By Hawa Dauda in Freetown
Sierra Leone Boxing Association is set to host fifteen African countries in the zone two tournament in Sierra Leone, in March this year.
SLBA bided with Nigeria and Mali to host the zone 2 championship, but Sierra Leone won the bid.
The President of the Association Solomon Kargbo, said they have engaged the relevant authorities to grab the opportunity to host over fifteen countries in a tournament as big as the regional boxing event which will help boost the country’s economy.
Kargbo added that the venue for the tournament is not yet certain as it depends on the renovation process that will commence soon at the Siaka Stevens Stadium. “We are looking forward to have a conducive venue to host this tournament even if the Siaka Stevens stadium is not available by the time it starts” he said.
According to Solomon Kargbo, things are difficult for the Association as they are looking forward to getting support from government and other corporate institutions. Kargbo stressed that most of their members passports are with Nacoverc since they return from the Boxing world championship in Serbia in October last year because they are still unable to do payments for the Covid-19 tests.
Solomon Kargbo said they have held several meetings with the Ministry of Sports and National Sports Authority to help them retrieve their passports but all that they are receiving are promises of hope to settle the issue. “We Also have a debt to pay in Serbia for the hotel I booked and now the time is near to complete payment. They will ban us and remove our privileges as an affiliated country if we fail to pay the money before March” he added.
According to Solomon Kargbo, they need the passports to do registration for the team for the Commonwealth Games and the female boxing world championships this year.
Kargbo pointed out that not only boxing is constrained, other sporting disciplines are suffering all well. “All the attention is on football” he added. He further encouraged the ministry of sports and National Sports Authority to do the needful that can push every sporting discipline forward because they are important.