As the leading mobile network company with passion to support football in the country, Orange Sierra Leone has signed a One Billion Leones Memorandum of Understanding to sponsor four Premier League clubs that will span for 3years. The event was held on the 8th February 2022 at the Company’s Headquarters at Hill Station in Freetown.
The names of the clubs are FC Kallon, FC Johansen, Diamond Stars and Wusum Stars.
The Chief Executive Officer of Orange SL, Aminata Kane, said the sponsorship will last for three years, and within the three year period, they will provide internet facility, be broadcasting their games on all their partner radio stations and forward SMS with links to watch the game live.
She continued that they will also provide support to show key matches live on their page, provide 2 Speed boxes and 100GB monthly, players and club profiling will be done plus availing them large financial support.
“Football is part of the Sierra Leone DNA. We love the game, and it has served as a mechanism to bring us together in good times and in not-so-good times,” Madam Kane disclosed.
“Football has thrived because of the love from the people, the support of the President, the hard work the leaders in the Football Association has put in, the resilience and dedication of the clubs, the players and coaches and the gleeful cheer of the fans. And we believe that it will only get better as football is fast becoming one of the prides of Sierra Leone,” Madam Aminata Kane furthered.She maintained that Orange SL is supporting and strengthening ideas, initiatives and projects that are geared towards bringing joy and laughter to the lives of people and organizations, as well as ultimately fostering improvement and development in Sierra Leone.
“Our goal is that through Orange SL the game of football will grow in all aspects, the Association will be strengthened and we will continually record wins,” the Chief Executive Director expressed optimism.
The Minister of Sport, Ibrahim Nyelenkeh, expressed his thanks and appreciation to the company for deciding to sponsor the aforementioned teams also requesting that they support more teams participating in the league, as they are experiencing shortage of funds to support all the teams.
He assured clubs that are not part of the MOU that he will surely find a way for them to receive sponsorship from the company and other organizations.
The Minister advised authorities of the beneficiary clubs not to embezzle the monies but to rather distribute them to all their players in their respective teams.
“I want to see Orange Sierra Leone embarking on Sporting infrastructure now as the country is dying in need of it,” the Minister also stated.
The National Sport Association, Executive Officer, Dr. Abdul Rahman Swaray, appreciated the Company for their kind gesture. He added that sponsoring only four clubs is small and that they are pleading to the company to sponsor more clubs as some clubs are really struggling financially.
Alhaji Komba, Secretary General of FC Kallon, expressed his gratitude to Orange for their sponsorship. He promised that they will use it earnestly to improve the status of football in the country.
The event was climaxed by the signing of the MOU by representatives of the different clubs which was followed with an interactive session.