The President of Handball Association who also doubles as Vice President of the National Olympic Committee Dr Patrick Coker said that most people put their money on football; he made this statement when addressing players and officials of the U-20 delegation at the National Stadium before the team departed for Mali.
According to Dr Patrick Coker the reason is sponsoring football attract thousands of people but sponsoring has less crowd or enthusiast as limited people will witness the match.
Dr Patrick Coker said they are using this competition as a way of exposing them to international handball competition that will benefit the young players.
He further stated that he will be glad if they are able to bring something back home from the competition which will be a bonus to the team.
Dr Coker said handball associations do not have much to give to the players but the association has made some provisions for them as they are going to take care of their feeding, transportation throughout the competition and also they will receive some allowances.
Dr Patrick averred that he too is going to give them some allowances to go to Guinea to play a friendly match and he donated 50,000 Guinean Franc to each of them as a means of motivation.
Dr Patrick Coker said that even though they are not able to have financial assistance, only three companies came on board to assist the association with some items. Emzor Paracetamol donated bags to each player with Handball inscribed on the bags with some other items like pens, pencils. Cold Storage also donated T Shirts to all the players while Balani & Sons also donated caps and T Shirt with shark written on it to all the players.
Dr Patrick Coker assured the players that if they are able to win the trophy or become runners up in the competition those who have donated to them will do more and even the Handball Association will also do surprise them.
He also mentioned that that they will also go to the government and explain that they have never received anything from them. We are going to appeal to them to give something to you the players.
The leader of delegation Alusine Osaio Kamara who is also the Vice President of the association, in his own statement said that he is not going as a leader but as a parent so the players must take him as their own parent by taking instructions from them.
The delegation comprises of 20 including 12 players; Jeneba Mustapha-skipper , Diana Moses ,Nancy Mary Squire, Alice Kamara, Florence Amara, Zainab Sesay, Saffie Conteh, Fanta Kargbo, Madiana Sesay, Kadiatu Conteh, Christiana Solomon and Kumba Borbor.
The officers are A G Koroma, Phengo Gborie, Abubakarr Oba Sesay the head coach.
Coaches for training during the competition are Abu White Kamara, Daniel Chuku Adams plus there is also two referees that will be going for training during the competition who are Abdul Prince Bangura, and Gerald L A Davies.
The delegation was expected to depart yesterday and the competition has been slated for the 15-22 of this month in Bamako, Mali. Seven countries are expected to participate to play in the competition and these countries will be divided into two groups.