FERENSOLA
thestorieswetell
Football is such a force, the world will stop for a moment in order to see who wears its crown. The match between France and eventual winners, Argentina, at the 2022 FIFA World Cup tourney, had a world record audience of 1.5 billion, according to the organisers. And for the tournament in its entirety, they recorded a total of 2.75 billion viewers.
Notwithstanding the cynicism on alleged sport washing, given some parts of the world are questioning the Middle East’s Human Rights record, the Qatari authorities delivered a flawless tournament. Even those narcissists, they couldn’t hold back their consternation on the quality of the facilities on show. It’s an incredible feat for the petroleum rich state, and given its size, to pull it off like the way she did.
As tiny as Qatar is, save for her judiciously managed oil wealth, was able to canvass enough voices to support their bid to host the world’s most popular sporting event. It is therefore no surprise seeing elite footballers who no longer have the legs to compete at the highest level headed there for mouthwatering wages. Whether it is a publicity stunt or not, as critics would want to present it, I wouldn’t care less.
Our national stadium in the capital, Freetown, has been in and out of the reckoning as a standard facility to host football matches, depending on the convener. Before the start of the 2022/23 top flight season in Sierra Leone, the very stadium’s doors were already closed to the public, for renovations. Details of what to expect post renovations are closely guarded by the authorities. So participating teams from our nation’s capital whose only home ground was that stadium were asked to look for where they would be playing their matches. While a few chose the artificial turfs in the provinces, the majority opted for those unplayable grounds around. I can understand why they wouldn’t want to move. The cost is prohibitive for a league with disappointing crowds, even when the matches are played at their backyards. And with the lack of cooperate sponsorship, barring a few teams, competing is just to keep fit.
With the gloomy clouds hanging above, there is a surprising ray of hope. The Chairman of the Premier league champions, Rangers of Bo, Babadi Kamara, has walked his way into my fantasy hall of fame. His involvement with the team has made them odds on into every domestic competition they signed up to. Before he came, they were everybody’s favourite for the drop. After winning two consecutive championships, they are in poll for a successful defense of their title.
I watch some administrators of the sport jockeying fiercely for spaces in the boardroom as if someone was going to die if they didn’t make it – it’s because of those hyenas that I’ve kept my distance all these years. I am grateful for the trainings I’ve received through the Sierra Leone FA as a direct consequence of my involvement with the Bombali District FA, but I wish they’d let me into test the skills I’d acquired. When that opportunity never arrived, as a multitasker, I decided to utilize my skill set in other fields. However, I would not have leaned back today and say, wait a minute, could I have done anything if I was in. But I must be bold to admit I habour some regrets. Now I realise for evil to triumph, some good guys would have to be indifferent.
I saw water being scooped by a visiting team to Lungi, they were there to honour a premier league fixture. Whether it was waterlogged or not, that ground, like a lot others, should not have been given the all clear by the FA. And those of you in the habit of livestreaming matches played on those dungeons should stop immediately. Your actions are counterproductive, because you are just washing our dirty linens on camera.
