By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
The Executive Membership of the Sierra Leone Teakwood Association has on 6th October 2023 paid a visit to the newly appointed Ministry of Sports at the Bishop House in Freetown.
Oness Abayomi Johnson the President of the Sierra Leone Teakwood Association said the purpose of the visit is to pay a courtesy called on the newly appointed Minister of Sports Madam Augusta James Telma, noting that as a Federation they appreciate the Minister in taking her busy schedule to have a word with the Teakwoodo Association membership.
He further that the Teakwoodo Association gained it recognition since 2012 and has been in operation and they have embarked on several competitions across the Country, noting that they have also been face with several challenges as well to sustained the Sports admits those challenges in ensuring the athletes compete at the international stage.
He affirmed that, the Federation has been face with many difficulties over the years to host national trials across the Country, and also conducting training for athletes, coaches across the Country, but due to the resilient work of the Executive Membership, they were able to see that the Sport survived amidst the other Sporting disciplines in the Country.
He said the Federation has never received any supports from the Government of Sierra Leone since their establishment in the Country and that has been affecting their operations in competing in International tournament.
He confirmed to the Minister that at present the Federation has a project at hand which is taking the sport to the School with the theme ‘Catching them young’.
He said they have been able to roll out the Projects in some Schools across Freetown, but there are plans in taking the Sport across the entire country but they have been hit with financial challenges.
Oness Abayomi Johnson confirmed to the Honorable Minster that the Sport is presently ranked 100 across the globe and they as a Federation are working tirelessly to bring the ranking down. Noting that at presently they are bracing up for the All Africa Games to be hosted in Ghana.
Responding, the newly appointed Minister of Sports Madam Augusta James-Teima started by appreciating their presence and by extension to the membership of the Teakwoodo Association for taking their busy time in paying a visit to the Ministry of Sports, noting that she know it has not been easy for most of the sporting disciplines in the country but with resilience they must thrive to stand.
She affirmed that the Ministry of Sports is currently working on a policy that will not only focus on Football which is the most followed sport but a policy that will help other Sporting disciplines to get support from cooperate bodies to help them functions well and also get the funds to prepared their Athletes to compete in the International stage and bring laurels back home.
Madam Augusta James-Teima called on the President of the Sierra Leone Taekwondo Federation to keep working with the School projects of catching them young because that is the stage where they can be nurture before becoming outstanding Athletes for their country, and to international stage.
She noted that the Ministry is open up insuring that the sport gets it support for the international competitions.
Present in the visit were Regional representatives from the four corners of the country including the coaches and some Athletes of the Sierra Leone Taekwondo Federation and some Executive Members.