Fourah Bay Community FC Unveils its Official Fans & Players Jerseys
By Mackie M. Jalloh
As the Central One Football Association (COFA) set to start its annual inter-community football competition, the Fourah Bay Community, which is one of the best football team that normally participates in the upcoming competition, on Sunday 28th August 2022, unveiled its official players and fans Jerseys for the 2022 competition at the community center, Sulaimanania School (Bottom School), Foster Street.
The Fourah Bay Community is known nationally as a Muslim dominated community and proud of their Culture. But it hasn’t stop there, as they also have a good record when it comes to football, by producing stars that have represented their community and the Sierra Leone National team as well. They’ve also reached the grand finals once in both COFA and Closet Inter-Community Competitions, but they emerged as runners up in both.
During the ceremony a statement made by the supporters union said that they are pleased to witness such an occasion, and as supporters, they are well set and ready to surprise the community in their first match, which is the opening ceremony, and also appealed to the Honourable Member of Parliament of Constitution 122 to provide some sets of jerseys for them.
Manager for the Football team, Salim, said that he was there to say briefly about the past, as they’ve been having difficult issues to play in the past competition. He expressed gratitude to the supporters for maintaining peace in all the past competition, and committed to bring home to trophy as their appreciation for their patience and understanding. He the MP for honouring the invitation to witness the ceremony and supporting them all these years, and wished the team all the best in the upcoming competition.
Councilor Hudie of Fourah bay Community commended everyone who witnessed this occasion under such heavy rain and cold weather. He furthered that in their own days of playing football, there was no money, but only benefited from female supporters, which led them to give early birth, stressing that right everything about football is money, adding that there is money for the players and the team to take the community to the final.
He apologized to supporters to maintain their respect to be calm in any situation, whether win or loss, and also asked the MP to make it count to witness the opening ceremony of the competition and boost the morale of the team to win the match.
Youth football coordinator, Mr Kuraish, said that it doesn’t mean that only when you have the Fourah Bay surname, that is when you are known as a son of the soil of Fourah bay, but in his case, he does not have any trace of Fourah Bay name from both parents, but he is still a son of the soil, because he was born and raised in the community. He continued that, the community should also put an eye on their own players than on those who they have signed from afar. He mentioned the most outstanding young talented Center Back, Dero Semi, as he is getting it big to another level.
He concluded that he will support the Fourah Bay Community team throughout his life time.
Alhassan George, a community representative, said that he is always part of them, as he has nowhere to go, but to give back to his community. He mentioned that he is not here to talk about politics or represent any party, despite the fact that he is a member of the SLPP, but to represent the community. He furthered that he is ready to give everything to the community, financially and in whatever way that he is needed.
Secretary General of the Fourah Bay Community Football Team, Basiru Sanusie, officially announced all thirty-five players signed to represent the community in the upcoming competition, and also selected two captains: Musa Tombo, as First, and Dero Semi, a son of the soil and the community best player, as second captain.
He highlighted that with the Le50 Million budget that they asked for, has been use correctly as planned, with a remaining balance also.
Bash concluded that there is transparency now in the new executive, and that if anyone in the community has any doubt of anything, they should feel free to ask them.
Players list as follows:
Fourah Bay Community Signed Players
1. Saio
2. Deco
3. Chernor
4. Ashavin
5. Tiago
6. Capay Sallu
7. Valencia
8. Jones
9. OSU
10. Shago
11. Draviel
12. Diego
13. Mahrez
14. Amara
15. Dero
16. Hashim
17. Trikka
18. Ishoo Kamboi Eagles
19. BK
20. Dyfan Goalkeeper
21. Musa Tombo
22. Seedorf
23. Mathew Defender
24. Wonder
25. Lampard
26. Dinho
27. Kambia Best
28. Totti
29. Messi Kenema
30. Macarthy
31. Boko
32. Milo
33. Khedira
34. Sulaiman
35. Big 5
Keynote speaker, Honourable Allieu Koyo Kamara of constitution 122, said that Fourah Bay Community is a place of unity and love. He appreciated the organizers for bringing the community together in terms of football, regardless of their political parties. He further recalled the deadly protest of August 10th, stressing that he was proud that there was no mention of the involvement of yourhs from the community..
Honourable continued that in the community the sky is the limit, as people can be whatever they want to be, adding that Fourah Bay Community has provided lots of football teams and players.
Koyo also said that whilst unveiling, he is also offering more than what he gave in the last competition, but this time around he will work with Alhassan George, as they will make open their support before leaving.
He mentioned about the community’s most outstanding young talented Center Back, Dero Simi, saying he is the first to give his support for him to play a professional football at port authority, and also name few who he has promoted.
The Honourable Koyo purchased 50 jerseys for the community and pledged to give 1.5 million Leones and one bag of rice for every match played, also NLe100 for any goal scorer, and also Le2 million, if the community qualifies for the round of 8, and then Le3 million, if they qualify for the round of 4, and Le5 million, if they reach the final. Honourable Koyo lastly bought 20 more extra jerseys for the Supporters Union, as they asked him for support.
Alhassan George also pledged 50 jerseys cash for the supporters.
On that note, Honourable Koyo, Alhassan George, Councilor Hudie and the team managers etc, officially unveiled the Community Jerseys, and wished the team Victory.
