By: Amadu Wurie Timbo
Newsfeed Sierra Leone, an online media institution in collaboration with Barrie Help Foundation and Ivorian Sillah has embarked on an innovative campaign to combat drug abuse among young people.
This featured a day’s spirited basketball competition held on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at the Makeni Basketball Court, located within the perimeter of the Makeni Wusum Stadium.
The theme of the event "Say no to Drugs," resonates with its purpose, spectators who witnessed the contest between Wusum Leakers and Rim Shot basketball teams all of Makeni said.
Before the match unfolded in an atmosphere of tranquillity with loud cheering from dishearten spectators of both teams, messages advocating against drug abuse and misuse were disseminated, creating a powerful interaction between sports and social awareness were passed by Abu H. Kargbo, a co-founder and editor at Newsfeed Sierra Leone.
Following his address to players, officials and spectators of the enticing basketball day’s contest, which adhered to the rules of the sport, saw both teams displaying unwavering determination and showcasing their impressive basketball skills during all four quarters, each lasting 11 minutes.
Key stakeholders in the northern region including Mohamed Simbo Kamara, the founder of Advocacy for Mental Health Rehabilitation Sierra Leone (AMHReSL) and supporters of both basketball teams did witness an intense clash on recently renovated Makeni basketball court, where both teams made significant efforts to meet the expectations of their respective enthusiasts.
Ultimately, it was the Wusum Leakers that emerged victorious, securing the highest score after successfully navigating the hoop with an impressive score of 47 points, establishing a comfortable 14-point lead over the Rim Shot (33p).
Wusum Leakers celebrated their well-deserved win and as champions were awarded a prestigious trophy, a basketball estimated at NLe1000 from the organisers as a token of their achievement and a reminder of their commitment to the cause.
In another development, Mamud Marrah and Abdulai Stanley Bangura received individual accolades as the Most Valuable Player and Best Guard, respectively. Both players left the court clutching sealed envelopes filled with honours.
The pre-match message delivered by one of the founders and editors of Newsfeed Sierra Leone Abu H. Kargbo, who described the competition as a significant step in their on-going efforts to combat drug abuse and misuse in Makeni and beyond, and called on every Sierra Leonean especially youth and harmful drug takers to passionately embrace the message and work towards ending death-defying path of drug and substance abuse.
Speaking to Northern Times Newspaper, AWE-Media Sierra Leone and others, the respected young and rising journalist explained that the battle against drug abuse comes in various forms, and as sports journalists, they opted to fight it through the avenue of sports since it’s a circle that embraces all ages.
He ended by expressing Newsfeed Sierra Leone and their partners commitments to expanding this initiative to other sporting disciplines and expressed hope in securing the continued support of their sponsors, who share a profound belief in the cause.
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