By Bockarie Allieu
The Sierra Leone U-19 national cricket team, known as the Junior Patriots, returned home on Tuesday from Tanzania after participating in the ICC U-19 World Cup Division 2 Qualifier. The team excelled in the tournament, finishing at the top of Group A with an unbeaten record and advancing to the semi-finals. In a West African derby, Sierra Leone defeated Nigeria by nine wickets to secure a spot in the final. However, they narrowly lost to the host nation, Tanzania, by 38 runs, finishing as runners-up.
Despite the loss, the Junior Patriots earned several accolades, including the runner-up trophy, silver medals, four Man of the Match awards, and the Player of the Series award, which was won by team captain Raymond Coker. Their performance secured them a place in the Division 1 stage of the tournament, which will be held in Namibia next year. The top three teams from this stage will stay in Division 1, while the bottom three will be relegated back to Division 2. The ultimate goal is to secure the single spot that will allow the winning team to represent Africa in the ICC U-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka.
Upon their return, the team’s Manager, Abu Best Kamara, and Head Coach, Abass Gbla, called on the government, the Sierra Leone Cricket Board, and other stakeholders to begin preparations immediately for the upcoming Division 1 Qualifier. Reflecting on the challenges faced in the previous tournament, Coach Gbla noted that Sierra Leone was the only team among the six participating nations that did not have the opportunity to undergo high-performance training abroad or play friendly matches. The lack of such preparation, combined with adverse weather conditions and inadequate training facilities, put the team at a disadvantage.
The coach highlighted that the team trained on a dusty and stony field in Sierra Leone, which contrasted sharply with the grass fields and tough pitches they encountered in Tanzania. Despite these challenges, the dedication of the players allowed them to perform admirably. To build on this success, the Team Manager emphasized the need for government support, particularly in the construction of a Cricket Oval at the Fourah Bay College (FBC) grounds. He also called for financial backing to acquire modern equipment, including advanced bats, gloves, kits, and footwear, which are essential for the team’s continued development.
Moreover, the management has appealed for the team’s early travel to South Africa or Namibia ahead of the tournament, to acclimatize to the conditions and enhance their competitiveness. The team is expected to present their trophy to the National Sports Authority (NSA), the National Olympic Committee (NOC), and the Ministry of Sports upon the return of the Cricket Board Chairman from Rwanda, where he is accompanying the Women’s U-19 national team.
