Sierra Leone Cricket Association is direly looking for funds ahead of the upcoming international competitions.
The Sierra Leone Cricket Association the Country’s governing body and an associate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) are in dire need of financial support from both the government and cooperative institutions in Sierra Leone.
Chairman Francis Trevor Samura said that the Association sets to participate in four international tournaments within four months. He noted that the senior men’s Patriot is in grip B of Africa Sub-region B qualifier together with Tanzania, Nigeria, and Mozambique scheduled to take place in Kigali Rwanda between 30th November to 6th December 2022, and the team has been invited for Nigeria T20 tournament.
He further that, the Junior Men’s patriot lies in a group B along with Rwanda, Botswana, and the host Nigeria for the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup Africa Division 2 slated for late September 21st to October 2nd, 2022.
He added that for the first time the Sierra Leone Women’s U-19 Cricket will participate in International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s World Cup Africa qualifier in Botswana that will kick off on 3rd September 2022. This can only materials if the Association get the required fund because they need huge funding a budget that is estimated at two hundred eighty thousand United States dollars(280,000) which comprises both home and international high- Performance camping, airfares, hotel accommodations, travel allowance, medical expenses, training, and playing kits and any other emergencies.
Chairman Francis Samura is calling on the government and development partners for swift support as the various teams is presently in intensive preparations to record their names on the books of the various competitions, including a possible World Cup qualification for the Youth level.
The Association has decided to camp in Njala Moreconday in Bo for training to get the team together ahead of their International competition and the Association is also doing the same for the Women’s under 19 side that has to take part in the ICC Women’s World Cup Africa qualifiers.