By Ibrahim Karim Bangura (Tanko)

The Sierra Leone National Association of the Deaf (SLNAD) in collaborations with the Sierra Leone Deaf Football Association (SLDFA) has partnered together to participate in this year’s West Africa Deaf Football Tournament in Ivory Coast.

Speaking to the National President, SLNAD Pa Alhaji Mohamed Rahman, told Africa24 sport that they are preparing to travel to Ivory Coast to participate in the 11th edition of the West Africa Deaf Football tournament but due to certain economic circumstances, they are yet to finalize arrangements for the deaf  delegation that will be traveling from Sierra Leone to Ivory Coast starting from the 14th to 27th August, 2023.

Pa Alhaji Mohamed Ramadan noted that, before now, they have hosted the 7th edition of the West Africa Deaf Football Tournament in 2019 despite they were unfortunate to win the trophy.

He said the Deaf Football has been neglected in Sierra Leone for the past decades but  with the help of some of its members in the diaspora, they are able to address several issues, especially those that has to do with financial support, needed logistics , official documentations and other administrative arrangements.

“Before now our cordiality with the Ministry of Sport is good and they have been so supportive despite the current happenings around the globe”, Pa Alhaji Mohamed Rahman affirmed.

Mr. Rahman told this medium that if only they received enough funds to upkeep the team for the two weeks period, his boys will definitely win this tournament unbeatable and fly the flag of Sierra Leone high in the international space.

However, Pa Alhaji Mohamed Rahman called on  government, private institutions and even individual philanthropists to give a helping hand so that the team will be able to participate in the West Africa Deaf Football Tournament and progress to the final.

In her response, the President of the Deaf Football Association, SLDFA, Madam Ramate Theresa Sesay , said the association is fully registered with the Ministry of Sport through the Sierra Leone Football Association ( SLFA ) and the National Sports Authority (NSA) and also a member of some international bodies as well.

Madam Sesay noted that before now it was called Sierra Leone Deaf Sport Federation but,  has been configured the association to be SLDFA of which she is the president.

She commended the technical staff, players and partners for supporting the team throughout this trying moment.