November 16, 2020 (232News)
FREETOWN – SAWSAL is for short the Sierra Leone Sports Writers Association. The above association was formed by sports journalists in Sierra Leone to see into their welfare.
Few years back they signed an agreement with the Mercury Sports Betting and Lottery Company as their prime sponsor.
In lieu of the above, Mercury agreed to pay for two sports journalists each to cover all Leone Stars matches away.
At home they provide money to enable the association to run commentary nationwide on all Leone Stars matches at home.
This went on for sometimes until when the present SLFA executive accuse the Betting Company that they are encouraging match fixing in the country.
The above allegation was cross checked in Sierra Leone by a representative from FIFA who cross examined Martin Michael the MD of Mercury International Betting and Lottery Company on the allegation.
But since the cross examination, FIFA has never come out with their findings.
According to the MD, the company was doing the above help to SWASAL as part of part of their corporate social responsibility to bring live commentaries to the door steps of their customers and non-customers.
Because of the above allegation, the company has stopped the help for football issues until FIFA comes out with their findings.
Since then, SWASAL only hope has been the Sports Ministry that gives them two spaces for any away match.
But when the present Sports Minister Ibrahim Nyelenkeh took over as Sports Minister, he only gave SWASAL the two spaces ones and stopped.
Members of the above association are eager to know from the Sports Minister what has gone wrong. They want to know whether it is the fault of their executive or it is a decision from the Ministry. The members though commend them for travelling with some of their members appointed by the FA but say the nation want independent media reports.
