BY BOCKARIE ALIEU
232NEWS, FREETOWN
The International Cricket Council which is the World Cricket body has awarded the former Secretary General of Cricket Sierra Leone Sydney Benka-Coker for his long service in Cricket administration.
According to the wordings on the plaque, the award is in recognition of his outstanding dedication and commitment to the development and growth of Cricket.
The above award is an award that ICC gives to people who have contributed eminently to the development of Cricket.
In this case, ICC asks their members to give names of those who they think have served long in their administration.
The Chairman of Cricket Sierra Leone Francis Samura received the award in South Africa during the past ICC AGM on behalf of Benka-Coker whom the association named as the longest and dedicated serving member.
Back home from South Africa, the award was presented to Benka-Coker on Saturday 19th August 2023.
Benka first came into Cricket in 1963 while he was attending the Sierra Leone Grammar School. Benka played Cricket for his School House but did not play in the national club league or represent Sierra Leone in international competitions.
He started his Cricket administration at the Electric Cricket club in 1992 were he became the Secretary for the club.
The above club lost its membership in the association in 1993. In 1994 they rename the Electric Club as Murray Tong CC and try to rejoin the association.
He later served the association as the Secretary General for some years without pay. Beside the above, Benka acquired a certificate in Administration on Basic Cricket Education Course which was conducted by the ICC Africa Region Development Program in Sierra Leone in 2005.
Five years after that, in 2010 he was certified as an ICC umpire after a successful umpire level A course. In 2011, Benka took part in the ACA/ICC Sponsored course in strategic Leadership and Corporate Governance at the Wits Business School in South Africa.
Benka retired as active umpire in 2019 due to impaired vision but he is still close to the game of Cricket.
