Sports

By Kemoh Sesay

The chairman of the textile designer group Emauni Foundation has said that fourteen secondary schools in the Western Area are set to take part in the first edition of the Emauni Athletics meet scheduled for Friday, 23rd May at the national stadium.

Alhaji Hassan Bangura said the idea behind the event is to develop the young athletes from schools so that "they become a national asset for the country". He said they will only compete on the track in events like 100m, 200m, 400m, 1,500m, 4X100m relay 4x400m.

The national U-21 beach volleyball teams both male and female have qualified to the U-21 World Championship to be held in Croatia.

The female team won against Nigeria and the male team lost to Niger but won silver in the finals of the Africa Beach Volleyball Championship held in Niger. Sierra Leone qualifies alongside Niger, Nigeria and Benin.

By Kemoh Sesay

The Western Area Referees over the weekend boycotted the opening match in the division (I) league of the Western Area Football Association’s (WAFA).

The match officials failed to show up even after the two team that were billed to play, Dollarosa and AIK Freetown arrived at the football Academy.

WAFRA, the body representing Western Area referees, says the organisers owe them money to the tune of 11 million Leones from the 2012/2013 league.

The General Secretary of the Football Association, Chris Kamara has confirmed that Under 20 coaches Alimamy Turay and Charlie Wright will be in charge of the team for the second leg match in Ghana in Accra this weekend. He said the FA will meet all financial requirements.

Yesterday, the new coach appointed by sports minister Paul Kamara Atto Mensah was at the stadium training grounds but only one player showed up for practice the rest of the players were at the FA academy.

By Kemoh Sesay

The Head Coach of the junior national side, Shooting Stars who was sacked by minister of sports Paul Kamara last weekend has told Politico that "I am answerable to the SLFA, not the minister".

Alimamy Turay whose sacking was announced immediately after his team's 2 - 0 defeat against Ghana in Bo, said "Even now I have not received any sack letter from the ministry of sports. I have only heard about my sacking on various radio stations...we trained this morning in the main bowl of the stadium and nobody asked me to leave the pitch".

Sport betting company, Mercury International has donated twelve million, eight hundred twenty-five thousand leones and two (2) return air tickets to the executive of the Sports Writers Association of Sierra Leone, SWASSAL, according to a press release signed by the association's Secretary General Magnus Cole.

Salone Premier League giants FC Kallon will lock horns with a resurgent Mighty Blackpool on Friday at the national stadium. Both teams have had a poor start in the league and Blackpool's recent defeat at the hands of Port Authority, dented their hope of topping the table.

Blackpool coach, Abu Sankoh said they were ready for the match against FC Kallon and argued that their unbeaten run against their rival, would continue. He said, "I want to win this match and strengthen my position in the league".