By Foday Moriba Conteh
In continuation of celebrating the Chinese New Year which commenced on the 22nd-27th January 2023, the Sino- Sierra Leone Alumni (SISLAA)has hosted a Friendly Football Match between the Sino- Sierra Leone Alumni (SISLAA) and the Chinese Community in Sierra Leone. The friendly match which was co-organized by Confucius Institute, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone was held on Saturday 29th January, 2023 at the National Stadium in Freetown.
Addressing the gathering, the Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone Ambassador Wang Qing, encouraged Members of the Sino- Sierra Leone Alumni (SISLAA), to maintain the culture of promoting China-Sierra Leone friendship.
He intimated that the past one year has been very memorable especially for the good fraternal relationship between President Bio and President Xi XinPing.
The Ambassador stressed that the bilateral relations between the two countries have achieved tremendous progress. He emphasized that the traditional friendship between citizens of China and Sierra Leone is even going stronger. He also admonished that the practical corporation between the two countries has been very fruitful.
“So I want to express my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all of you, and all of the friends who have been constantly supporting the bilateral relationship between China and Sierra Leone. Distinguish guests, happy Chinese New Year”, he said.
The Chinese Ambassador also intimated that the period of Covid-19 has been a year of recovery.
He added that the Chinese Government has upgraded the COVID-19 prevention policy and also upgraded their response policy from grade “A” to grade “B” which were to facilitate exchanges between China with other countries.
He intimated that all members of SISLAA have benefited from gaining advanced studies in China. He therefore, encouraged SISLAA to maintain their initial intention in promoting the bilateral relationship between China and Sierra Leone.
The President of SISLAA ,Dr. Alpheus Koroma, said the purpose of the match is to celebrate the Chinese New Year which started from the 22nd-27th January 2023. He said SISLAA was established in January 2013 in order for Sierra Leonean Students in China to join in celebrating the Chinese New Year.
When he took over leadership as the President of SISLAA sometimes last year, Dr. Koroma said they decided to have some activities such as the end of year party and the just concluded football match between SISLAA and the Chinese Community in Sierra Leone.
He justified furthered that the reason for staging such comic football match was to consolidate the enviable friendship between SISLAA and theChinese Community.
Dr. Koroma therefore, extended profound thanks and appreciation to the Confucius Institute and several other Chines Companies that have been very supportive to SISLAA in the process of organizing such events.
He also expressed gratitude to all and sundry for gracing the occasion, assuring the Chinese Ambassador that Sierra Leone is a very friendly country adding that, the Ambassador would definitely enjoy his stay in Sierra Leone. The occasion was climaxed with a comical football match between SISLAA and the Chinese Community.
At the end of the Friendly Match the Chinese Community defeated SISLAA by 4 goals to 1.
