After months of engagement, President of the Sports Writers Association of Sierra Leone, Sahr Morris Jr., has officially announced that he will seek a second term as president of the Sports Journalist Association in the 2024 Elective Congress.
Confirming his re-run, the youngster ever SWASAL President while giving his Association report at the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) Annual General Meeting said: “As I end, let me inform all, my executive term of office will end this November and I want to call on all present here today to wish me well as I will be running for re-election and hope to be presenting our report again as the re-elected SWASAL President.”
The news did not come as a surprise to many sports journalists and sports administrators considering Morris Jr.’s role and input and the effect he has made since he was elected into office in 2021.
“When I contested for President three years ago, I said Let’s rebrand and position SWASAL for better Sports & Sports Journalisms, today our Association is on a different level both local and international amidst the financial constraints but our gains as sports journalists body is highly visible,” the SWASAL boss said.
Since he took over the helm of affairs, Sports Journalists and Sports Journalism have made a massive improvement and for the first time in the history of the Association Sierra Leonean and sports journalists will now have the opportunity to undertake the first-ever Diploma in Sports Journalism course in the cou try and added to that there is now an increase in sports journalists who can cover sports like cricket following a specialized training.
Dubbed the Capacity Building Champion, Sahr Morris Jr said: “In rebranding you have to start all over and doing so you have to capacitate your members that was why so much emphasis was put into training and advance training for the membership and take it to another level, the diploma course is a sustainable one which will also be introduced at the University of Sierra Leone soon. We’ve succeeded in getting specialized training as well for our sports journalists in cricket, match commentary as well as swimming.”
Also, during his tenor, SWASAL was able to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Africell Mobile Company, the Sierra Leone Premier League Board and as well partnership with the National Olympics Committee of Sierra Leone, the Ministry of Sports, the National Sports Authority and few other sporting disciplines including football.
Another great improvement was the increased number of Sports Journalists covering the African Cup of Nations, and Sierra Leone International matches involving all levels of the national teams as well as the Commonwealth Games.
On his continuity agenda, the SWASAL President said: “I’m optimistic about the future of Sports Journalism in Sierra Leone, and I’m proud to be a sports journalist all my life, born and raised into sports journalism. We have come a long way and we still have more to do. For sure we have succeeded in rebranding and positioning our Association and sports journalism in Sierra Leone, now we need to consolidate the gains made and improve to the other level where we can be placed to the satisfaction of our founding members. I want to continue that process and make SWASAL and Sports Journalists and Journalism the go-to specialised media practice.”
Sahr Morris Jr continues to be a household name in Sierra Leone’s Sports Journalism. This goes beyond the country’s shores especially when you talk about empowerment, development, and Journalism.
The young and energetic Sahr Morris Jr is a celebrated investigative and experienced sports journalist who holds a BA Hons degree and a Diploma (with distinction) in Mass Communication from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone and awaiting a Diploma in Sports Administration and Management.
The assertive young and hardworking Sahr Morris Jr is the owner/founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sierra Leone’s first registered Sports PR Consultancy firm – Sports Media Consultancy; a company which runs an online media; Blue Print Newspaper-Sierra Leone newspaper.
He is currently the Deputy Public Relations Manager of Mercury International Sports Betting and Lottery Company and Sports Editor of Concord Times newspaper.
The six-time Sports Journalists Award winner is the only Sierra Leonean Sports Journalist to have covered three successive Commonwealth and Olympics Games, with the FIFA World Cup, as well as He, is also one of only two Sierra Leonean Sports Journalists who is accorded by FIFA the voting right from Sierra Leone to vote for the FIFA World Best Players and Coaches yearly and was the first Sierra Leonean sports journalist to be accredited to cover the ‘Best FIFA Football Award’ held in London in 2018.
As a powerhouse in sports journalism, Sahr Morris Jr has not only limited his sports reporting to Football, but has covered the Africa Wrestling Championship in Morocco, the 2017 IAAF World Championship in London, and the IAAF World Athletics Awards in Monaco, France.
