SLFA, with Support From FIFA, Launches first National Youth Championship in Sierra Leone
The Sierra Leone Football Association with funding support from FIFA has today Saturday December 9 successfully made history by launching the maiden edition of the National Youth Championship for U12 and U14 boys at the Koidu Town Field in Kono District.
The ceremony was witnessed by the SLFA Vice President- 1 Harold Nat-Johnson, Vice President-2 Ali Badara Tarawallie’ Eastern Regional FA Chairman Prince Saquee, Northeastern Regional FA Chairman Brima Jalloh, Northern-western Regional FA Chairman Abdul Osman Turay, Executive Official Mohamed Jalloh, and the Acting General Secretary Mohamed Benson Bawoh.
Delivering his keynote address, the SLFA Vice President-1 Harold Nat-Johnson noted that, “a well structured U12 and U14 league system is the basic rudimental factor to enhance the performance of all national teams”. He added that the ambiance and flamboyance of today’s opening ceremony would be “a landmark story in the country’s football”.
Also part of today’s history making were the Chairman of the Council of Paramount Chiefs PC Emmanuel Foyoh, Deputy Mayor of the Koidu City Council His Lordship Shieku Kamara, the Chairman of the Kono District Football Association Abu Bakarr Mansaray, and a fraction of the Kono Old Footballers Association.
Two mouthwatering matches were in display today as Shaw United narrowly triumphed over Golden Soccer FC by 2:1 whiles Cosmos FC secured a convincing three points after defeating Soccer Lions FC by 2:0 in the U12 and U14 categories respectively.
The preliminaries of the Championship shall play at District level across Sierra Leone for progression to the Regional Finals (8 per regional finals) before progressing to National Finals with each of the five regions turning in 2 qualifiers per age category (U12 and U14).
The historic football event also attracted thousands of football enthusiasts including but not limited to young talented players representing football clubs from the across the District.
