Genoa Prolific Forward Yayah Kallon has apologized to Sierra Leoneans on a live video he posted recently for being unable to represent Sierra Leone at the African Cup of Nations.

Though Kallon didn’t state the reasons for not accepting Leone Stars invitation, he expressed his heartfelt love and total support for the team in Cameroon. He called on all Sierra Leoneans to support Leone stars a the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

A popular Sierra Leonean Blogger with the channel Blog MAJ TV has explained why he thinks Yayah Kallon  failed to honor an invitation to represent his home country.

He stated that Kallon was part of the players who initially received call up from coach John Keister. He stated that Kallon currently plays in one of the Top Leagues in the world which is the Italian Serie A.  As a forward, the player came to the limelight at a time when the country need him  for national duty.

He further stated that Yayah Kallon came to Italy not to play football or through scouting. The Italian based blogger suggested that though he didn’t speak with the player personally he suggested that Kallon might have been given a refugee status in Italy.

 

The blogger added that if you have been given a refugee status in Italy, you would be entitled  to a passport to go anywhere except your Country of Origin.

He further stated that the refugee status documents varies and spans for 5 or 10years. He noted that under such conditions, any country of entry a holder of such passport may want to enter, the passport would be stamped.

He indicated that after the expiration of the document, the holder would then apply for a renewal of documents which will undergoes rigorous scrutiny. He emphasized that if there’s any discovery by the authorities that an asylum seeker visited the country he claimed asylum for, he can be jailed, deported or documents confiscated.

He cited that Considering the popularity of the prolific forward, the moment he leaves Italy for his Homeland, the authorities will be quick to notice that he has represented Sierra Leone which may Jeopardize his stay in Italy.

Though Kallon didn’t revealed  the reasons for not accepting Leone Stars invitation, he has expressed strong  love and total support for the team in Cameroon. The forward has recently expressed hopes  and determination to represent Sierra Leone in the  future.

The blogger further stated that he had listened to one of Kallon’s  interviews where the  forward stated that he would not be able  to represent Sierra Leone for some reasons or until he gets an Italian passport.

The Blogger concludes that one of the criteria of getting an Italian Passport is that you must have been a resident of the Italy for the past ten Years. Considering the rigorous process an asylum seeker must go through to get an Italian kallon is still hopeful to represent his country in the future.

According to Amnesty International, an asylum seeker is an individual who is seeking international protection. In countries with  individualized procedures , an asylum seeker is someone whose claim has not yet been finally  decided on by the country in which he or she has  submitted  it, Not every asylum seeker will ultimately be recognised as a refugee, but every refugee is initially an asylum seeker.