BY BOCKARIE ALIEU
232NEWS, FREETOWN
The President of the Sierra Leone Karate Federation Victor Edward Amara together with a cross-section of his executive and athletes few days ago paid a courtesy call on the Sports Minister at her Bishop House office in Freetown. Presenting the delegation, the president of the Karate Federation said he was there with a cross section of his executive and athletes on a courtesy call to congratulate the new Minister Madam Augusta James Teima on her new appointment. Victor Amara went on that his Federation had won in all 59 medals (gold, silver and bronze) including trophies. Victor said they have always been squeezing to fund the teams to represent Sierra Leone in the various international completion not until very recently when the government allocate funds to them twice. He told the Minister that Sierra Leone has been approved to host the launching of the Africa Commonwealth Karate Federation in January 2023. He assured the Minister that with available funds they will win more laurels for Sierra Leone. In response, the Minister said she was impressed with their performance winning such medals more than even sports that have been receiving millions with less or no laurels. She though said with all what they have won for the country the name Karate is not much in the media for such performance. She advised the president of the Federation to be working with the media so that they will sell their activities out to the public. Karate she said is one of the few sports she had recognized have regional offices. The Minister said it was unfortunate that they have not been getting more support from the government and assure them that she is at the Ministry to work with all sports that are performing well. In that case she said her ministry will start ranking all the sports based on the laurels they win. She appealed to the athletes not to think about running away while in oversea countries as they have brighter future ahead. The Minister advised Victor to bring in more women into his executive so that they in return will bring more female athletes into Karate. The Director of Sports Haroun Korjie said they were aware of their challenges and said that they were working to see that each and every sports benefit from the little government allocates.
