By: Paul Kamara
paulkamara772@gmail.com
Team Peace Makers organize victory dinner in Bo
Last week, Team Peace Makers, the reigning champions of the maiden edition of the President Bio Inter-Community Trophy which climaxed in Bo on 5th November last year, organized a victory dinner to further celebrate their milestone achievement.
The dinner was hosted at the Wizard Complex, Dambala Road in Bo with representation from the various communities that formed the "Team Peace Makers" such as: Hangha Town, Kortugbuma, Reservation, Old Barracks, Nikibu and Brima Town that teamed up in few months ago to clinch the President Bio Inter-Community Trophy for communities in the Southern Region city of Bo, after defeating Njagboima Community 1-0 in the finals.
Other imminent personalities that attendees the victory dinner were: the Bo City Mayoral hopeful Mr Paul Duwai Sowa, former Internal Affairs Minister Hon. Soluku alias Solution, parliamentary aspirant Mr. Shakana Sheriff, the Keynote Speaker and Guest of Honour-Hon. Ibrahim Turay, Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, football stakeholders, representatives from all participating teams and journalists.
Welcoming all present, Team Manager of Peace Makers Mr Alie Badara Saidu profoundly thanked everyone for gracing the ceremony. He said after winning the tournament they've been thinking of ways to best celebrate their victory as well as appreciate the Honourable Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Ibrahim Turay, whom he said has been a strong pillar and backbone behind the success of the team with his financial support and motivational words towards the players.
"Mr Turay is a son of the soil and has always been there for us whenever been called upon throughout the competition. Unfortunately he was not here when we won the tournament he was in Egypt on an official assignment. So as a way of expressing our gratitude we had taught of traveling to Freetown to present the trophy to him but he later communicated to us to rather organize a dinner to celebrate the players and technical team whom he said needed the appreciation the most for defending their community (Hangha Town)", he said.
Delivering his keynote address, Guest of Honour, Hon. Ibrahim Turay, Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources foremost thanked all for witnessing the ceremony. He further thanked "Team Peace Makers" for delivering on their promise.
"Let me take this opportunity to appreciate you (players, coaches and supporters). I as well want to thank the organizers of this tournament for creating this platform for our young boys to exhibit their talents and fullest potentials. It indeed worth it",he said.
"I particularly requested that all participating teams are invited. The purpose of this competition as highlighted by the organizers is to bring peace and cohesion among residents living within the Bo community, thus representatives from the different communities are present here.
"Football is a power symbol of peace. It can change the way friends, neighbours, especially people of different political opinion, ethnic nationality and race think about one another.
"I strongly believe we all are winners, let's all therefore celebrate in the spirit of love and unity", he concluded.
Chairman of the Bo District Coaches Association, Ibrahim Foday Musa congratulated "Team Peace Makers" for the emphatic victory even though he noted some of them were unlucky to clinch the award.
He jokingly stated that they are ready to prevent Team Peace Makers from repeating their landmark achievement in future completions.
Meanwhile, similar sentiments were shared by others stakeholders present.
Team captain Richard S. Koroma and Head Coach Ibrahim Sagestine Gandi both for the big pride and honour shown to them while pledged their unflinching commitment towards representing the community whenever the need arises.
Performances from guest artists and presentation of certificates to players and team officials climaxed the ceremony.
Organizers of the President Bio Inter-Community Trophy in November last year promised to continue to introduce subsequent editions of the competition. This was confirmed by the key organizer Mr Babadi Kamara who also said besides football will be also looking at promoting unity and peace in other areas.
The organizers whom called themselves as the "sons and daughters of Bo" last year presented the sum of 50 million old leones to the winners whilst the runners up received 25 million old leones.
Other individuals awards and medal were presented to players and officials.
With Hangha Town Community winning the finals against Njagboima, Kandeh Town Community finished third after securing a 1-0 win over Coronation Field Community.
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