By Foday Moriba Conteh
During a well-attended ceremony held on Thursday 1st December 2022 at Africell Headquarters on Wilberforce in Freetown, Africell Sierra Leone has briefed pressmen on its Freetown Marathon scheduled to hold on Sunday 4th December 2022.
Giving an overview on the planning process of the Marathon, the Head of Events and Sponsorship at Africell, Abdul Aziz Kamara, said that the Freetown Africell Marathon slated for 4th December 2022, was launched by the Chairman of Africell Ziad Dallou during his recent visit to Sierra Leone.
He added that it is an event that seeks to promote healthy wellbeing and sports, stating that athletics is the 2nd most popular sports in the world and in Sierra Leone and that they want to make sure opportunities are given to talented athletes to showcase their talents and have the platform to take their skills to the world stage.
Abdul Aziz Kamara pointed out that this will not be a one-off marathon but it is something they plan on doing every year and they want to have an event that people from all over the world will look forward to attend every year, the Africell Freetown Marathon.
“This is why we are collaborating the Sierra Leone Athletics Association who will not only be responsible for providing us with the officials but have also helped with mapping out the route for the different categories (5K, 10K and half Marathon),” he revealed.
He disclosed that a total of 523 People have signed up for the Marathon, adding that 356 have signed up for the 5K, 98 signed up for the 10K and 60 Half Marathon.
The Head of Events and Sponsorship disclosed that 18 winners will be announced for this year’s Africell Freetown Marathon in all the 3 categories, furthering that 6 winners from each category will be announced, that is the first 3 participants in both the male and female categories.
Unveiling the prizes, he said, that for the 5K category, the winner will receive NLE5, 000, the first runner-up will receive NLE3, 000 and the second runner-up will receive NLE2, 000 for both male and female.
For the 10K Category Abdul Aziz Kamara said that the winner will receive NLE10, 000, the first runner-up will receive NLE7, 000 and the second runner-up will receive NLE5, 000 for both males and females.
Finally for the half Marathon he stated that the winner will receive NLE15, 000, the first runner-up will receive NLE10, 000 and the second runner-up will receive NLE7, 000 for both male and female.
The Head of Events and Sponsorship concluded by informing the gathering that they are very pleased to partner with the Sierra Leone Athletics Association and Street Child.
Oh his part, the Head of Marketing at the Sierra Leone Athletics Association, Donrick Moore, said that the Association is very pleased to provide support towards the Africell Freetown Marathon, stating that the Association is going to provide the pathway in order for the Marathon to be recognized globally.
He described the Marathon as an opportunity for talented athletes to showcase their talents and have the platform to take their skills to the world stage.
The Country Director of Street Child, Kelfa Kargbo commended Africell for holding the Africell Freetown Marathon. He assured the company of their support in order for the Marathon to become a success.
