The founder of female football in Sierra Leone, Coach Hassan Turay on Thursday passed away at the Blue Shield Hospital Ascension Town.
The former Belvic United and Real Republican tactician failed to recover from an attack, he suffered on Tuesday October 30 during the All People Congress (APC) political rally.
He was the Assistant coach to late football legend Ismail Khalil Dyfan, when Sierra Leone won the 1996 WAFU U-17 Championship in Cotonou, Benin.
He also coached Bo Rangers, Real Republicans, Golf Leopards and a few other female teams among other clubs. He is the latest coach to answer the call of the Almighty God, after Abioseh Manning (Blackpool), Diamond ‘Toes’ Koroma (Ports Authority FC), Aki Noah (Ports Authority FC), Michael Effiong (Mighty Blackpool), Unisa Bangura (Real Republicans), Idrissa ‘Police Kamara (Sierra Fisheries), Boye Johnson (Mighty Blackpool), Amadu ‘Okro’ Kamara (East End Lions), Amadu Kargbo (Mighty Blackpool), Brima ‘Atouga’ Kamara (Goal Keeper, Sierra Fisheries, East End Lions, Mighty Blackpool and Al-Mansoura), Pa Momoh Kanu (Mighty Blackpool), James Kombor (Ports Authority FC) and Sorie Akilis (Ports Authority FC).
Before his death, Coach Turay was a member of the Sierra Leone Coaches Association and also the head coach of non-division side, Planting Promise FC.
Coach Turay was the founder and technical head of Ascentionian Football Club and become the first coach to stage female football in the country and was able to produce several players including the county’s greatest female footballer, Musu -Pele Bangura.
Public Relations Officer of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), Sorie Ibrahim Sesay said Coach Turay’s death is a big loss to the football family, noting that his legacy of introducing female football in the country will ever remain in the footballing history.
For his mentor, John Jobbor Sherrington, Turay was a nice and willing coach who is always ready to learn.
He said, “He played his part towards the development of football in the country.”
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