By Esther Wright
Parliament of Sierra Leone has on the1st July 2021 soundly applauded Leone Stars for qualifying to AFCON 2022 in Cameroon, Yaoundé after a daunting period of 25 years since 1996.
Hon. Alusine Kainde Alu-Conteh, Chairman of the Committee on Sports thanked Leone Stars, Executive of SLFA and President Bio for their tremendous support culminating into qualifying the country to AFCON 2022.
Speaking on the role played by Junior Bio as Ambassador of Sports, he said football is a vehicle for unity devoid of politics in any country, citing the recent jubilation in Freetown, when Leone Stars qualified to AFCON 2022 to Cameroon by defeating Benin by 1-0 in Guinea, Conakry. He was invidious in his appreciation to the Team’s Coach, John Kister and Management, Mohamed Kallon, President of SLFA, Daddy Brima, and others who have contributed in diverse ways to the current successful feat of football in the country.
He also appreciated and described the formation of a National Sports Association (NSA) as a step in the right direction aimed at improving the management of sporting disciplines in the country.
Following a standing ovation, he extended special thanks and appreciation to Leone Stars for qualifying the country to AFCON 2022.
Congratulating all, including Parliament and the Executive, he called on everyone to maintain unity in football by expressing continued support to the darling Leone Stars.
The Rt. Hon. Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu, Speaker of Parliament congratulated Leone Stars for qualification to AFCON 2022 and said he hoped to be in Cameroon to support the Team to win and bring the Cup of African Nations home for the first time.
A motion was moved and seconded by the Leaders of Government Business and the Opposition, Hon. Sahr Mathew Nyuma and Hon. Chernor Ramadan Maju Bah, that the Speaker of Parliament be in attendance at the opening matches of Leone Stars in Cameroon, early next year.
Leone Stars, Team Management, Executive of SLFA and supporters were in attendance to show solidarity to the Team for qualifying the country to AFCON 2022 in Cameroon, Yaoundé.
