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Sierra Leone Fans disappointed over Spectators ban

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson - (AR-Wilson)

Football world governing body FIFA has sanctioned the Sierra Leone Football Association with a fine of CHF 50,000 for lack of order, throwing of objects, invasion of the field of play among other incidents that happened in connection with the match between Sierra Leone and Liberia on September 8, 2019 in Freetown during the newest FIFA World cup Qatar 2022 preliminary competition as stated in a its media advisory which further orders the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) to play one match without spectators.

This latest decision from FIFA has left fans and supporters of Sierra Leone and many Sierra Leoneans frustrated at a time when the nation is bracing up for the 2021 AFCON qualifiers. The fine levied is equivalent to $45,000 which is about 500,000,000 in Leones including a spectators ban which will possibly be served on November, 11 when Leone Stars will face the Crocodiles of Lesotho at the Siaka Steven Stadium in Freetown.

“Honestly, this News shocks me especially when we have a well determined team preparing for our games in the 2021 AFCON Qualifiers. We will beat Lesotho but I must confess that Playing in an empty stadium without spectators is never easy because to me it is just like big sharks swimming in a mini swimming pool”, Suffian Kalokoh a top striker in the country told Northern Times.

Leone Stars on September 8, defeated Liberia 1-0 at home in their return leg of the 2022 FIFA World cup prelims but they failed to progress to the group stage narrowly on a 3-2 aggregate.

Tetteh’s men replied the Lone Star with a 1-0 win at the beautiful city of Thies in the 2019 WAFU Nations cup where they went into the quarter final but a 1-0 lost to the Eagles of Mali knocked them out of the tournament.

Despite all efforts made by Sierra Leone to progress to the semis, the Eagles stopped them, and hopes were now set high for a record breaking attendance of local fans and a huge support anticipated for by its football federation on 11th November, 2019 when the team will be locking horns with Lesotho but such zeal could now be seen in the drains since no spectator is entitled to witness that match at the stadium anymore.

“This will have a major physiological impact on the players. We have to start training in empty venues with loads of security for the players to get used to it. But it is a very serious situation that should not be taken lightly. It is not something the players are used to”, Leone Stars Assistant Coach, Musa Kallon told Northern Times.

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