One of Sierra Leone’s international athletes Fatmata Small Bangura who lives in London has disclosed to Awoko Sports that she was disappointed in the manner in which she was treated by the authorities responsible for athletics in the country.
That was why she decided to have Belgium citizenship as she has been in Belgium for six to seven years. She also stated that she decided to stay in London as she has to train with her club. She further stated that for the past years her coach was paying her fare to come to Freetown to take part in the trials and during the trials she always clocked the best time. She said authorities in Freetown always promised to contact her but at the end nobody did so. This has happened on three occasions which is very frustrating to her.
She said because of the frustration she has gone through she will not run for Sierra Leone again and has decided to run for Belgium and the government has agreed to give her citizenship.
She also stated that during her stay in Belgium she was approached by the government to run for Belgium but because of the love she has for her country Sierra Leone she refused on several occasion but at last she has made up her mind to run for Belgium. She complained that Sports authorities in Sierra Leone do not want her to represent the country in the international arena in the field of sports.
She said that she was able to represent Sierra Leone in Australia as she was selected to make the trip and she was able to perform and did her best to put the country on the map.
She said that she can still run for Sierra Leone as she also has Sierra Leone citizenship but it is now left with the athletics authorities to select her to represent the country in any international competitions
She mentioned that some of those who are now running athletics in the country want to destroy the sports in the country .She also stated that she cannot beg any body to represent her own country in any international competition.
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