By Allieu Bockarie
SALONE TIMES PRESS
A few days ago, the former Chef De Mission of NOCSLE Unisa Deen Kargbo presented two winter sports athletes and a coach to the NOC executive.
The presentation was done at the NOC Headquarters, Howe Street in Freetown in the presence of the outgoing president Dr. Patrick Coker, Prince Sualley NOC President-elect, Joseph Nyande NOC Sec. Gen and Pamella Williams President Women and Sports Commission.
Presenting the athletes and the coach to Dr. Coker, Unisa Deen Karbgo said last year they received an invitation for Africa countries to take part in Winter Sports training in South Korea.
He said he told the NOC executive about the training and they gave him the go-ahead and that he nominated the three who went to Korea to represent Sierra Leone.
He went on that whilst in Korea for three days of training and competition for African countries Ibrahim Kamara in the youth categories won the Most Valuable Personnel (MVP) Award for the Cross Country event while Abu Sheik Sesay came second in the Bobsliegh event.
Receiving the two athletes and award plaque Dr. Patrick Coker said he was apprehensive when he was told about the initiative but later thought it was a good initiative to try and see as they are only used to summer Games.
But he said at the end he is proud and appreciative of the performance of the two athletes. He congratulated them and asked them to continue their hard work. The president-elect Prince Sualley said the day was a special day to receive for the first-time winter athletes of Sierra Leone.
The Secretary General of NOC Joseph Nyande told the NOC executive that they should now find a way to get improvised equipment for them to continue training for upcoming Winter Games.
He went on that they should also apply for scholarships at ANOCA for the athletes for more training in South Korea. In this, the National Olympic Committee in Sierra Leone should now officially register to participate in Winter Games.
The Award winner Ibrahim Kamara said at first the training was though to the extent that he decided to give up but he was later encouraged by the Korean coach.
The coach Mohamed S. Kamara assured the NOC executive that he has lots of photos and video clips of the training and he will be also searching ons the internet for training skills.
