Post a comment
The Ministry of Sports in collaboration with the National Sports Authority has updated the media on the just concluded friendly matches by Leone Stars in South Africa against the Bafana Bafana and DR Congo in Casablanca, Morocco. The ministry also used the occasion to highlight government achievements in the sports sector as well as what they make of the two friendlies in which the National team performed poorly.
The men’s national team Leone Stars were defeated by 4 goals in South Africa and lost to DR Congo by a 3-goal margin
This according to the Minister of Sport, Ibrahim Nyalenkeh was disappointing but assured that the team will qualify for the fourth coming Africa Nation’s Cup that will be held in Ivory Coast next year.
The Minister noted that despite the dismal performance by the boys yet he is confident that the boys will qualify the country for the next nation’s cup.
‘We will be playing against Sao Tome and Principe and we hope to take six points from them and this will give us seven points. We will take on Nigeria in Liberia after Sao Tome and we hoping to take maximum points from these matches,” the Minister said
Minister Nyalenkeh noted that preparations before travelling to South Africa were challenging due to visa arrangements.
‘This is no excuse for the poor performance and that the technical team should take the blame, especially the Head Coach, John Keister.”
The Minister of Sports used the occasion to thank the media for their tremendous support to the ministry and the NSA and urged them to continue the good work.
“Since we came into office, we have been playing friendly matches and the government has been supporting this aspect. The just concluded friendlies are a testament to the government’s commitment to supporting the national team before and football as a whole.
We had played several matches under difficult conditions but we have always won. These two friendlies are no exception and we have to sit back with the FA and discuss Head moving forward, the Minister noted.’
The Minister said the role of the ministry is to provide the funds through the government. We provided the funds, gives allowance before the match and we have been giving them all the support. So, we have no reason for the dismal friendly performance, he added.”
The Executive Director at National Sports Authority, Dr Kenneth Brima in his statement said both the ministry and NSA have done so much in supporting and promoting the sport in the country. He said when they came into office there was no Premier league in place and no school sports activities.
“We were able to revive the league and qualify the National Team Leone Stars to the Nations Cup in Cameroun. This was a big achievement after 26 years of absence in the continental competition. We are happy that we are now competing at the international level,’ he said.
He however noted that in sports and football in particular you either win, lose or draw. So, the two friendly matches we have just played are no exceptions. Our achievement as the government is out there and by next year so much will be done in the sector, he said.
