Airtel ends arbitration of ‘Rising Stars’
The arbitration of football teams for the Airtel under 17 Rising Stars tournament ended Friday 5th at the National Stadium.
The Airtel Rising Stars competition is sponsored and supported by one of world’s leading football teams – Manchester United.
As at the commencement of the arbitration exercise, John Conteh who works for Kalleone Radio assembled the respective football teams in an orderly and unique manner.
In his statement, Airtel’s head of marketing and communications, Mustapha Katta said the tournament is aimed at identifying future football stars in the country.
He said at the end of the competition two, from either sex (male and female) will be selected for training in Tanzania at the Manchester United Clinic.
He assured all of Airtel’s intentions to promote up and coming football stars in Sierra Leone.
“Airtel will give a perfect result at the end of the tournament, and which we believe, will benefit all players,” he said.
“The arbitration is set up to get the correct teams for the tournament.”
He assured management of respective arbitrating teams that the exercise is just a pinch of Airtel’s dream for football in the country.
Team Manager Mount Aureole FC (SLIFA), Gibrilla Bangura expressed happiness on the completion of the first stage of the soon to come ‘Rising Stars’ contest, and said he is confident his team will do its best in the competition.
He appreciates Airtel for it effort in the promotion of football in Sierra Leone.
The media executive officer of Airtel, Anne Marie Jamiru said the arbitration process is aimed at selecting teams for the Airtel Rising Stars tournament.
That the selection of teams starts in the West, Central and East of Freetown and will then continue to the provinces.
She furthered that after going through the files, the agency will select the teams that passed the arbitration.
She however informed all that the first stage of the tournament starts in Makeni on the 24th of August.
“Winning teams for Makeni, Kenema and Bo join compatriots in Freetown for the finals,” she said.
She outlined requirements for the tournament as:
All players must be between 13 to 17 years old and their date of birth must be on or 1st January 1998 and on or before 31 December 1994
Only boys can participate in the boy’s team and only girls can participate in the girl’s team. Mixed teams are not allowed
Each team should have a minimum of 16 players per team and a maximum of 18 players per team.
It was observed that the Western Area has had huge turnout of teams for arbitrations.
By Ngardi Lahai
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