BY BOCKARIE ALIEU
232NEWS, FREETOWN
At a courtesy call the new Minister of Sports, Madam Augusta James Teima, the Chairman of Cricket Sierra Leone Francis Trevor Samura break the news that after being banned in 2003 from hosting ICC International competitions, ICC have finally mandated Sierra Leone to host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup qualifier in 2026.
Francis went on that Sierra Leone last hosted an ICC International Cricket tournament (Quadrangular) in Freetown in 2003. He went on that it was after that Quadrangular tournament that ICC banned Sierra Leone from hosting any ICC International tournament because the Kingtom Ovals was not up to standard. Francis said that while they were in Tanzania recently with the U-19 team the ICC members told them to get prepared to host the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 Africa Qualifier in 2026. Fortunately, he said they met with President Bio in Tanzania and he was informed by the ICC Officials about the hosting news and the need to get at least two standard ovals in Sierra Leone. He told the Minister that they have three years to do the preparation to construct at least two standard ovals before they will qualify to host. Fortunately he said the association has 29.2 acres of land at Sussex allocated to them by President Bio in 2018. He went on that they have another land at FBC and the Prince of Wales School Ovals which they want to plant grass with a turf pitch. He told the Minister that they had wanted to start the process long ago but said the last time they received money from the government was in 2018 and in July 2023. During the past five years they had been using monies they receive from ICC for development purpose on national teams as allowance and to buy air tickets. But Francis said they are now putting documents together for their sponsors and the government to start the process. Cricket, he said, is one of the oldest sporting associations in Sierra Leone as such they deserve to be hosting and not just to travel out. The British and few Sierra Leoneans he said started playing Cricket in Sierra Leone in 1898. In 1964 he said Cricket formed part of the Sports council Act and was among the 5 sports in the council. The Sierra Leone Cricket Association since 1998 onto date have won 28 trophies, among them are 9 gold, 11 Silver and 6 bronzes medals and trophies. He went on that they were going to win more trophies for the country. Presently, he said the Women’s national are preparing to take part in the ICC Women’s T20 Africa qualifier in Tanzania early next month. The senior Men’s national team will be also taking part in the ICC Africa T20 Competition in South Africa next month.
In response the Sports Minister Augusta James Teima said before their visit she had already gone through all the files and she found out that Cricket is among the few Sports winning laurels for Sierra Leone. She told the Cricket delegation that she has vast knowledge in Sports administration as such she said her appointment by President Bio was no mistake. ’I believe in my Boss President Bio as a talk and do president,’ the Minister said. She went on, “I will relay your message to him and I believe he will take it serious hence it is in the interest of development”. She thanked the executive, the coaches and the players for their relentless efforts in putting Sierra Leone on the Global map of Sports. Sports she said can be used to make the youths busy and take their minds off drugs. She concluded that even before she was appointed as Sports Minister Cricket was one of the sports she always admired for their hard work.
