By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
FREETOWN, Feb. 24 (232news.com) – Sierra Leone Boxing Association has won the bid to host the Zone 2 Boxing tournament in Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone according to sources bided together with Nigeria and Mali to host the above tournament.
But at the end, Sierra Leone won the bid to host the tournament with the support of Nigeria and other West Africa countries.
In the tournament, Sierra Leone will host 15 Africa countries in all. The above tournament will serve as a qualification for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in England.
In this case, the president of the Sierra Leone Boxing Association (SLBA) Solomon Kargbo said it is an advantage for Sierra Leone as all they will need for the boxers is their allowances and camping.
Beside the above, the association also needs to provide the venue for the tournament, internal transportation and security. The President of Boxing continued that the visiting teams will cater for their hotels and feeding.
The International Boxing Federation will also be using the above tournaments to grade the participating countries.
Solomon said the tournament will facelift tourism in the country and several Hotels and business houses will equally benefit from the tournament.
Solomon said they need the help of the government for the allowances, internal transportation and the venue for the tournament.
In this case, the president said they have long since informed the government about the tournament and they are waiting for their response.
Very recently, the Sierra Leone Boxers took part in the Boxing tournament in Serbia. The association said they borrowed money from somewhere based on the assurance which the government gave them that they will refund the money as soon they return.
Beside the above money, the passports for the boxers and the officials who travelled to Serbia is still with NACOVERC as collateral for the payment of the COVID test.
Solomon said they are a little bit worried over the whole situation as time for the tournament is fast approaching and if they failed to host the tournament, they will face suspension and they will pay huge fine money.
The other thing that they are worried over is the venue as their target is to host it at the Siaka Steven Stadium main bowl which will soon undergo renovation.
Solomon also appealed to Mobile companies in Sierra Leone to help them to host the tournament and in return the visiting countries will buy their SIMs to communicate back home and within Sierra Leone.
The question in the lips of everyone is if this financial constrains continues, will Sierra Leone host the host the Zone 2 tournament.
