By Foday Moriba Conteh
The Confucius Institute at Fourah Bay College University of Sierra Leone has on Saturday 22nd October, 2022 held a friendly Match with the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) on the theme: “Work Together to Forge Ahead.” The friendly match was played at the Siaka Stevens National Stadium Main Bowl in Freetown.
The friendly match ended 6-2 in favor of China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC).
Speaking to this medium, the Chinese Director of Confucius Institute at Fourah Bay College, Professor Jing Man, said the friendly match is geared towards bringing staffs of the two institutions together after they have been working so hard in actualizing their dreams and that there was a need for some exercise.
She pointed out that football is a very good means of exercise as it builds someone’s strength, stamina and speed and that it also improving concentration, coordination, promoting teamwork, being social and boosting someone’s confidence.
Professor Jing Man said that the Confucius Institute has local staffs and students while CCECC also employs local staffs and that the football friendly has created the platform for them to interact with Chinese staffs and the local staffs which she will continue to build the good friendship between the people of China and Sierra Leone.
She said that the Confucius Institute is very proud of their local and Chinese lecturers, students and every one at the Institute adding that they are a team and they are one they don’t care that they were defeated in the match but what matters is the love manifested between the two institutions.
On his part, the Manager of China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC),Eric said their company has been in Sierra Leone for ten years now and they have constructed many roads among anther things, and the football match is a way to promote mutual understanding and confidence between themselves and their local workers in the country.
He commended his team for putting up such a massive performance by defeating Confucius Institute in the friendly match.
“I love the People of Sierra Leone, their love and kindheartedness has left me with great impression and I will always like be friends with Sierra Leoneans. This Football Match is a reflection of my inner mind in this regard,” Eric maintained.
The Local Director of Confucius Institute at Fourah Bay College, Rev. Oliver Harding, said that the institute has been established at Fourah Bay College since 2012, that they have been organizing Chinese programs including Diploma studies and cultural cooperation, and because of the demand from students who are passionate about the language the Institute decided to start the degree course for students.
He revealed that the institute now has both Sierra Leonean and Chinese teachers that are teaching in the institute and they have been producing Sierra Leonean Chinese speakers that are working in many of the Chinese companies in the country.
Rev. Oliver Harding pointed out that the Football Match is geared towards promoting the mutual understanding and friendship between Sierra Leonean lecturers, students, and their Chinese counterparts of which he said the team is a combination of both Chinese and Sierra Leonean lecturers and students of the Institute.
