ARS youngsters invited for national duty
Rashidatu Kamara and Mariatu Conteh have just taken about a week since they returned from their dream trip to the Airtel/Manchester United football clinic in Dar es Salaam, but now they are on another football assignment back home in Sierra Leone. Both youngsters have been given an additional boost after they were invited to join the Sierra Leone national Under 17 female squad. (Photo: Rashidatu Kamara (right), and Mariatu Conteh (background) walk out for a break during training at the Manchester United football clinic in Dar es Salaam)
The duo who both received accolades for special performances in Dar es Salaam have been invited alongside other players to join the Women U17 national team as they prepare to take on their Gambian counterparts in the preliminary rounds of the U17 FIFA World Championship. According to the assistant coach for the team, Tamba Moses, the first leg will take place in Banjul early next year.
“We invited these two girls to be part of our training because we believe they can deliver and I have no doubt that if they continue to train hard they will surely deliver because you can clearly see the potentials in them. Having trained at Manchester United soccer schools, you can spot the difference in them and we just hope they can bring an inspiration to the team,” said Coach Moses.
The coach who spoke to me from Kenema where the team was on a training routine also said the reason for the early preparation is because they want to choose the best players in the country, “we are still touring the whole country to ensure we have the best players and also have the best training,” he said.
It will be the first time Sierra Leone will compete in the U17 women’s football competition. However it has come as a surprise for Sierra Leone to enter this competition because there is no women league currently operating in the country. But thanks to the Airtel Rising Stars, there were several young talents that emerged from the recently concluded Rising Stars tournament in Sierra Leone and these talented girls have now become the focus of the women’s national team selection drive.
Rashidatu Kamara said she always wants to play football and being called for national duty gives her more momentum to carry on her favourite game. “I am happy to be with the squad and I just want to have the chance now to be a star for my country,” said Rashidatu.
by Muctaru Wurie
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