Inadequate exposure ruined Sierra Leone players, says Bittar

One of Sierra Leone’s well exposed sport Journalists exported to the United Kingdom, Alie Ahmed Bittar, believes the new set of Sierra Leonean players need more exposure to be able to compete favourably against the like of Nigeria, Egypt, Ivory Coast etc, and the other emerging nations in African football.  (Photo:  Alie Bittar)

Bittar who is now in the UK promoting Sierra Leone football by following the day to day activities of Sierra Leone players abroad spoke with Sierra Express Media after watching Sierra Leone U-17 Sierra Stars crash out of next year’s Rwanda 2011 tournament, as they suffered 2-0 defeat in the hands of baby Elephant in Abidjan last Sunday:

“In terms of skill, Sierra Leone players are far better than most countries in the world, the only differences exposure because the likes of Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, you name them, play regularly all over the world and their federation works with the press and others invest so much in their players.

“All my years following Sierra Leone football has been difficult for our National teams from senior to junior, to make competitive friendlies across Africa or beyond, that is why it was so wonderful to witness Sierra Leone play a double friendly in the United Kingdom against Leyton Orient and Millwall FC, that was an achievement for those players involved. Lack of funds has always been a serious criterion in our game which every Sierra Leonean thinks the (sports) authorities responsible for football need to be more effective.”

“In those days, of NPRC Sierra Leoneans forgot their Human Rights records, why? Because they achieved what to date no government has, bringing smiles to the football agog fans, to name a few Sierra hosts Amilcal Cabral tournament 1993 twice in the biggest tournament in African Nations Cup in South Africa and Burkina Faso 1994 and 1996 respectively.

“Pointing out some of these facts is to just remind football authorities that to compete in football, we need determination from various parties involved and the press is a major contributor; to be honest I love to read Sierra Leone Football Association’s website www.slfasl.com , but there are a few areas we have to develop for the betterment of our players” Bittar continued.

“Most often, it is the same old excuse of lack of funds. But I realise that if they can spend, give the players what is due to them then I think we can produce results.  Another sad thing recently was Sierra Leone hosting South Africa at home 24hours to the match players are striking for money, how can you expect results, already motivation is diminished, we have a crop of players that can play football at present, if they are well looked after they will be among the best in the world.”

However, top football officials in the country are backing off the game of football and they refuse to comment on what they think is going wrong and leave the country most respected game dismantled.

The SLFA President Nahim Kadi, whose efforts to ensure that Sierra Leone football remains number one or competes with Africa big names has let down many football stakeholders, in view of the fact that, his appointment as SLFA boss Sierra Leone has never represented in any major tournament, no disrespect to SLFA prezy but this is what every Sierra Leonean football fan is waiting for, to see our Green, White and Blue flying high in major tournaments.

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