In Australia: Sierra Leone Independence Celebration Female Soccer, Palampo vs Married Women
Every year Sierra Leoneans in Australia celebrate their motherland’s historic Independence Day in a different grand style. To put the Sierra Leone community and the country on the map of Australia and also to tell Australians and the world that the Sierra Leone community in Australia and the country as a whole have talented, peaceful and hard working Sierra Leoneans in the country. (Photo: Members of the Women’s Palampo team)
In view of that you may be interested to know that the Sierra Leone community in Australia has fought very hard this year to ensure that all Sierra Leoneans living in six different states in Australia came together to celebrate their country’s 52nd Independence anniversary in Sydney, New South Wales (NSW) to show solidarity of brotherhood and sisterhood in the country.
Members at the April meeting
This great work was done by the Sierra Leone Community Council (SLCC), particularly the SLCC able Chairman, Mr. Edmondson Sonny-Cole, who is also a veteran photographer journalist and leader for all Sierra Leone community organizations in Sydney with the concerted effort of the dynamic youth football executive, especially the President, Foday Umar Saccoh, aka Papaydoz and his able scribe man, Murray-Jo Kamara, aka Agbah Murray. They went all over Australia to sell the lofty united idea to their brothers and sisters living in other states.
The celebration was held with a series of colourful events from the 25th to the 27th of the very Independence Day in April 2013, in Sydney. It began with a well-attended general meeting of representatives from all over the six States with the exception of Perth and Tasmania because of their distances. However, they were present in spirit in the meeting because they gave their full support.
One of the purposes of the meeting was to put things in place for continuing such a united meeting of such nature that would bring Sierra Leoneans together as a family for next year. The outcome of the meeting was that the celebration should be rotated and it was unanimously agreed upon. As such, the setting of a committee that will start to work towards that was proposed and it was agreed upon as well. You might be interested to know that the Chief-hoister of the Sierra Leone community independence celebration in Australia for next year will be Melbourne.
The Chairman of the historic and peaceful meeting was one of the dynamic youth soccer (football) leaders Foday Umar Saccoh, aka Papaydoz. One may tend to ask why youth should chair such an important and wonderful meeting. Where were the elders of the communities?
Yes you may be tempted to ask such a question because you have the right to ask questions. If I may be tempted to answer such a question, any society that does not recognize the presence and importance of the young people, especially well-disciplined, peaceful, talented, hard working youth and youth with good focus that society or community or country is heading for the doom’s day because they are the future leaders of today and tomorrow. Therefore, for our young people to become good and useful elders and patriotic leaders tomorrow, they should start to shoulder the responsibility of eldership and leadership in our community for the benefit of Sierra Leone.
Married women’s team
On 26thApril, the showcase of Sierra Leonean talent in soccer/football interstate competition events took place. For example, Adelaide versus (vs) Brisbane and Sydney vs Melbourne etc., on Saturday 27th April 2013 which was the big Independence Day for Sierra Leoneans in Australia, married women vs unmarried (palampo). It was a very unique day in Australia, especially the hosting Sydney, New South Wales. It was unique and historic because the Sierra Leone community was the first to have an African female soccer/football team in Australia.
However, the game between unmarried and married women ended with a lone goal against unmarried women (palampo). The defeating lone goal was scored by a one-time female soccer player/footballer in Sierra Leone, Mary Harding (Mrs Sandy Walter, aka Scatta).
Palampo men team
Married men team
While the match between married man and palampo ended in a draw on penalty kicks and in the game between Sydney and Melbourne, Sydney defeated Melbourne with one goal. After the football matches, the celebration continued with an unforgettable dance that attracted many Sierra Leoneans and friends of Sierra Leoneans from all over the states, especially the hosting state Sydney, NSW. Trophies and medals were awarded to all the soccer teams, especially those that did extremely well.
By Tony Bee, Sydney, Austalia
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