By Bockarie Allieu
FREETOWN, June 3 (SALONE TIMES) – The ICC Development Officers for Africa were in Sierra Leone for a three days visit. Among the two development officials were Patricia Kambarami the Development Manager International Cricket Council ICC Africa and Justine Ligyalingi Cricket Development Officer ICC Africa. The two arrived in Sierra Leone on Thursday 26th May 2022 and departed on Sunday 29th May 2022. While in Sierra Leone on Friday they met with the board members of the National Sports Authority in Sierra Leone at Brookfields Hotel in Freetown. In the Chairman of the Sierra Leone Cricket Association Francis Trevor Samura introduce the visiting team and briefly explain their purpose of their visit. To the visiting team Francis introduced the board members of the association and the Directors of NSA who were around. The ICC Africa Development Manager Patricia told the audience that their first meeting on Friday was with the NSA Directors and later with the board members of the Sierra Leone Cricket Association. In her statement she the government for their help to Cricket development in Sierra Leone. On the issue of how they disburses fund to associations she said the extra fund the association get from the government and other sponsors carries 20% of their score the others she said comes from their development activities including the local leagues involving youths senior and school leagues for both boys and girls. Justine emphasized on the support of the government to the game which he said can’t just limit on facilities but also on facilities, education for the players and the PHE teachers. In terms of education he said the teachers should include Cricket in their syllabuses. By so doing he said ICC have introduced the CRIIO Program which he said can make it simple to play Cricket even at a small corner with simple equipment. The Director General of the National Sports Authority Dr. Keneth Brima told the delegation that government has been in strong support of Cricket. He went on that Cricket is among the five priority sports of the government. But he said there only problem now is the financial constrain the country is facing due to the outbreak of the COVID19 in the world. He praised Cricket has been one of the sports bringing laurels to the country. Dr. Brima praised the board Chairman and the other board members for their hard working pushing to the four corners of the country. He told them to continue informing them about their activities early. At the end of the meeting Patricia convey a special message of thanks and appreciation to President Bio from the ICC in Dubai for allocating land to the Cricket Association in Sierra Leone with a gift package for President Bio and the Director General of NSA Kenneth Brima.
