Six members of the Mount Aureole SLIFA Football Team were on Tuesday February 1st 2011 rejected visas at the America Embassy in Freetown.
The team is to participate in the Mayor Cup tourney in Las Vegas, USA which kicks off on 19th February, 2011.
The six members included five players and the Technical Director of the team.
After the six were refused visas the team’s agent who is also the founder of the team Benjamin Gordon an American citizen decided to stop the interview of the others.
Benjamin disclosed to Awoko that when the first three players were rejected visas he was called by the Consular Officer Ann Marie Chiappetta who was conducting the interview and she said he had a bunch of 25 year old players instead of the U-19 players.
Benjamin said he asked the Consular Officer if she has any evidence to prove that the players are not U-19 players. He said the players in question had represented the country in U-17 competitions.
He said her attempt to determine the ages of Sierra Leoneans is an insult not only to the Immigration Department but to the whole country.
The interview was held up for some minutes and when it resumed again two other players and the Technical Director were also rejected.
Benjamin said he had no option but to call off the interview.
He also disclosed that he has contacted the organizer on the issue to see how they can intervene as the team has already been placed in a group for the competition.
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