19/05/2022
4 INFANTRY BRIGADE EMERGED WINNERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE ARMED FORCES 2022 ANNUAL INTER-UNITS SPORT MEET HELD IN BO CITY
The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) held its annual inter Formations/Units Athletics Sport Meet at the Bo Mini Stadium from Thursday 12th to Saturday 14th May 2022. Six Teams participated in this year’s sport meet, namely; Forces Troops (Yellow), Joint/Support Units (Red), 2 Infantry Brigade (Mauve), 3 Infantry Brigade (Green), 4 Infantry Brigade (Orange) and 5 Infantry Brigade (Blue).
The Chief of Defence Staff-RSLAF, Lieutenant General SI Sesay on behalf of the MoD/RSLAF Senior Management welcomed all Distinguished Guests at the Bo City Mini Stadium. He thanked the Joint Force Commander, Major General PK Lavahun for organizing the 2022 Annual Inter-Formation Athletics Competition. The invitation of other security sector forces and also secondary schools drawn from the region to participate on various events added more value to the sport meet. “These events are intended to enhance cordial working relationship among the security forces and to promote and consolidate our civil-military relations,” he said. He further stated that it would encourage a culture of peace and solidarity, which are ingredients for cohesion, national unity and development.
The CDS affirmed that in the history of athletics and sports generally, the RSLAF has maintained a distinguished place as an institution that has produced great sporting talents, “This competition, will rise up to the expectation of producing great talents that will represent both the Armed Forces and the Country.” Thus, he emphasized the importance of this year’s competition and the exclusive aspect of an all-female events. This he said was to show case the great talents, courage and resilience of our female colleagues in the area of military sports, in preparing them for national and international competitions. “Our female colleagues in uniform deserve recognition in every aspect, as their counterpart female colleagues in every other state institution.” He encouraged each and every female personnel of the RSLAF to feel very free and come forward to display and share their God given potentials with talents, in support of the MoD/RSLAF for national development.
In February this year, the MoD/RSLAF hosted the Organization of Military Sport in Africa (OSMA) which comprised the Armed Forces of the Africa Member Countries and the executive members of the International Military Sports Council, in Freetown. “I am confident that we would be able to identify the best sportsmen and women for future sporting events,” he emphasized. Recently, the MoD/RSLAF signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Sport Authority inclusive of sister security forces like the Sierra Leone Police, Sierra Leone Correctional Service and the National Fire Force in order to develop sports talents. This he said was to promote and strengthen sports through inter Forces Sports Competition. He concluded by informing the spectators and athletes of the CDS Special Prize for the best behaved team as a recognition of exemplary conduct of discipline throughout the competition. In this year’s RSLAF sport meet, records will be broken and new ones would be made as all teams are highly competitive.
The 2022 RSLAF Annual Athletics Sport meet was given the highest motivation since the inception of the sports in Bo ranging from cash prizes, support from stakeholders like the Guest of Honour Chief Minister of Sierra Leone Mr JJ Saffa, the Deputy Minister of Defence Colonel (Rtd) MB Massaquoi, Residence Ministers, former CDS Lieutenant General (Rtd) Brima Sesay, the Inspector General of Police, Provincial Secretaries, local authorities, top civil servants, other heads of MDAs and Africell as one of the biggest sponsors.
In addition to the motivation of athletes, the CDS-RSLAF promoted Lance Corporal Koroma AA of Joint/Support Unit as the best male athlete from Lance Corporal to Corporal and Privates Tholley AI and Bessman V as the two best female athletes from private soldiers to Lance Corporals all from Joint Support Unit. Best male officer Athlete was awarded to Lieutenant S Abu of 3 Infantry Brigade whilst the best female officer athlete went to Second Lieutenant N Sillah of 5 Infantry Brigade. The Chief Minister of Sierra Leone as Guest of Honour delivered the closing statement. In his address, he thanked the senior management of MoD/RSLAF for organizing the sports and commended participants on the discipline demonstrated throughout the competition. He also presented a cash prize to the champions of RSLAF 2022 Athletics sport meet for their outstanding performance.
4 Infantry Brigade emerged champions for the third consecutive time with a total point of 1,042, Joint Support/Unit second with 950 points, 5 Infantry Brigade third with 916 points, 3 Infantry Brigade forth with 688 points, Force Troops with 456 points and 2 Infantry Brigade with 450 points occupied fifth and sixth positions respectively.
