By: Paul Kamara in Bo
Defending champions of the Sierra Leone Premiere League Bo Rangers Football Club yesterday at their secretariat in the southern region city of Bo opened a book of condolence in honor of their late Technical Director Eric Lansana who died in a gruesome road accident a week a ago.
The late T.D was said to be traveling from Freetown to Bo City to watch the finals between two community teams (Hangha Town and Njagboima Community) in the maiden edition of the President Bio Inter-Community Trophy when he met his sudden death.
The brief ceremony which took place at the Clubhouse brought together Family members, Executive members from the club, Technical Team, Players, Supporters, Representatives from others football clubs, football stakeholders, journalists, sympathizers etc.
Executive Chairman Babadi Kamara led the signing of the Book of Condolence. He had earlier described the demise of Eric as “a massive loss to the club.”
Several tributes were paid by different individuals recalling fond memories of the late man.
Executive Vice Chairman of Bo Rangers FC Sheik Mannah said Eric was a strong piller to the club and will be dearly missed.
"We are still struggling as a football club to accept this hard reality", he lamented. Adding, that Eric died in active service in the spirit and love of football.
Club captain, Saidu Bah Kamara, was among scores of players present.
He said, "Mr Eric was a massive part of our club. He was there to help with everything. His role was beyond that of a technical director. He was a mentor, advisor and always motivated us to do our level best to achieve our fullest potential."
"Things have not been the same at the club. His presence will be missed in our training ground and all other areas he has contributed in improving including player development." he concluded.
Fan Club Chairman Tejan Koroma described the late Eric Lansana as a soft-spoken individual and one who hardly gets angry even when at some point they were piling huge pressure calling for the sacking of the technical team following poor results.
"I remember when the club was struggling, I had to suggest to the Executive Chairman to sack Eric and the entire technical team but he asked that we allow them to do the job noting that he has confidence in them and believed that the will deliver as it was only a matter of time.
Eric with all this walk up to me smiling and calmly said my boy please give us some time we will definitely deliver. I can understand with you, you are looking at football from the fan perspective which is also good anyway but I can assure that together we can make history at this great club together."
"Interestingly, when we finally won the premier league months back he again walk up to me and this time he ask if he was still to be sack, I looked at him and we both burst into laughter", he recalled.
Eric's elder brother who is also known as Eric on behalf of the family thanked the Bo Rangers family and everyone present for gracing the brief ceremony.
"I want to say a very big thank you to you Mr Babadi Kamara and the entire Bo Rangers FC family for giving my brother the platform to be able to deliver his God given purpose in life", he said.
He informed all that the late man who was born in February 1972 is a son of the soil beginning his primary school education at U.M.C Njagboima in Bo before leaving to join St. Francis Primary School. He later proceeded to the Bo Government Secondary School before leaving the shores of Sierra Leone for UK where he acquired his post graduate diploma in Management Studies, also securing a Masters Degree in Development Studies.
He worked at Watford Football Club in England as scout. He later formed his own football club known as Peckham United. Late Eric upon returning to Sierra Leone served as Technical Director of Bo Rangers FC helping them to win the Premier League for the first time in the club's history. He had also served as the Team Manager of the country's senior national male team Leone Stars.
On his part, Secretary General of Wusum Stars Football Club Mohamed Papa Bangura started by saying: "This is a very sad moment for the people of Bo, Bo Rangers and the Lansana family".
"I hope this tragedy will also help you to remain stronger."
"We share a very cordial relationship with Bo Rangers FC. We believe this is not just a loss to you here but a loss to the entire football family".
"We were supposed to be here last week Sunday to honor a friendly match with Bo Rangers. We fully prepared for the match only to receive the shocking news from AKB that they've lost their Technical Director and as a result the match could not go on as planned. It was a painful moment for us all".
"Our thoughts and prayers are with you and we pray this good relationship continues", he ended.
Other speakers shared similar sentiments recounting beautiful memories of the late man.
The Sierra Leone Football Association in a press release noted: "He will be remembered for his ineradicable contribution to the growth of Sierra Leone Football".
Head of Media and Marketing Officer of Bo Rangers FC Allex Nallo who chaired the ceremony informed, the book of condolence will be open and available for members of the public to sign till Friday 18 November 2022 before the funeral service the following day at the Rogers Memorial UMC Njagboima in Bo City.
Comments
Post a Comment