As the new amputee football season commences, the Sierra Leone Polio Football Club, has received big boost as they signed two amputee players, including a professional player from Turkey to play in Sierra Leone.
This development was made public after the Sierra Leone Polio Football Club defeated a formidable team from Maghefith Village, Dibia Chiefdom in Port Loko District.
This came after a three day fiercely competitive games in a gala organized by Sabenty Social club.
The glory was in powered by a teamwork with the female star Themne music legend, Mariatu Veronica Bangura, popularly known as Marie V (Themne Queen), creating clearly chances for a victory, on the 11th -13th January, 2024.
Meanwhile, the Sierra Leone Polio Football Club have also completed the signing of two famous Sierra Leonean wonder amputee players, Sulliaman Bangura and Karim Kargbo from Maforay and Makellie Villages at Dibia Chiefdom respectively.
Speaking to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Lamin Vidal Koroma, at Magbefith Village in Port Loko township, just after his team had made a landslide victory against Magbefith Village community team, Coach Vidal said he was happy for the result.
Vidal who was in a good mood told Africa24 sport that his team made up of young and determined players that are always on top of situation, noting that the Sierra Leone Polio Football team had won several trophies in Grand style since the establishment of the club in late 2012 to early 2013.
He underscored that the team comprised amputees and polio players who always stand ready and capable of overshadowing any competition or tournament organized for either abled or disabled competitors.
Coach Vidal said before now, the team had made fruitful tours to several districts and chiefdoms and headquarters to scout young amputee players across the four cardinal points ( east, west, north and south) in Sierra Leone.
Mr. Vidal Koroma, a dedicated Sierra Leonean who had brought millions of smiles to People With Disabilities (PWDs) across the length and breadth of the country, mainly due to his relentless services in serving the course of humanity, had signed two gallants and experienced disabled footballers from Port Loko District.
And his summer the players are available for any game onwards.
Coach Vidal disclosed that his team had not only defeated Magbefith Village Football team by a 3-1 but he also had spotted two quality players during the three days gala which started from the 11th -13th January, 2024.
The success was recorded despite the absence of his professional amputee player from Turkey Amputee Football Super League, Gbassay Koroma, who was dropped for the trip to Port Loko due to ‘unexplained family matters.’
Coach Vidal praised the whole team for the superb performance during the nationwide tour . He levied praises to Gbassay Koroma aka ADIDAS suggesting that he would soon be regarded as of the best amputee strikers both locally and internationally.
He highlighted other players whom, he said, are currently doing well.The players are the likes of Sam Pessima , Lansana Vandy , Ibrahim Sesay aka Robihno, Muctarr Bassie , Mohamed Sesay aka Rasta , Andrew Tarawally, Mohamed Kamara aka Kortukor , Ishmael Koroma ,Abdulrahman Jalloh, including the rest of the amputee players.He described the signing of the new players as a dream come true to sustain the squad with more utility amputees and polio players.
He, however, expressed dismay with the Disability Commission, and the Ministry of Sports, SLFA and NSA for neglecting amputee football and other sporting disciplines but admonished the disabled persons to have confidence in themselves despite the discrimination by relevant government’s institutions.
He emphasized the scrutiny his players had been undergoing to represent the national amputee team at international level, going without proper motivation and benefits for their participation.And that, he added, despite they [the players] have several caps for the national team but no financial support has been given to them so far.
He said his team is currently the best in terms of amputee and polio football across the country yet still the Ministry of Sports and the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) have never appreciated them like what they did to the deaf victims after they represented Sierra Leone in the just concluded Deaf Football Tournament in Ivory Coast ,Abijan last year in August ,2023 with a runners-up medals.
“I am only fortunate to have a God fearing partner by the name of boss Erick Rasmus from Denmark who is responsible for the daily feeding and accommodation for over forty five players both amputee and polio including some able players as well at the Cole Town camp.
“It is actually not an easy task to bring together amputee and polio players in one camp without government support but with the blessings of God things are going normal despite the high expectations from players, ” Coach Vidal noted.