The Deputy Minister (1) for Education Youth and Sports Dr Jah opined that when it comes to sports their hope is on Cricket.
He made this disclosure when the Cricket delegation bid him farewell yesterday at his Bishop House office at the National Stadium, stressing that cricket has brought respect to “us in the ministry and the country.”
Dr Jah also stated that whenever people asked him about the best sporting discipline in the country he always tell them that it is cricket without any fear.
He also revealed that they are not just performing in the field but also out of the field, to which, they in the Ministry are proud of.
Dr. Jah further opined that the cricket association has never given them any problem, like some other sporting disciplines that is always on their neck.
He spoke about the frequent briefing they have been receiving from the President Beresford Coker and indicated that it is because of this great stride that they are getting the full support of the Ministry.
Dr Jah assured the cricket delegation that the Le61,300 million that the government has donated to them is in the final stage in the ministry of finance, while emphasizing that “ cricket is hope for the hopeless youth.”
He encouraged the players to be ambassadors and they should take the game seriously so that they can emerge as champions in the tournament.
The president of the association Beresford Coker in his own statement said that these boys should have the opportunity to represent Africa in the global stage but unfortunately they were refused visa, but this time round they are going to show the world that they have deprived them from representing Africa at all cost.
The president of the association Beresford Coker also explained to the boys that this competition they are going to participate in is very important to them and the country, as they have been ranked second in Africa.
Beresford Coker stated that if other sporting disciplines are not doing well they in the cricket association will try their best to put the country on the map when it come to sports.
He also stated that the team will depart today for Namibia with a 16 man delegation for the ICC Africa U-19 CWCQ division I and the competition has been slated for the 29 August -6 September this year The delegation comprises of 14 players and 2 officials.
Leading the delegation is Beresford Coker and Francis Samura as coach. The players are Ibrahim Kabia, Ibrahim Mansaray, Ibrahim Kamara, Edward Marrah, Solomon Williams, Emmanuel Pessima, Richard Tommy, Charley Coker, Sulaiman Tarawally, Balowa
Mansaray, Aliv Williams, Bami Williams, and Mohamed Alie Bangura
He also stated that 8 countries will participate in the competition and they are Uganda, Sierra Leone, Namibia, Zambia, Kenya, Botswana, Tanzania and Nigeria.
The competition will be played on a round robin basis and the match will be a 50 overs match with Sierra Leone’s first match will be against Tanzania on Sunday August 29 and their second match will be against Kenya.