October 22, 2020 (SALONE TIMES)
FREETOWN – Minister of Sports, Ibrahim Nyelenkeh who led the Leone Stars delegation to Mauritania and Niger for two friendly matches has denied receiving $10,000 as allowance.
In all, the team travelled with 42-man delegation for the two friendly matches. Unfortunately, the team departed the Sierra Leone without briefing the press about the number of players, technical team and officials plus the money they received from the government.
But while in Niger there was a post on social media that the Sports Minister alone received $10,000 as travel allowance.
The report went on that they also cut $300 from each contingent member but could not mention for what.
But back home, after the friendly the matches, the Minister debunked the report in a press conference cohosted by the Sports Ministry and the FA in Freetown.
He called the act as a malicious act and a way of tarnishing his character. He went on that a good journalist should investigate to confirm his or her source before publishing.
On the issue on how much they received from the government they said they have an audit committee which they answer to. On the amount which he received he said there is a stagnant amount which every Minister receives as allowance when they travel out which he said it is not constitutional to reveal the amount.
On the outcome of the two friendly matches, he commended the team especially for the match against Niger which he said Sierra Leone only use one professional player against a team that was dominated with professional players.
He went on that for such a match to end with 1-0, the fans need to praise the team than to condemn them. He appealed to all to exercise patient with the senior national team Leone Stars as they are on building up a new team.
