By Mohamed T. Massaquoi
The Sierra Leone Embassy in Liberia say they are yet to be contacted regarding arrangements for the Liberia versus Sierra Leone game in Monrovia next week.
The game a preliminary qualifier for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with hundreds of Sierra Leoneans fans currently preparing to travel to support national team, Leone Stars.
Speaking to Politico, the Sierra Leonean Ambassador to Liberia, Eddie Sidikie Massally said: “Unfortunately we are yet to receive any official communication from our direct line of action which is the Foreign Affairs Ministry on the Sierra Leone – Liberia game. Outside the scope of protocols, we are aware of the pending game between Sierra Leone and Liberia,”
“Despite the fact that we are ready to perform whatever duty may be assigned to us on this game beyond expectations, but it will be an embarrassment to the Embassy with any further delay to officially inform us,” he added.
Massally was speaking to Politico during his visit to the capital, Freetown.
Sierra Leone shares a border with Liberia. Fans travelling on road will be passing through Pujehun district in the Southern region and cross the border into Liberia.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sierra Leone said they are not responsible for any arrangement concerning the game. They said the responsibility falls within the purview of the Ministry of Sports. The Sierra Leone Ambassador is currently in town to discuss with the Ministry of Sports regarding official presentations.
Despite no official communication, the Ambassador said that they are going ahead with preliminary preparations.
“We are going ahead to do some prior arrangements with the Immigration Department, just that we want the Ministry of Sports to send the names of people who will be going to witness the match to our direct line of action to ensure free access,’’ Ambassador Massally said.
In addition to this, he said they will send a staff to Bo-Waterside, the border between the two countries to facilitate easy entrance. Sierra Leone and Liberia are part of the Mano River Union. It is a common policy that travelling between both countries doesn’t require the use of passport. However, people travelling are expected to be with some form of identification- preferably an ID card.
As a way of mobilizing support for Leone Stars, the Ambassador said they will conduct series of meetings with Sierra Leonean citizens living in Liberia to turn up and support Leone Stars.
“We will hold meetings with fans in Liberia to show up and support the green, white and blue. Meanwhile we encourage all Sierra Leoneans going to travel to maintain law and order,” Massalay said.
Whiles giving his thoughts on the game, the Ambassador said he is confident that Sierra Leoneans will show up to support the team and the team will reward the fans with a victory.
“The Sierra Leone Premier league is a clear manifestation that we are going to win this game by every means. Football is not about politics and regionalism rather about a nation and that is why it is being called national team, therefore, I believe that every Sierra Leonean will give his or her own little support to the team,” he said.
“We will win this game by 2-1 score line,” Masallay added
© 2019 Politico Online
