The Bravely T20 Cricket Premier League has commenced in Freetown on Saturday with a US$400,000 sponsorship package from Parwani Group of Companies to support Sierra Leone’s men’s and women’s domestic cricket competitions over the next five years.
The sponsorship, announced during the opening ceremony at Kingtom Oval, Kingtom Police Field, will support the development of domestic cricket and provide a pathway for players to represent Sierra Leone at different levels.
Francis Trevor Samura, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cricket Sierra Leone, said the sponsorship is the largest package the Association has received for its domestic competitions since its establishment nearly 84 years ago.
He said the men’s league is holding its 17th edition, while the women’s competition is in its 16th edition. Nine teams are participating in the men’s league and eight in the women’s league, bringing the total number of participating teams to 17.
Francis Trevor Samura said the sponsorship would strengthen the domestic competition and help identify talented players for national representation.
He added that the tournament would introduce awards for outstanding performances, including player-of-the-match trophies after games and accolades for the best wicketkeeper, fielder, bowler, batter and overall player of the tournament.
According to Francis Trevor Samura, Sierra Leonean cricket has won 52 gold, silver and bronze trophies over the past eight years. He said the Association is also working with schools to popularize the sport and encourage more young people to participate.
Minister of Sports, Augusta James-Teima, welcomed the sponsorship, thanking Parwani Group of Companies for investing in the development of cricket and supporting athletes in Sierra Leone.
She said Cricket Sierra Leone had continued to engage young people and represent the country in competitions, sometimes without financial support.
Augusta James-Teima assured the sponsor that the Ministry of Sport would work to ensure that the assistance provided translate into meaningful benefits for the sport and its athletes.
Chief Executive Officer of Parwani Group of Companies, Kishore Kumar Parwani, said the sponsorship is intended to increase the popularity of cricket in Sierra Leone.
“I know cricket is not that popular in the country, but we want to make it,” Kishore Kumar Parwani said.
He also announced plans to sponsor football next year while wishing the teams participating in the cricket league success.
Former Sierra Leone international footballer, Kei Kamara, who serves as the group’s Brand Ambassador, said he was honoured to support cricket after representing the country in football for 15 years before retiring.
Kei Kamara said his love for Sierra Leone extends beyond football and that he wants to contribute to the growth of other sports in the country.
He encouraged the participating players to use the league to showcase their talents, promote peace and create lasting memories. He also expressed interest in learning to play cricket.
The opening ceremony featured the first match between Midwest Male Cricket Club and Sierra Leone Police Male Cricket Club.
The five-year sponsorship is expected to support the continued development of both the men’s and women’s competitions as Cricket Sierra Leone seeks to expand participation, improve the sport and identify players capable of representing the country internationally.
