President Ernest Bai Koroma yesterday received the World cup from the FIFA and Coca Cola family at State House on behalf of all Sierra Leoneans.
The president said he was happy and he thanked FIFA and Coca Cola for making it possible for the cup to come to Freetown.
“I made a commitment that the World Cup will be safe in Sierra Leone to let the world know that Sierra Leone is one of the safest spot in the world”, the president said.
He said he was happy that the world cup was in Sierra Leone and that they accepted his call to give joy to the numerous Sierra Leonean football fans all over the country.
“I can confirm to you that in every Town and Village in this country you have football fans, and football is the most popular sports in this country”, the president said.
President Koroma said the presence of the cup and the delegation will give lots of encouragement and hope to improve the game in the country.
He noted that this is the first time the cup has come to Africa and he has accepted the invitation to attend. He also said that he is certain this will not be the last time the trophy will be in the country as he hopes that the national team will win it even if not under his presidency.
He said the cup should stimulate motivation to the government and the youths and the football family to challenge for it and they must rise up to the challenge.
He thanked FIFA and said all those present will have the opportunity to take photos as it is once in a lifetime. He also thanked Coca Cola for this venture recalling that they have started business in Sierra Leone since 1956. He hoped this will continue in the future.
The FIFA representative Emmanuel Maradas thanked president Koroma for bringing the world cup to Sierra Leone and thanked the FIFA and Coca Cola in this African Venture.
He said the president promised to protect the trophy in Sierra Leone and that he has done his best to make sure Sierra Leoneans have the opportunity to view it.
“Mr President the most important thing we are here today is that South Africa is hosting the world cup in June next year, it is not only the South Africans who are hosting the tournament, but they will do that on behalf of the continent. But we know very well the action of the Head of State towards African Unity”, Maradas said.
He said they fought tirelessly for the solidarity and Sierra Leone was part of the system that brought the World Cup to Africa. He said Solidarity will be the theme of the next world cup in South Africa.
Maradas stressed that all African countries must feel this big event as the world has always been skeptical of the continent, if they can do it.
This is the time to showcase the continent and to face the challenges that we can do it.
Other speakers of the ceremony were the deputy Education minister Al Ghassimu Jah, acting SLFA President J.S. Kelfala and the chairman of the occasion was Presidential Affairs Minister Joseph Koroma.
All the guests present were given the chance to have their photographs taken with the trophy and the president was the only person given the opportunity to touch the cup.
The cup was due to leave for Liberia where the same ceremony will take place.
The trophy stands 36.5 centimetres (14.4 inches) tall and is made of 5 kg (11 lb) of 18 carat (75%) solid gold with a base (13 centimetres or 5.1 inches in diameter) containing two layers of malachite. Produced by Bertoni, Milano, it weighs 6.175 kg (13.6 lb) in total, depicts two human figures holding up the Earth.
Gazzaniga described the trophy thus, “The lines spring out from the base, rising in spirals, stretching out to receive the world. From the remarkable dynamic tensions of the compact body of the sculpture rise the figures of two athletes at the stirring moment of victory.” It was first presented at the 1974 FIFA World Cup, to West German captain Franz Beckenbauer.
The trophy has the visible engravement “FIFA World Cup” in outpouring letters at its base. The name of the country whose national team wins each tournament is engraved in the bottom side of the trophy, and therefore is not visible when the trophy is standing upright.
The text states the year in figures and the name of winning nation in English, for example “2006 Italy”.
By Austin Thomas