an instance where Scholarships were deprived from Sierra Leoneans infavour of athletes who are not even Sierra Leoneans.
Mr Bockarie warned sport administrators to treat athletes fairly by investing in them so that they can qualify for major tournaments and make the country proud by bringing laurels back home.
He urged sports administrators in Sierra Leone to create the favorable atmosphere for athletes to realize their full potentials by investing in the sport and the athletes in particular.
He mentioned Kenya and Ethiopia whose athletes are adequately looked after and further prevailed on Sporting administrators in Sierra Leone to emulate their East African counterparts who sufficiently invest in athletes for better results.
“Because athletes in Kenya and Ethiopia are well cared for by sport administrators, it is very rare for them to represent other countries other than their countries of birth”, he revealed.
He said athletes in Kenya and Ethiopia only go to Europe and America to compete at club level, but they would later return home to develop the sport by mentoring and inspiring other athletes.