African Sports Monthly February 2015

ISSUE 01 / FEBRUARY 2015

Scores| Interviews & More ...

African Sports Monthly

2014 In Review

Blessing Okagbare's Spectacular Year From three Gold Medals to a Dream Wedding ...

2015 African Cup of Nations, A Mixed bag of ...

Rodney Michael Dishes It ...

Ebola & Sports In Africa

Sports Talk With Ayodele Odumade Reflections on 2014

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Shop Songhai Sports & Outdoors and get the latest in sports gears and entertainment

The ongoing African Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guine has been a mixed bag of fortunes for particpating nati and individual players ...

Staff & Contributors

Leslie Koroma CEO, Publisher & Editor in Chief, Texas, USA| Ayodele Odumade, Senior Writer, Lo Reporter, Johannesburg, South Africa| Joel Chirwa, Senior Writer & Reporter, Lilongwe, Malawi| A Saidu Kaye Sesay, Writer & Contributor, London, UK| Lango Deen Sankoh, Writer & Co

ea ions

Contents Analysis Ebola and Sports in Africa P. 22 Athletics

A Look back at Africa on the Track in 2014 - P. 13

Soccer

Rodney Michale Dishes on Sierra Leone Football – P. 35 Mixed Fortunes at the African Cup of Nations – P. 9 - 10 Is Sierra Leone Football Doomed? - P. 33 Impact Players at the 2015 AFCON – P. 15 - 16

Feature Blessing Okagbare's Spectacular Year – P. 7

Opinion Sports Talk with Ayodele Odumade – Page 36 Cricket & Rugby Highlights of Cricket & Rugby in 2014– Page 17 The Road to Rio 2016 Introducing Hafsatu Kamara - P. 45 Tribute African Sports Heroes who passed away in 2014– Page 29

THE ROAD TO RIO 2016 INTRODUCING HAFSATU KAMARA

ondon, UK| Sahr Morris Jr, Senior, writer, Freetown, Sierra Leone| Farai Diza, Senior Writer & Annimari Korte, Senior Writer & Reporter, Helsinki, Finland| Thomas Meinders , Senior Writer| ontributor Maryland, USA| Samuel Kissiedu Florida USA, Daniel Oldfield, Canada

RODNEY MICHAEL Dishes it on the state of Sierra Leone Football ...

"She opts to use Gender for sympathy when everyone knows Gender has never been an issue. She uses the international media to portray a solid image of herself at the expense of the country and other individuals and ..."

Rodney Michael Read the rest of Rodney's Interview on Page 35

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B

It is safe to say that 2014 has been the best year till date for Blessing Okagbare as an international Track and Field Athlete with her crowning moments of the year coming at both the Commonwealth Games in Scotland and the African Championships held in Marrakech, Morocco, where she won a total of 3 Gold Medals combined, while setting the Commonwealth Games record in the 100 meters at 10.85 seconds. She followed a very successful year with her marriage to long time fiancĂŠ Igho Otegheri when she triumphantly returned home to Nigeria after both Games.

She was ranked as the best female 200 meters runner in the world for 2014 and was also in the top 5 for the 100 meters globally. She is now one of the most recognized names in the world of women sprinting and is set to continue her 2014 dominance into 2015 and beyond.

Blessing who spent the rest of the summer in Nigeria is back in Los Angeles, California where she trains under US sprinting Guru, John Smith.

African Sports Monthly magazine was able to track her down to get her to talk about her record breaking and spectacular year of personal and public achievements;.

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By Leslie Koroma

"I understand my fans wants to see more and I really appreciate their support. The truth is ..."

Cont'd on Page 11 ASM/ February, 2015

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16 Teams One Trophy ... Who Will Prevail

By Farai Diza

MIXED FORTUNES AT 2015 AFRIC The 2015 Orange Africa Cup Of Nations has been showcasing the best that Africa has to offer on the soccer pitch. Hastilly organised in Equatorial Guinea after Morocco withdrew citing ebola fears, shocks, drama and emerging talent have eclipsed the countless draws that have been a regular feature at the biennial tournament.

Algeria, Ivory Coast and Ghana are regarded as the favourites to win the unpredictable tournament. But it is Algeria where most betting men are putting their money.

“Algeria pushed Germany more than any other team at the World Cup in Brazil last year,” said former Peruvian national player Augusto Palacios, who now coaches in Joburg.

“They are a religious team and so are very disciplined. They are also very organised and structured. Most of their players are in the local league. For me, Algeria are the team to beat at the Afcon tournament.”

Algeria, under French coach Christian Gourcuff, steamed through the Afcon qualifiers with five wins in six games after an excellent World Cup. One of the team’s stars, Porto winger Yacine Brahimi, was recently voted the BBC’s 2014 African footballer of the year. Brahimi scored his first international goal in the group stage against South Korea in the World Cup last year. He has scored six goals in 15 appearances for the Portuguese club.

Algeria are part of the Group C “group of death” which includes the “physical” Senegal, “well-organised” Ghana and South Africa, who are looking confident after not having lost in 11 games, said Palacios.

The Elephants of Ivory Coast are the team to take it all this year. They have a collection of excellent players, including brothers Yaya Touré and Kolo Touré, Cheick Tioté and Wilfried Bony.

ICA CUP OF NATIONS Midfielder Yaya Touré, who was pivotal for English Premier League champions Manchester City, is captain of the Elephants after the retirement from international football of striker Didier Drogba.

“Ivory Coast has a history of underperforming in major tournaments and Touré will have to play as well as he does for Manchester City if the team is to reach the finals of the tournament,” Palacios said.

The Black Stars of Ghana, who are also in Group C, are another team to watch but have weathered the storm to make it to the Semi-Finals thus far.

Coach Avram Grant was forced to leave two of his stars, defender Jeffrey Schlupp and striker Majeed Waris, out of his final squad of 23 due to injury.

Two other top players, Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng, were also left out after being suspended indefinitely for gross misconduct during the World Cup last year.

Nigerian football legend Austin “Jay Jay” Okocha had picked Algeria, Ivory and Ghana as his favourites.

“Algeria though out now were likely to advance to the semi-finals. I would say the team has the chance to win the African Cup,” Okocha told French football website Le Buteur.

“We saw how well they performed at the last World Cup – advancing to the last 16 which was a respectable achievement. Algeria willhave to look towards the 2017 tournament now butthey have always had a good run in the Afcon qualifying, which shows continuity.”

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What would you attribute such a significant year of success to, that was not the case for you in prior years of your career?

Blessing: Other than God who has always given the strength, I will say persistence Now coming off of such a fantastic year you have raised the bar in terms of expectations from your fans around the world, your countrymen, women and Africans around the world. How satisfying has 2014 been for you and what would you say to all those out there that are looking for more spectacular performances from you in 2015 and beyond?

Blessing: 2014 was a great year for me but, everything I did in 2014 is to prepare me for 2015 and 2016. Expectations wise... I understand my fans wants to see more and I really appreciate their support. The truth is I have my own expectations and until that is achieved, what others expectations are shouldn't be my focus.

Many a times you would hear other athletes talk about drawing inspiration from either from something or someone or in most cases, a higher power, where does Blessing draw inspiration from and how do you keep your focus to stay so successful?

BLESSING'S SPECTACU Blessing: My inspiration come from listening and studying the word of God, listening to gospel songs and people in general. Critics are not excluded...

After winning your final Gold Medal for the year in Morocco you went home to Nigeria and announced that you were getting married and you did in November. For me and all the staff at African Sports Monthly Magazine let me say congratulations to you and your Husband Igho Otegheri. So now that you are Married Mrs. Otegheri, how is married life.

Blessing: Hahaha.... I will say it's been great so far.

ULAR YEAR CONT'D Blessing: Well, my husband is not After your wedding you returned back to Los on moving to the states Angeles, California to resume your training planning with me because he has his own business to take care of and the only with famed sprint guru John Smith but reason we applied for a visiting visa without your husband Igho. This was was for our honeymoon and for us because the US embassy in Nigeria denied to spend few weeks of our marriage together while I resume training. LA him a Visa, it is almost unbelievable for that to is considered my place of work and , have happened because the US puts such amy husband coming to visit me will much easier for me instead of me p;remium on family values and for them to be traveling back and forth to see him. have turned down a young bride’s husband The whole situation has not really affected me yet and I hope it from traveling and moving in with her to work doesn't because distance is not with and support her is almost heartless, something any marriage needs. how has that affected you and your husband?

Cont'd on Page 14

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A Look back at Africa on the Track in 2014

By Leslie Koroma

The year started with a major bang for Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba, when she blazed down the track on two occasions to break world records in the indoor 1500 meters and the 3000 meters races, eclipsing the old marks to seal her place in history as a world record holder. She set the 1500 meters indoor mark in Germany at a meet in Karlsruhe where she ran 3:55.17 and would later go on to take the 3000 meters with a time of 8:16.60 in Stockholm Sweden. Her performance in 2014 was so dominant it garnered her a nomination, as Women’s World Athlete of the Year by the IAAF. She came close as she was shortlisted as one of three finalists but Valerie Adams of New Zealand would spoil it for her as she was the eventual winner. But 2014 was indeed Genzebe’s year.

The World was invited to the Bahamas for a grand party as the Track loving nation hosted the Inaugural Edition of World Relays. It proved to be quite an event where a few records fell on both the men’s and women’s side with the Jamaican men’s 4 x 200 meters relay team of Nickel Ashmeade, Warren Weir, Jermaine Brown anchored

by Yohan Blake took the records off the books setting a new time of 1:18.63 seconds In a year that was without a major global event save for the World Indoor Championships and the Commonwealth Games. Godfrey Mokoena took the world by storm upon his return from injury to take the Triple Jump crown at both the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow Scotland and the African Athletics Championships in Marrakech Morocco putting the South African among the upper echelon of the top performers of in the world for the year.

Cont'd on Page 55

What is the latest thus far in that Saga of trying to get your husband over here to the US? Blessing: For now I just have to fill his papers directly instead of getting the visitors visa we applied for since they already denied me my honeymoon.

Now I know the issue of your husband not being with you yet was not the most pleasant of subject to have brought up but we just want to let the world know how callous such a behavior that was to deny you access to your husband especially as newlyweds. Now to change subject here the awards season in Sports are here and to crown of a successful year you were awarded the Nigerian Track and Field Personality of the Year and the National Sports Woman of the year. How does it feel to be recognized and honored by your own people?

Blessing: It's always an honor and an amazing feeling to be recognized and, crowned with such honor.

Now that 2014 is pretty much over with and it s been a very successful year, what is your outlook for 2015 especially with the World Athletics Championships in Beijing next August, and your foundation which we understand you are about to launch, what should your supporters and fans expect?

Blessing: My goal is to always be better that I was the previous year.

Always striving for more success in all areas I choose to compete in. As for my foundation, yes soon it will be launched and that is something I have and I am looking forward to.

I want to thank you for taking the time to answer our questions and do look forward to a talking to you some more down the line. Good Luck in your training and the effort to bring your husband over the US to join you and your 2015 campaign. focus to stay so successful?

Blessing: Thanks Leslie.

Impact Players at the 2015 AFCON

By Farai Diza The following players have made this tournament their treading ground by displaying touches of magic that can get European clubs chasing for their signatures.

1. Gervinho , Côte d’Ivoire After being a flop at Arsenal, Gervinho has rediscovered his electrifying pace and eye for goal at Roma. Under the guidance of manager Rudi Garcia, the 27-year-old forward has become a force to fear thanks to his dribbling skills. With Didier Drogba now retired from international football and Yaya Touré experiencing a dip in form on last season, Gervinho will be all the more important for Les Eléphants.

2. Yannick Bolasie, DRCongo Crystal Palace’s tricky winger could have represented France or England, but chose DRCongo in 2014. In qualifying, he scored two goals against Sierra Leone and inspired his team’s 4-3 victory against Côte d’Ivoire with three assists. The 25-year-old Bolasie enjoys taking on players, and if he can link up well with forward Trésor Mputu, their partnership will be formidable.

3. Jonathan Pitroipa, Burkina Faso Named the Player of the Tournament at AFCON 2013, Pitroipa has lost none of the verve that saw him torment defenders, scoring six goals in qualifying. Quick on the turn, skilled and mesmeric, Pitroipa is coming into his own as a winger and will carry the weight of Les Etalons’ expectations on his shoulders.

4. André Ayew, Ghana When he was dropped from Ghana’s squad for AFCON 2013 after a dispute with the country’s football association, his quality was sorely missed. His return to the team for the 2014 World Cup, where he scored twice, further highlighted his importance. The 24-year-old is quick, tricky and unpredictable. Asamoah Gyan, who topscored for Ghana in the qualifiers, may well be the Black Star’s most prolific striker, but Ayew will likely be creating those chances.

5. Diafra Sakho, Senegal Senegal are hardly lacking in the attacking department, but one man whose form may just carry them all the way is the 24-year-old forward Diafra Sakho. The West Ham striker did not feature in the qualifiers, but had hit 7 goals in 9 appearances for West Ham by December. If he makes it to Equatorial Guinea, his clinical eye for goal could provide a serious headache for his defensive opponents.

6. Yacine Brahimi, Algeria Like his Algerian team, the Porto midfielder has flown under the radar for much of his career. But after being voted the BBC’s African Player of the Year in 2014, he will very much be in the spotlight.

Deployed in a free role, playing in the hole, the young attacking midfielder scored 3 goals in qualifying, the highest in the team, and will be counted upon to deliver even more in Equatorial Guinea.

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Highlights of cricket and rugby in 2014

By Farai Diza

AB De Villiers in photo above

2014 came and like sand through the hour glass, the sporting calendar is slowly coming to an end. So much happened in the cricketing and rugby world during the past 12 months and we reflect some of the highlights that got the media into hype.

Cricket 2014 has been a great year for cricket throughout Africa. The news that undoubtedly made the best headlines in the cricketing world was when a star studded Australian side ended their Zimbabwean boycott and finally travelled to the politically troubled sub Saharan African nation.

2015 ICC World Cup A year Away In just over three months, the Cricket World Cup will be underway in Australia and AB De Villiers will be out to achieve what no other South African captain has done in the past – coming home with the trophy.

South Africa have for long lived with the tag “Chokers” because they have dismally

failed to land the most prestigious prize in world cricket, despite dominating the overall rankings. They are the number one ranked nation and have come close to winning the world cup on numerous occasions.

If ever there were two world cups that the Proteas should have won, it would have been the 1999 edition in England and the 2003 showcase that they hosted.

Cricket South Africa finally bows to SASCOC Cricket South Africa finally acceded to SASCOC’s demands that the sport should be administered along the same lines as the geographical boundaries in the country.

This means that single Unions will run provincial cricket for the first time in South African history.

Proteas Name New Test Captain Star batsman, Hashim Amla, was named as the new Test captain of South Africa in a day that saw the rugby side also naming a new interim captain.

Amla replaced Graeme Smith who retired from international cricket in March, after 11 years as captain. The right hand batsman also becomes the fifth man to lead the Proteas since readmission, following in the footsteps of Kepler Wessels (1992), Hansie Cronje (1994), Shaun Pollock (2000) and Smith (2003).

Amla was chosen ahead of One Day International skipper AB De Villiers, Twenty20 captain Faf Du Plessis and all rounder JP Duminy. De Villiers was also subsequently appointed as Amla’s deputy.

Both De Villiers and Du Plessis retained their positions as the captains of the ODI and T20 sides respectively.

Hashim Amla (with Beard) is new Test Captain for South Africa

New Heights For Zimbabwe The future of Zimbabwean domestic club cricket finally got under way despite the fact that the cash strapped Zimbabwe Cricket authorities failed to secure a sponsor.

Zimbabwe Cricket is yet to secure sponsorship for the unbranded one day competition, Twenty20 and the longer version of the game. Major sponsors Stanbic bank pulled out of the T20 competition that used to attract internationally acclaimed cricketers who include the big hitting Chris Gayle of the West Indies.

But the country successfully hosted a Tri Nations One Day International tournament that also included South Africa and Australia. The tournament was eventually won by neighbors South Africa who beat the Aussies.

But Zimbabwe made their own piece of history. Needing just 210 runs in 50 overs, Zimbabwe did the unthinkable at Harare Sports Clubs as they romped to a well deserved three wicket victory over the number one ODI ranked Australia in a nail biting encounter.

Zimbabwe's Cricket Squad Headed to the 2015 Cricket World Cup

The win by the Zimbabwe team was the first against the mighty Australians since 1983 and it came against all odds as few gave the boys a chance against the tourists.

None of the Zimbabwe players were born the last time Zimbabwe had beaten Australia.

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African Female Cricketers Empowered Female cricketers from seven African countries attended a four day cricket training clinic at Elite Ladies Cricket Academy in South Africa. The purpose of the training clinic is to promote women’s cricket on the continent.

Ladies from as far afield as Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, Nigeria, Ghana and Tanzania attended the clinic that will undoubtedly bolster the growth of the sport in Africa.

Qualified level 4 coaches led by Feizal Kimmie will train the participants and the training is organized by Africa Cricket Association. Kimmie is the Senior Development Officer for the International Cricket Council Africa regional office.

RUGBY Springboks Roll Over Australia and New Zealand An inspired X-Factor performance by Captain Jean de Villiers saw the Springboks retaining the Mandela Plate and their second place on the IRB rankings with a crushing 28-10 win over Australia.

The Wallabies had descended upon Newlands in search of their first Test win over the high flying Boks on Cape Town soil since 1992. With the Rugby Championship beyond their grasp, the Boks were in a buoyant mood from the onset fiercely dominating the scrums.

The Boks also beat world number one New Zealand at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

Zimbabwean Takes Over Canadian Rugby Former Zimbabwean Sable rugby coach, Liam Middleton was in September named the New Canadian national sevens team coach. The 37 year old took over the reigns from Welshman Geraint John, who quit his post to take charge of the Australian Sevens team. Most recently Middleton was Director of Rugby of the Zimbabwe Rugby Union and has served as Zimbabwe Sevens coach since 2004.

Namibia Qualify For Another IRB World Cup It was an unforgettable Rugby World Cup qualifying phase as Namibia upset all the odds by coming from 3rd position to clinch the sole ticket to the 2015 IRB World Cup slated for England.

After Zimbabwe had beaten Kenya and looked set to make it to next years’ tournament, Namibia needed to beat Madagascar by more than 53 points in order to secure automatic qualification. The South West Africans did just that by dismantling the hosts 89-10 in Antananarivo.

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At the beginning of the gripping day, the Namibians were outside hopefuls at best, but Zimbabwe’s 28-10 win against Kenya, denying the Kenyan’s a losing bonus point, while failing to secure a bonus pointof their own, left the door wide open for the seasoned Rugby World Cup campaigners.

Meanwhile Zimbabwe failed to qualify after losing in the reparcharge. This means that Africa will be represented by the Springboks and Namibia.

Young Boks Triumph, As Baby Boks Crumble The South Africa Under 18 Sevens team came out victors at the African 7’s Championships. The Baby Blitzbokkes won the gold medal at the African Youth Games in Botswana.

The team also won gold in the 2013 Australian Youth Olympics. In Gaborone, the South Africans coached by Gavin Bereford, scored 183 points without conceding any. Both South Africa and Kenya will represent Africa at the Youth Olympics later this year.

Meanwhile, The South Africa junior rugby side failed to shrug off a tough fight from England after they lost the 2014 IRB Junior World Cup final that was held at Eden Park in New Zealand on Friday morning. Having controlled the game from the onset, South Africa were eventually dismantled in the second half losing 21-20.

Commonwealth Gold For African Rugby It all went according to the script for Team South Africa at the 2014 Commonwealth Games In Glasgow, Scotland. The Blitzbokke scooped their first ever Commonwealth Games victory over previous holders New Zealand as they won the gold medal in the Sevens competition in a tense final 17-12 in front of a 50 000 crowd at Ibrox Stadium.

Two tries by the speedster Seabelo Senatla – who commentators dubbed as the Usain Bolt of Sevens Rugby – and the clincher seasoned Cecil Afrika after a 60 meter dash to the left hand corner were enough to win the game.

Reflections of the Impact of Ebola on Sports in the African Continent in 2014 By: Lango Deen Sankoh

It’s 2015 already and to borrow a phrase from the British queen, 2014 is not a year on which we shall look back at with undiluted pleasure.

No doubt, it was a horrible closing to 2014 with the number of people infected by Ebola rising over 17,000, and the death toll reaching almost 7,000, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

In this wrap-up, we review headline news that captured the worst of times. But first, here’s one of the best.

‘We’ve got Your Back’ At the draw for the 2015 Orange Africa Cup of Nations held, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea’s capital city, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) joined the launch of Africa United, a health communications campaign to help stop the spread of Ebola. The campaign supported by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Foundation was driven by Idrissa Akuna "Idris" Elba, a British actor, producer, singer, rapper, and DJ. In the popular British tabloid, The Mirror, Tyrone Marshall wrote that the Africa United campaign has the backing of English Premier League football stars such as Manchester City’s Yaya Toure, West Ham's Carlton Cole, Tottenham's Andros Townsend, as well as Patrick Vieira, Fabrice Muamba and Kei Kamara.

The campaign broadcasts information on the disease and how to stop it from spreading, in English, French and a number of local languages. Marshall wrote: “In one of the videos the footballers pay homage to the frontline health workers operating in the area by wearing their names on the back of their shirts instead of their own.”

The public education campaign emphasizes the vital role of healthcare workers and features new Ebola prevention communications for West Africa, including the ‘We’ve Got Your Back’ public service advertisement or announcement (PSA). Over the last six months, hundreds of health workers in West Africa have been killed by the Ebola virus disease, and this prompted Elba to pitch in.

“For me the battle against Ebola is a personal one,” Elba said. “To see those amazing countries in West Africa where my father grew up and my parents married being ravaged by this disease is painful and horrific,” said Elba, the creative force behind the development of the campaign public service announcements.

“Imagine having to sit down and tell your family you were going to fight this disease. That conversation is happening across West Africa and around the world every day. I am in awe of the bravery of these health workers, who put their lives at risk day in and out to stop the spread of this terrible disease. My hope is that, in some small way, through the development of these PSAs and the creation of the Africa United campaign, we can ensure that these workers get the support they need and that health messages are delivered to people on the ground to help them in their fight. #wevegotyourback. We will support you.”

In November, the BBC reported that players, including Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Barcelona’s Neymar Jr., Chelsea’s Didier Drogba and Bayern Munich’s Philipp Lahm, and Gareth Bale all appeared in a new Ebola awareness campaign run

by FIFA. According to the BBC, the players from some of Europe's biggest clubs came together for the "11 Against Ebola" video, which promotes health messages selected with the help of doctors and health experts in West Africa, the BBC said.

The World Bank was supportive of the footballers Ebola messages. Using the slogan “Together, we can beat Ebola” and the hashtag #wecanbeatebola, players share 11 simple messages selected with the help of the WHO, among the many organizations tackling the outbreak in West Africa. But it’s not just the disease that needed tackling.

“Ebola Attitudes” Sky News beamed out to the world in August that a Sierra Leonean cyclist was placed in isolation in Glasgow for four days during the Commonwealth Games.

"Ebola Terror at Commonwealth Games," hollered one newspaper, desperately trying to describe the endurance cyclist’s ordeal and just how “petrified” Moses Sesay was as he “told of his horror at being quarantined and tested (and retested) by doctors dressed in space suits. Sesay was admitted to a Glasgow hospital after falling ill, a day after the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony.

The 2nd Summer Youth Olympic Games held in Nanjing, China, from August 16 to 28 brought together the world's best young athletes, but didn’t offer much of an introduction into true Olympic values.

Teenage athletes from West Africa were banned from partaking in some sports and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said in a statement that athletes from the region will not be allowed to compete in combat sports or events in the pool.

In protest at the IOC’s unprecedented action, Nigerian athletes and officials in Nanjing were directed to leave after their country pulled out of the competition.

Nigerian newspapers were in uproar as they described their athletes in quarantine, isolated and barred from training alongside other athletes of the world at the competition venue. The director general of Nigeria’s Sports Commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye, protested to the organizers that the treatment of Nigerian athletes was “inhuman.”

Telesur also reported that in September, during a wrestling championships in Uzbekistan, contestants from Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Congo and Nigeria were simply excluded from the matches, and not allowed into the preliminary medical exams.

In October, Deutsche Welle or DW (Germany's international broadcaster) said that Serie A club AC Milan had "categorically denied" reports claiming Ghanaian international Michael Essien had contracted Ebola while playing for his country. DW also said that AC Milan released a statement the same week dismissing media reports that midfielder Essien was being treated after contracting the Ebola virus.

"AC Milan categorically denies the alleged reports from abroad about its players.

Such reports are totally without foundation and what is more were never confirmed by any employee of the club," the statement said.

According to DW, The Daily Times Nigeria and Newswire NGR had both cited an AC Milan official in reports claiming that Essien had caught Ebola while on national team duty with Ghana. Moreover, Essien himself issued reassurances on his official Twitter and Instagram accounts, saying "I'm very fit and very healthy, no truth in the Internet rumors that I have contracted Ebola. I'm well and will be training as usual tomorrow," DW said.

Similarly, The Liverpool Echo featured former Liverpool schoolboy footballer Dele Adebola, who they said had been forced to reassure fans he has not had Ebola.

Adebola, who was brought up in Liverpool and played alongside Robbie Fowler as a boy, asked his supporters to stop questioning whether he had the deadly virus, the paper said.

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The excerpt below is stranger than fiction: “Guys please stop asking if I have Ebola. I do not have it. But I thank you for caring about my health and wellbeing :-) Dele.” But some fans refused to take the former Birmingham City player’s hint. Twitter user Michael McGuinness wrote: “I’m sorry to hear that Dele had-Ebola.” The striker replied: “I think I’ve made it quite clear I do not have Ebola pal.” This morning Adebola wrote: “Why are people tweeting me #PrayForDele? There’s nothing wrong with me guys :-) use your prayers to good effect.”

Much worse to come Urging governments to avoid panic and fear, UN chief Ban Ki-moon announced plans in August to step up the global response to the Ebola outbreak and bring it under control. "We need to avoid panic and fear," Ban told reporters at UN headquarters in New York.

But reporting from Abidjan in September, the AFP’s Joris Fioriti wrote that Sierra Leonean footballers were “aggrieved by their Ebola pariah status.”

“Sierra Leone's footballers are motivated by a sense of betrayal by fellow Africans over the Ebola virus that has led to a near pariah status and forced them to play all their games away from home,” explained Fioriti in his article excerpted below: “Only players based outside Sierra Leone were allowed into Ivory Coast for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying game in Abidjan on Saturday. And it was only under a threat of being expelled from the competition that the host authorities permitted the game to go ahead.

“The Ivorians attitude to the plight of their fellow Africans has deeply upset the Sierra Leone Stars. Many African governments have sought to isolate Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, the worst hit countries, including their sports men and women.

"The way we are treated is like we don't belong to the African planet," Jabbie Kahalifa told the AFP reporter. Jabbie who plays for Turkish championship side Balikesirspor also said: "People don't even want to see us. The way they treat us when we go to airports ... as soon as you say 'I'm from Sierra Leone', it's like I'm from an alien planet."

"People start pushing themselves away," he told AFP. "It's embarrassing to us Africans to be treating another African that type of way. It's just hard to take sometimes. You reach a point like, I'm about to lose it. We feel alone, like the whole African continent turned their back against us. This is not how things should be done."

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Team-mate Kei Kamara "The last time going to Seychelles, South African Airways stopped all the players, took them off the flight from going” "We approached Ghana to help us host the games in Ghana. We were turned down."

Sierra Leone midfielder Michael Lahoud told BBC Sport that his team-mates were treated badly and felt humiliated because of the stigma of Ebola.

Details via the BBC: "People refuse to allow you into places because the first thing they think is that you have Ebola…The 28-year-old added that some opponents have refused to shake hands with them and opposition fans have chanted "Ebola" at matches.

"The reaction from fans has been brutal at times. In DR Congo 20,000 people were chanting 'Ebola, Ebola' for 90 minutes," he told BBC Sport.

"It is probably one of the most painful experiences that I've gone through as a footballer.

"You feel humiliated. Being stranded in places like Zambia just trying to get home because they won't let you through because they automatically think you have Ebola."

"Walking through the streets in Congo and little kids that you try to give food to, running away in absolute terror of you. Mothers grabbing their kids and running away from you because they think just by you looking at them they're going to get Ebola. It is very humiliating."

Taunts and stigmatization everywhere Footballsierraleone dot net reported that Greek club PAS Lamia’s defensive midfielder John Kamara was asked to stay away for up to three weeks before he could return to the club. The website said Kamara was returning to Greece after playing for Sierra Leone against Cameroon in their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in Yaoundé, adding that the Greek club’s decision was taken on advice of the Hellenic Center for Disease Control & Prevention who feared he might have contracted the disease.

“I’m shocked and disappointed at the length of time they wanted me to stay indoors or travel out of Greece over the fear of Ebola,” Kamara told footballsierraleone.net.

Footballsierraleone called on the world to join their Twitter campaign #IamNotaVirus to end Ebola Stigma @football_sierra In Elba’s campaign video titled “West Africa vs. Ebola,” on YouTube, the actor stars as a soccer coach giving a rousing and educational team talk to West Africa in preparation for its “life or death” game against Ebola. Elba explains the symptoms

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of Ebola and tactics for how to beat the virus, which includes spreading the word and working as a team.

In Unison: ?#?KickingEbolaOutOfWestAfrica On Friday, December 5, actor and philanthropist Isaiah Washington attended the ‘United Against Ebola Benefit’ at Landmark in Central Park, New York City. The event was hosted by Matt Dillon, Bonnie Young, Hans Humes and MacDella Cooper. The MacDella Cooper Foundation (MCF) is a charitable organization dedicated to providing young people in Liberia, especially orphans and abandoned children, with an education and the basic necessities of food, clothing, and shelter.

MCF hopes to expand their work in to Sierra Leone and Guinea in the future.

Inspired by his own discovery of a direct genetic link to the Mende people of Sierra Leone, Washington founded The Gondobay Manga Foundation, which advocates cooperative planning to achieve timely improvements in the lives of the people of Sierra Leone. Washington used the occasion of his 45th birthday (August 3, 2008) to kick off a campaign entitled 'Reach One Million.'

Spearheaded through his organization, The Gondobay Manga Foundation, the campaign is the brainchild of Washington, who has set a goal of raising $250,000 to help improve the lives of one million children in Sierra Leone — one village, one region, at a time.

Throughout November 2014, Washington posted updates of his latest venture to raise awareness about Ebola to his Facebook wall. The goal of the public service announcement or advertisement (PSA) is ?#?KickingEbolaOutOfWestAfrica.

Washington has been shooting with his two sons, representing the Leone Stars national team of Sierra Leone, and his daughter, representing Brazil. Lan Bui is the director of ?#?KickingEbolaOutOfWestAfrica PSA. Recently, someone asked online what Washington has done during the Ebola crisis, to which Mr. Washington replied: “I talked to my tribal brother Raymond Scott-Manga, who lives in Sierra Leone last month regarding the Ebola Crisis and he’s telling me that Malaria, Tetanus and Hernias are still killing our people in Salone just as aggressively as this current Ebola Crisis.

ASM/ February, 2015

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"The Shooting of an Ebola Public Service Announcement by Actor Isaiah Washington with Son and Daughter as part of the project" “I am in contact with Medshare, Africare and Congresswoman Karen Bass to discuss how to accelerate getting enough serum to Salone, but the media and other factors are making it extremely hard to get people to want to travel to Salone with all of the widespread fear.

Over the last 8 years, Washington has spent over a million dollars of his own money to raise awareness about all the good reasons Sierra Leone is more than the place where the “Blood Diamond War” and thousands of amputations took place.

In an opinion piece published by The Washington Post on December 8, on what Democrats and Republicans could do to support President Obama’s request for Ebola aid, Julian Zelizer wrote: "Football is "like a second religion in Sierra Leone." That was before the Ebola outbreak put a stop to organized games, casual kick-abouts, and people gathering to watch the national sport. Here, a fan shows his colors."

[Editor’s note: Insert fan in green, white and blue photo here and credit The Washington Post] Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University and a New America fellow, also quoted Sierra Leone Football Association president Isha Johansen: "This virus is about sweat, blood, and interaction,” she said. "And that's football.

There's a lot of interaction, there's a lot of sweat and blood."

ASM/ February, 2015

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Lest we forget…

Africa's Sports Heroes who Left us in 2014

By Farai Diza

A number of African sports stars passed away in 2014, casting another dark cloud on the continental sporting scene. Here is a short list of some of the stars who sadly passed on during the year.

Mbulaeni Mulaudzi Country: South Africa Sports: Athletics Age of Death: 34

Brief Bio: Mulaudzi was a former 800m Athens 2004 Olympics silver medallist and a Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medallist. He was the flag bearer for South Africa at the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Athens and he became South Africa’s first black athlete to be ranked number one in the world.

His accolades also include titles at the World Championships, World Indoor Championships and the African Championships.

Emily Ruto Country: Kenya Sports: Cricket Age of Death: 25

Brief Bio: She was the former captain of the Kenyan women’s cricket team and succumbed to Leukaemia at the young age of 25 at a time when he career had just blossomed.

Tolomeo Mwansa Country: Zambia Sports: Soccer Age of Death: 73

Brief Bio: The tall figured Mwansa was Zambia’s first goalkeeper after Independence in 1964. Nicknamed “Juva”, he won several trophies in a very successful career with the all conquering Mufulira Wanderers including the 1965 Super Castle Cup. ASM/ February, 2015

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Valery Mezague Country: Cameroon Sports: Soccer Age of Death: 30

Brief Bio: Mezague was a midfielder and last played for Sporting Toulon Var. His international career began with a stint at French giants Montpelleir before going on to join Portsmouth, FC Sochaux, Le Havre, Chateauroux, Vannes, Panetolikos and Bury. He played 7 times for Cameroon and failed to find the back of the nets. In 2003, he was involved in a serious car accident that ruled him out of the game for four months. Despite this he fought back to reclaim his form and his performances attracted the attention of Harry Redknapp who brought him to English club Portsmouth. He was found dead in his apartment by police mid November.

Senzo Meyiwa Country: South Africa Sports: Soccer Age of Death: 27

Brief Bio: Meyiwa had a brighter future but it was all taken away from him in a very tragic way that also robbed South Africa of one of the most adored sportsmen.

One of his biggest impacts in the game came this year at the prime of his career after he was chosen by new national team coach Shakes Mashaba as the new Bafana captain. He paid off Mashaba’s faith by keeping Bafana top of their Morocco 2015 qualifying group.

He also had an amazing journey in the CAF Champions League where he helped his club, Orlando Pirates, reach the finals of Africa’s biggest club competition

Pedro DeBrito Country: Cape Verde Sports: Soccer Age of Death: 55

Brief Bio: DeBrito was a retired US-Cape Verdian soccer midfielder. His career took him through multiple US leagues including the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League and the National Professional Soccer League.

He earned one cap with the United States national team in 1983. Some of the clubs that he played for include Tampa Bay Rowdies, Team America, New York Cosmos and Detroit Rockers. He was critically injured in a car accident and died as a result of those injuries.

ASM/ February, 2015

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Edward Albert Stuart Country: South Africa Sports: Soccer Age of Death: 83

Brief Bio: Stuart was one of the few South African soccer stars to have made a name for themselves in the English Premiership. He played 322 times for Wolverhampton Wanderers between 1951 and 1962, winning three league titles and the FA Cup. He also had brief stints with Stoke City, Tranmere Rovers and Stockport County. His career, however, kicked off at Rangers in South Africa. After leaving the game, he ran a string of hairdressing salons around the Wolverhampton area.

He died on 4 November in Wrexham, Wales, following a long illness.

Tinus Linee Country: South Africa Sports: Rugby Age of Death: 45

Brief Bio: He made a name for himself as a centre for Western Province. He represented Western Province and the Stormers in the Super Rugby. He also played nine tour games for the Springboks between 1993 and 1994, but never played in a test for South Africa.

In 2001, current Springbok captain Jean de Villiers made his Western Province debut alongside Linee. In 2008 he formed part of Western Province’s Vodacom Cup team management. In 2012 he was assistant coach at RCM Universitatea Timisoara in Romainia, where he won the SuperLiga CEC Bank – Romania’s main domestic rugby compettion.

In 2013, Linee was diagnosed with motor neuron disease. His deteriorating health resulted in him having financial difficulties in an attempt to cover his medical costs.

He died on 3 November aged 45 in his family home in Paarl.

Abednego Ngcobo Country: South Africa Sports: Soccer Age of Death: 64

Brief Bio: he was a South African soccer star who played in the domestic Premiership for Penarol, Minnesota Kicks, Denver Dynamos and Soweto giants, Kaizer Chiefs. He had great speed and was unbelievably strong. He played as a striker or winger and was a prolific goal scorer.

He also played for the SA Black X1 in 1973 in a match against a team billed as the UK All Stars. He played in a second match against another All Stars side in 1979. He ran a taxi business after retirement and died of a heart attack at his home after complaining of chest pains early that morning.

Benouda Boudjellal Country: Algeria Sports: Soccer Age of Death: ?

Brief Bio: Nicknamed Tchengo, he was a former Algerian national soccer team striker who spent most of his career with USM Oran and MC Oran. He is considered as one of the greatest strikers to have ever been produced in Algeria.

Sibusiso Papa Country: South Africa Sports: Soccer Age of Death: 26

Brief Bio: Papa had a promising soccer career and turned out for Witbank Spurs as a midfield magician. He played in the National First Division and died in a car crash.

Chiwanki Lyainga Country: Zambia Sports: Soccer Age of Death: 30

Brief Bio: Lyainga was a member of Zambia’s squad for the 2008 Cosafa Cup. He was also one of the most influential players in the Zambian top league where he played for Red Arrows and Power Dynamos. He died in a Lusaka hospital after being stabbed in Chawama Township. Police believe he got into an argument with a bar patron and was killed in retaliation.

Dennis Lota Country: Zambia Sports: Soccer Age of Death: 40

Brief Bio: Lota was one of Zambia’s most recognised faces on the soccer field. He was a striker and before his death, served as an assistant coach at South African football club Moroka Swallows. He died in South Africa of suspected malaria.

Lota started his professional career with Zanaco FC of Zambia in 1989. He went on to have stints with prolific clubs such as Konkola Blades, Sion, Orlando Pirates, Esperance, Moroka Swallows and Amazulu in South Africa. He was part of the Zambian Africa Cup of Nations teams in 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2002.

Is Sierra Leone Football Doomed ?

When Elephants engage in mortal combat it is the ...

Leone stars in photo

They say ‘when elephant’s fight it is the grass that suffers’ –(African Proverb) and in many cases in the sports community when there is infighting between members of the leadership, it is the athletes who suffer the most and they usually pay a heavy price for it.

Sierra Leone a small West African country which has been in the headlines for the better part of a year due to the Ebola Virus epidemic is also now experiencing one of the worst cases of infighting within its sports community in its history, because of some serious disagreements between the President of its Football Association; Madam Isha Johansen and its Football stakeholders (General Membership).

On December 20th 2014 Sierra Leone’s football stakeholders called for an extraordinary congress to decide on the way forward with the Association and its leadership; a meeting which was not recognized neither approved by Madam Johansen’s Executive Committee. The meeting however was convened via a teleconference during which the membership decided to remove the President of the Association citing articles within the statutes of the body’s governing documents that gave them the right to act thus.

The vote saw the appointment of an Interim Executive, headed by Mr. Unisa ‘Awoko’ Sesay who has been leading the Association since the December putsch.

Since the removal of Madam Isha Johansen from her position by the vote of the football family membership of Sierra Leone, there has been a standoff between the new authorities along with the National Sports Council, the Sports Ministry and FIFA the world’s governing body of the sports which rejected the ouster of Madam Johansen citing statutes within its charter that prohibits such unilateral

moves, and has therefore threatened to ban the Association from its membership, a threat they seem intent on carrying out if there is no resolution to the crisis.

The bottom line with all this drama between football authorities in Sierra Leone is that the sport of football and the athletes are the ones who will suffer the consequences of this mega battle that is playing out.

You cannot discard or downplay leadership in any situation but leaders are put into positions to serve their community in question and the most important thing is they need to grasp the full understanding of the concept of leading through serving others rather than self.

In the case of the Sierra Leone Football Association which for the better part since the election of Madam Isha Johansen has been embroiled in one controversy or another; the leadership and the membership needs to come to terms with the reality of their circumstances and find a way to work with each other till Ms. Johansen’s term of office concludes or else face the axe by FIFA. The question is can they find a way to come to some kind of agreement till the next election which is a couple of years away or will big ego’s prevail and destroy the game in the country, a country which has had way more than its share of pain and heartache for the last 30 years; with a devastating civil war that lasted over a decade and the recent outbreak of the Ebola Virus.

Sports and especially football has been known to be one of the greatest tools in bringing communities together and fostering healing where there was a level of ugliness before. So what is it with Sierra Leone that with all the troubles that has befallen the country over the past three decades; the people that should help in creating an atmosphere of unity and peace cannot seem to understand that it is not about them but about the people who they lead and their welfare?

“To whom Much is Given Much will be required” – Luke 12:48.

African Sports Monthly was able to catch up with some of the key people involved in the ongoing saga along with interested parties in the football world of Sierra Leone; in Mr. Unisa ‘Awoko’ Sesay, Madam Isha Johansen and Mr. Rodney Michael to get their viewpoints on the matter at hand and in subsequent pages we feature the interviews of Mr. Rodney Michael with that of the other parties to follow in our next issue.

Sierra Leone football: Frank talk with Rodney Michael

BY Saidu Kaye Sesay in London

Rodney Michael in photo

As Sierra Leone continues to be absent from the top most football competition of the continent, Saidu Kaye Sesay catches up with one of the country’s football heavyweights, Rodney Michael, for a frank discussion of what and where the country continues to go wrong: African Sports Monthly (ASM) : Good day Mr. Michael, and welcome to this interview.

Rumours continue to spread that there is acrimony between your camp and the incumbent SLFA. Please clear the air‌.

Rodney Michael (RM): The truth is that things have remained complex since the elections and in reality my supporters and I still feel cheated. This was buttressed with adequate evidence and admission by those who took active part in the manipulation, in the latter part of 2013 and early 2014 that the entire electoral process was rigged and manipulated; and even the President Isha Johansen was alleged to have admitted in an Executive Meeting that the elections were manipulated in her favour.

However in a meeting at the residence of the Hon Minister of Public and Political Affairs, Hon Kemoh Sesay. in early 2014, a compromise was agreed which

unfortunately lasted for less than 2 months after the FA President Isha Johansen opted to associate me with match fixers in Parliament, when questioned in a matte r between the FA and The Ministry of Sports. An allegation she was quick to retract when asked for evidence and admitted she could not substantiate the allegations.

This led to more complications after she included my name in a list of alleged match fixers, and co signed the suspension with the Minister of Sports. An action devoid of due process and contrary to the principle of natural justice; which she admitted in subsequent weeks on a popular radio program, 98.1 democracy, that FIFA criticise her for not following appropriate procedures.

It was her evil intent to tarnish not only my image, but also that of others that ruined the well mediated peace compromise which the Honourable Minister of Public and Political Affairs had negotiated, and why I must confess Isha Johansen cannot be trusted and is not sincere in anything she does.

ASM: What is your assessment of the state of football in Sierra Leone at this crucial time?

RM: The situation in Sierra Leone today is terrible and unacceptable. It is reflected in what turned out to be our worst ever outcome for any major tournament, playing 6 games, with 5 loss and 1 draw.

But I once read a quote that said "compromise makes a good umbrella but a bad roof" and the consequence of the rigging and manipulation of the election is what has led to the current situation.

The fact is you cannot force a leader on the people. That leader will forever struggle to lead.

Compromise was forced with the wrong being addressed and as such it made a good umbrella at the time but over a period the roof has started pouring.

It is always going to be difficult to resolve until the wrong done prior to elections is corrected. There is no justice without redress.

ASM: How will you describe the present leadership of Sierra Leone’s football?

RM: In one word "POOR". The Present leadership violates the statutes and rules by dictates. Our association does not have an Executive President but an Executive Committee. The powers of the Presidency are limited and she must follow the directive of the Executive.

In contrast what she does is to dictate and it appears the membership are not willing to tolerate it any longer.

She refuses to convene the annual congress to account for her stewardship. She has failed to be accountable and transparent for the funds received over the last two years. She abuses her connections within the country and at FIFA to victimise her opponents. She opts to use Gender for sympathy when everyone knows Gender has never been an issue. She uses the international media to portray a solid image of herself at the expense of the country and other individuals and companies.

She has no regard for the membership and refuses to recognise them as the members of congress and by extension owners of the association.

She is not a leader...she assumed the position by influence and manipulation. She was imposed.

A true leader will never allow for elections to be manipulated and will never encourage any fraud or any dishonesty. A leader would believe in the democratic process for democracy is the most reliable way to sustainable peace and development.

ASM: This press is conscious of the fact that your candidature for the last SLAF Presidency was squashed on the grounds that you were an employee/share holder of a betting company; Mercury International. What is your relationship of this company at present?

RM: We have enough evidence and confessions that the disqualification was manipulated and influenced. That is all I will say at this time but in the future we would release our evidence.

MY relationship with the company remains the same. My company has a Management consultancy for the South-East Sierra Leone; specifically the 3 main districts...Bo, Kenema and Kono.

My brother has the National Management Consultancy. But it is worth noting that Mercury does not offer any betting options on any from of football involving any team in Sierra Leone or even the national team.

ASM: Mr. Michael, do you still have an eye on the SLFA Presidency? If so how strong are your bases?

RM: I am not sure how to respond. It has always been my dream to serve football and naturally in living that dream, one would want to attain the highest status in football. I still have the desire and believe that one day the time will be right for me to contest for the position. But when that time would be I cannot say.

The good thing is the membership and the public still believe I am the right man for the job and have stood by me since my disqualification. I pray that they continue to believe in me in the years to come so if ever the opportunity comes and I decide to contest, I could count on their support.

ASM: Last time we spoke, you confided in me that regardless of what the SLFA elections outcome were, you will continue to support grassroots football. How far has your support for same gone to date?

RM: MY support to football has continued and it is visible in the growth of my foundation. We have developed to a competitive level and have won the admiration of so many not only in my home district of Bo, but also throughout the country and beyond.

We were good enough to reach the semi final of the FA Cup in 2014 and many expected us to win. Sadly we lost on post game penalties to the eventual winners, Kambui Eagles. That support I will always render.

ASM:. With the African Nations Cup in progress, how do you feel, watching it and realising the fact that Leone Stars are not represented?

RM: First of all I would say the quality on show at the African Nations cup could have been better. I believe we have the quality for such a tournament and had we prepared well, and avoided the conflict and infighting between the Ministry and the FA, we could have made it.

ASM: What do you think football authorities could have done differently to enhance Leone Stars’ qualification for the AFCON? RM: Let us first determine if as a Nation we should have participated at a time our brothers and sisters were dying of the deadly Ebola virus.

I don't think so and to be honest I would have discouraged participation and I made that known to everyone in a series of interviews and commentaries on social sites.

So for me we should have taken the option of withdrawal..

ASM: Finally Mr. Michael, recently, the social medial was furnished with a story of match fixing relating to a Sierra Leonean footballer plying his trade in Holland. How will you explain any involvement you may have with a betting company to such a syndicate? (I.E Don’t you think your relationship with Mercury International will continue to cast dark clouds over your bid for the SLFA Presidency?} RM: (1) FIFA has made it clear that they have no case against the said player warranting a suspension and have cleared him to continue playing.

So he remains innocent until proven guilty.

2) it is not common for betting companies to fix matches. It is usually betting syndicates that fix matches. There is a massive difference there.

3) What would a betting company gain to fix a match it does not have betting options on?

4) why should a working relationship as a consultant have an effect on a candidacy based on the assumption of impropriety without evidence of such impropriety? The question should be asked in what way such a relationship may compromise the role of the Presidency and if it would in any way, then article 19 of the code of ethics makes it clear that a declaration is all the is required.

Now if the English FA were to assume impropriety under such arguments, then it would not allow Peter Coates to own the majority shares of Stoke City and yet his So as much as some may want to use it against me, yet I don't see the reason why when one compares to other countries especially better structured countries in the West. family owns the betting company Bet365.

Why has that link not cast any doubt over Peter Coates, who is obviously in a better and easier position to influence matches as his company offers betting options on matches and competitions his club takes part in?

The Code of ethics is there as a guide and It is for each FA to determine its suitability within its locality. The English FA has not seen any reason to deprive

Rodney Michael in photo

Stoke of the ownership of the Coates family, and they have refused to assume impropriety.

So as much as some may want to use it against me, yet I don't see the reason why when one compares to other countries especially better structured countries in the West.

ASM/ February, 2015

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Log on to : http://www.Oxygen4Energy.com/africansportsmonthly to get one now 61

Reflections on 2014

SPORTS TA AYODELE O the past that the areas we need to concentrate on are medical research into cardiac arrests, which are prevalent in African football, 2014 Was another exciting year in the improvement of stadia, insurance and World of Sport. Unfortunately it was a pensions of players as well as the way disappointing year for African Football the media rights of African judging by their performances at the competitions are sold.

World Cup in the summer. We are nowhere near Pele’s prediction that To make matters worse, Morocco an African team will win the World decided not to host the African Cup Cup by the year 2000. The talent is of Nations and CAF decided to give there but once again African football the hosting to Equatorial Guinea! It has fallen short on organization and would not have been a bad decision the administration. Bonus wrangles in but for the fact that Equatorial the Ghanaian and Nigerian camps are Guinea had already been disqualified symptomatic of the continued during the qualifiers for fielding an Achilles heel of African Football. We ineligible player! How on earth could are simply nowhere near making an CAF then decide to give it to them? impact on the world stage and it is Hayatou has no shame. He has difficult to see how things would become stale and needs to go. How change drastically between now and can one man be in charge of an 2018! Only Nigeria and Algeria organization for so long? CAF is being managed to reach the second round run like a mafia but why should we be in Brazil, but they were both easily surprised? FIFA is run the same way, dispatched by better teams. what, with the spate of allegations regarding the awarding of rights for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

POOR WORLD CUP SHOWING

BY AFRICAN FOOTBALL

CAF GETTING WORSE

IThe governing body of African football has not fared well either as they continually score own goals! I have mentioned many times that Issa Hayatou should have long retired to give someone else the chance to take African Football to the next level.

Apart from securing more places for Africa at the World Cup during his tenure in office, I am struggling to see what else Hayatou has done for African Football. I have mentioned in

BLESSING OKAGBARE What a wonderful year Blessing Okagbare has had, as she continues to make waves in Athletics. In addition to the two gold medals she won at the

LK WITH ODUMADE

BLESSING OKAGBARE Cont'd African Championships in Morocco, she also did the sprint double at the Commonwealth games in Glasgow and won a bronze in the sprint relay as well. She is making continuous improvements every year, breaking records along the way.

She is the only female Nigerian athlete to have won medals at the World, Olympic, Commonwealth, All African Games and African Championships. To crown all this Blessing recently got married in Nigeria. I see her as a future Olympic champion if all goes well. However marriage is life changing and as such, she will have to find a balance between athletics and family life to go to the next level in Athletics. It is not going to be easy but it can be done!

DAVE WHELAN’S AWFUL COMMENTS The comments made by Dave Whelan, the owner of Wigan, regarding Jewish and Chinese people (which I do not want to repeat) were awful, racist and gives us an insight into why black coaches are underrepresented in the English Premier League, which is the most powerful brand in the World. With people like Whelan it is no surprise that we are no nearer seeing more black coaches in the English Premier League and the lower leagues, which only has two black coaches. I have heard people say that black people have to do their coaching badges and so on.

Some of them have but they are just not getting the breaks they deserve. Take for instance Lee Clark, who was sacked at Birmingham City, in the Championship. The ink was barely dry on his sack letter, when he was appointed as manager of Blackpool! Yet someone like Chris Hughton is still struggling to get a job after he was sacked at Norwich. It is as if it is one rule for white coaches and another for black ones, who seem to have to prove themselves ten times over. Even if a black coach is good at what he does it only needs for a club to change ownership for them to make an excuse of bringing in their own people! All we are asking for is a system that is fair to all coaches. Back to Dave Whelan, no wonder he was not in favor of the Rooney Rule!

DIVERSITY IN THE MEDIA If you think Racism on the pitch is bad and lack of black coaches in the Premier League are bad enough, try the British Press. I recently attended a Diversity Seminar as to why there is a lack of black journalists in the mainstream media in Britain. What shocked me was when representatives of the newly established BT Sport were asked why there is a lack of black journalists in the personnel when they set up their broadcast teams. The reply that came back was that they had not thought of it at all!

Words failed me when I heard that. So many black people undertake media studies hoping that they will end up with a dream job in the media. There is just one small problem though. A lot of them may well end up

disappointed because their path to success in the media has been blocked. One of the reasons for this seminar was to explore ways of changing the status quo. I hope things will change for the better but will they? I get emails from organizations who want me to do work for them but there is just one small problem. They never want to pay me, thinking exposure on TV will be enough for me at my age. The reply I usually want to give them is Four and Three. I will leave you to work out what that is.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2015 2015 promises to be another vintage year in the sporting calendar. In addition to the four grand slams in Tennis and football around Europe, we have the African Cup of Nations which is already underway. There is the World Athletics Championships to focus on as well. We will find out if the legend Usain Bolt is still as hungry and capable of setting new standards. There is the Super Bowl in the NFL as well as the playoffs of the NBA finals. All sports fans have to do is plan their year. Let’s hope that 2015 is better than this 2014.

Africa Flunks again

By Samuel Kissiedu - Florida, USA Parading great talents, Africa, was expected to excel at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. But Samuel Kissiedu says Africa scored own goals in Brazil.

The tale of German-born Ghanaian talented brothers, one in Ghanaian colors the other in a German one, vividly delineates the problems, potential, possibilities and power that the summer soccer extravaganza in Brazil, presented to the participants.

They belong in to two different worlds of soccer. While one brother Jerome, emerged a hero and kissed the trophy with champions Germany, his junior brother Kevin bit dust with Ghana amid great controversy. Jerome benefitted from quality world-class coaching, management tactics. On the other hand Kevin was a product of anger brewed by mismanagement, tactical deficiency and low morale.

The great debate rages about the two brothers with more questions than answers.

Some of the issues raised reveal the state of African soccer and the grounds that needs to be covered for Africa to make an impact at the World Cup. How come that two brothers of almost the same talent level produce different results playing on two national teams from different continents?

If Kevin had not featured for Ghana but had played for Germany, would he have also kissed the trophy? Assuming Jerome had opted to play for Ghana, would he have ended up like his brother who left frustrated, disillusioned and victimized.

The Road to Rio 2016

Introducing Hafsatu Kamara In our series ‘The Road to Rio 2016’ we get to interview many Olympic hopefuls who are looking to get on the big stage and make a name for themselves and the country they are representing whilst getting an insight as to what drives them and how their preparation for the Summer Olympics in Brazil (2016) is going so far.

In this inaugural issue of the Road to Rio series we introduce you to Hafsatu Kamara of Texas USA a recent graduate from Cal State Northridge who currently lives and trains out of Los Angeles California and is working towards representing Sierra Leone at the 2016 Olympic Games.

Hafsatu is a 100 and 200 meters sprinter who last represented Sierra Leone at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow Scotland. Ever since her return from Scotland, she has been training hard and is very optimistic about making waves in Brazil next year (2016) ASM: How long have you been running Track?

Hafsa: I’ve been running track for about 6 years now. I still consider myself new to the sport but not new to competition.

Hafsatu Kamara

ASM: Give us a brief insight into your track & field career: Hafsa: I started running track in high school (Nottingham High, Hamilton New Jersey) for about two years. I didn’t get serious about until my senior year. I received many offers to compete collegiately and I decided to go to

Coppin State University in Baltimore, Maryland. After two years at Coppin State, I transferred to California State Northridge in Northridge, California. It was there that my track career started to blossom and I was able to gain the training I needed.

While at Northridge I started to compete for Sierra Leone. I saw an opportunity to represent my country and make a difference. My first meet as an international athlete for Sierra Leone was in the summer of 2013. I competed in the West African Region II Championship in Burkina Faso. Since then I’ve gone on to represent Sierra Leone at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games in Scotland.

ASM/ February, 2015

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ASM: You were born in the US to Sierra Leonean Parents why have you decided you want to represent Sierra Leone instead of the US? Hafsa: Sierra Leone is my country. If someone was to ask me what my nationality is, I would reply “I am the true African American”. I was born in the US but my heart and blood is from Sierra Leone. We are a nation of strength and perseverance. We have endured so much turmoil and yet we continue to stand. I want to be a part of that. I am proud of whom I am and I want to show other Sierra Leonean Americans how much we have to be proud of.

ASM: Have you even been to Sierra Leone?

Hafsa: Yes; as children my younger siblings and I were sent to Sierra Leone to be raised by our grandparents. We were there until the war started. The US government sent a letter to my grandfather request that my siblings and I be back to the US, since we were American citizens. Since then, I haven’t been back. Now that I am competing for Sierra Leone, I am planning on going back as soon as I can.

ASM: You have attended a few international Meets for Sierra Leone; tell us about your experiences: Hafsa: It was amazing! Both international competitions (West African Region II Championship, Burkina Faso & 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, Scotland) were experiences I will forever remember. The competition in Burkina Faso is definitely one I am blessed to have a chance to compete in. I was in a country far from home and competing with teammates that I was just meeting for the first time. The stadium was placed in the middle of a village so I did not have access to my phone, laptop, or internet.

I was basically living off the grid for a week and I loved it! I got to know my teammates, other team members and the people of the village. It was a chance for me to really connect with people beyond the norm.

Hafsatu Kamara in tradional Sierra Leone garb at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland

ASM: You are currently training for the 2015 World Championships and also the 2016 Olympic Games tell us how that is going:?

Hafsa: It is going great! I’m stronger and faster than I’ve ever been. I am still training at California State Northridge as an independent athlete under Coach Avery Anderson. Working with him has unveiled a level of training and competitiveness I was not able to obtain before. I am more confident in myself. I trust in his process and believe in the results. My goals are more precise and my focus is narrow and specific. 2015 is going to be a great year leading up to Rio! ASM: What are you aims for the 2016 Olympic Games?

Hafsa: My goal for the Rio 2015 Olympics Games is to not only qualify in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m but to be able to lead our team AT LEAST in to the semi-finals of each event. This is a big goal not only for me but for Sierra Leone. It would be the furthest a Sierra Leone athlete has gone in the Olympic Games. We have the talent.

We are being given the opportunity and support. Now it’s up to us to take that chance and make something of it.

ASM: What does Hafsa Kamara do for fun when you are not training?

Hafsa: I go home to my parents and watch Netflix with my siblings LOL. It seems ordinary but I’m away from my family months at a time, especially during competition season. Having that one weekend where I can just be surrounded by those I love definitely makes me feel balanced. Binge watching Law & Order: SVU and Once Upon Time is definitely a pastime I recommend to everyone! LOL. I also love to read. I don’t have a specific genre; if it catches my interest, I’m reading it. I am currently reading The Little Book of Talent by Daniel Coyle. It was given to me by a friend and I love every little tip in there. It’s a book you would want to reread once every month to remind you of the person you are striving to become.

ASM: Growing up in home with Sierra Leonean parents you definitely have been introduced to Sierra Leonean Cuisine which one is your favorite: Hafsa: I can’t choose! LOL. But I can narrow it down to my top 3: Okra dish, fried plantains, and pepper chicken. Unfortunately, I can’t have Sierra Leonean food often but when I can, I make sure I eat like it’s my last meal!

ASM: You know the Country is on the road to recovery from the Ebola Virus outbreak and it has caused a lot of pain and suffering for a people who about little over a decade ago experienced the pains of war what is your message to Sierra Leoneans as the country recovers Hafsa: I would say “Where there is no struggle, there is no strength.� (Oprah Winfrey). And Sierra Leone is a country that has faced many struggles and continues to endure. God gives his toughest battles to those who are strong and that speaks on volumes about us as a people. Through this Ebola outbreak, we have come together as we did about a decade ago during the war. We have shown that no matter what we shall always support our country. Mama Salone will have her day. We are making progress towards better days for our present and future.

Hold steady to your beliefs and trust that through all struggle comes a chance to learn and grow.

Hafsatu Kamara with teammate Ugo Eke at the Commonwealth Games in Scotland

RETIRED OLYMPIAN LAUNCHES FIRST A NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT COMPANY The critical choice many athletes face in life after an active sports career in the limelight is what to do after the lights dim and the cheering dies down.

We know of many instances where ex-athletes have gone flat broke after years of earning millions of dollars and are left in limbo to figure out what happens then for the rest of their lives, because alongside going broke, they then realize that while the going was good they forgot to prepare themselves for life after sports.

Meet Drew ‘Olympian’ Reyes; a former Olympian turned business man who just launched the first African Sports Supplement and Nutrition Company.

Originally from Liberia; Drew a US Citizen who resides in California is not just an innovator and business man at heart but also a caring and concerned entrepreneur who has a unique perspective on the sports industry that could be very beneficial to sports globally and particularly on the African Continent.

African Sports Monthly was recently able to catch up with Drew to talk about his new company and the concept of sports nutrition in Africa.

ASM: There is so much lacking in the sports industry in Liberia and Africa in general, why start with a nutritional supplement business?

Drew: The poverty in Africa is extreme and widespread.

Children face several life challenges including wars and violence, lack of clean water, food and safe housing and diseases. There are millions of orphans in Africa who have lost their parents to violence

AFRICAN SPORTS

By Leslie Koroma

or diseases. In some cases children are forced to live on the streets because their families do not have the resources to care for them.

Musculator® Sports Nutrition Is here to help support and supply Kids with nutrition.

The nutritional requirements of the human body reflects the nutritional intake necessary to maintain optimal body function and meet the body's daily energy needs.

Malnutrition (literally, "bad nutrition ") is defined as "inadequate nutrition," and while most people interpret this as under-nutrition; which is the falling short of daily nutritional requirements, it can also mean over-nutrition; meaning intake of one form of nutrient in excess of what the body uses. However, under-nutrition affects more than one-third of the world's children, and nearly 30 percent of people of all ages in the developing world which makes it the most damaging form of malnutrition worldwide.

Now on the reason why start a nutrition business in Liberia… You know MUSCULATOR® is a revolutionary sports nutrition company dedicated to developing ground breaking products that are specifically formulated to HELP ATHLETES REACH THEIR POTENTIAL. When you play a sport, you make sure you have the equipment you need, like your glove for baseball, cleats for soccer, and high-top sneakers for basketball. You couldn't play the game very well without the appropriate gear. But how do you help your game from the inside out?

You wouldn’t swallow a pair of shin guards, that's for sure! But you will swallow some healthy foods stacked with the nutrients you need. The right foods and drinks can help you become a better athlete...

ASM: As an entrepreneur and a former athlete what was your primary motivation for starting this kind of business ?

Drew: I founded Musculator® Sports Nutrition after competing in the Olympic Games I spent the majority of my career with elite sports clubs and had firsthand experience with the taking of supplements to better performance.

I was frustrated with the results and saw the need for safe, effective and scientifically produced sports nutritional supplements. Therefore I created Musculator® Sports Nutrition My mission is to empower people to take control of their health and fitness by ASM/ February, 2015

50

following a healthy, enjoyable lifestyle that not only gives them the healthy athletic body they’ve always wanted, but enables them to live a long, vital, disease-free life.

ASM: As a way to connect with your clients and business partners who would like to know who they doing business with tell us a bit about yourself Drew: I made my first Olympic appearance at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and my accomplishments in the Pros & College are; Olympics, Sydney Australia Top Ranked in the U.S.A 1999 World Championships, Seville, Spain 1997 N.C.A.A. Champion - All-American Lone Star State Conference Champion Texas Sports Dynasty Award World Ranked Relays 1994-1996 Western State Conference Champion Nationally Ranked in track and field ASM: You now stand as an inspiration to other Liberian and African athletes as well as athletes globally what advice would you give to other athletes who are retired like yourself and looking to go into business for themselves after their sports career.

Drew: INVEST Wisely?? When the spotlight shines on an athlete, the phone starts ringing. “Friends” on the other line start asking for favors, and often, players just don’t know how to say no. Massive entourages can rack up quite a tab. Pressure to live beyond your means also come from teammates. The rookie splurges on a nice car to impress veteran players. In the competitive, testosterone-filled world of professional sports, what good is wealth if it’s not flaunted?

The road to bankruptcy is generally a downward spiral, but the biggest single blow to a player’s wealth is undoubtedly divorce.

With fame and fortune comes increased attention and pursuit, and athletes don’t always choose right.

Beyond these factors, many athletes lose money to poor financial management. To a twenty-something year-old kid surrounded by glitz and glamour, conservative securities investment is unintelligible, boring and invisible. Instead, athletes pour their money into tangible ventures: restaurants, clothing lines, etc.

I wanted to give back and have a tangible investment... So I created MUSCULATOR SPORTS NUTRITION to give back and help creat an INVESTMENT that can also help me after retirement.

ASM: You seem to be marketing heavily to the Track & Field community what do you want current athletes to know about your products and its benefits; wishes in your endeavors and we wish you success …

Drew: MUSCULATOR® is one of TRACK & FIELD’s leading sports supplement brands, that develops, sells and markets apparels, and accessories. At Musculator® Sports Nutrition We live fitness. We fully embrace the athletic lifestyle.

Musculator® Sports Nutrition enhances athletic performance, strength and overall personal health – all without the use of ANY banned substances.

ASM: I want to thank you very much for your time in talking to African Sports Monthly and giving us a clear picture of your business and its benefit to sports men and women and fitness enthusiasts. Good Luck and best Drew: Thank You …

Drew 'Olympian Reyes in Photo (above)

In our next Issu The AFCON Special Former Leone Stars

JOHNNY MCK

Talks about his passi Game, love for Sierra how he got fired from Stars

Coach Johnny McKinstry in Photo Courtesy johnnymckinstry.c

ue Edition s Coach

KINSTRY

ion of the Leone and m the Leone

com

Johnny McKinstry -

"I look upon it as someone trying to walk a tightrope, with my focus being straight ahead on success for the Leone Stars. To my right was the Sierra Leone Football Association, and to my left was the Ministry of Sport. Now occasionally when on a tight rope you have to reach out and balance on something.

Occasionally this would be the SLFA, occasionally this would be the Ministry of Sport. But overall you keep moving forward in the center ground.

The problem however was, I think, that if you weren’t sitting in somebodies office, then they assumed you ..."

Read the entire interview in our upcoming AFCON Special Edition .... coming soon

A Look back at Africa on the Track in 2014 cont'd from Page 13

Nijel Amos the Botswana 800 meters runner and national record holder who some say has the same or even a better pedigree as a better runner in the distance over David Rudisha has always had one task to accomplish in this early going of his career and that is to become the most dominant 800 meters runner in the world and also beat current world Record holder, Kenyan; David Rudisha.

2014 is the year that Amos started that journey as not only the most dominant 800 meters runner of the year but he also consistently beat Rudisha during the Commonwealth Games and a few other meets they clashed at during the year.

The year was truly a blessing for Blessing Okagbare (no pun intended) who stood out among women sprinters in the world as she went to on to beat all comers in the 100 (where she broke the Games record setting a new one of 10.85 seconds) and 200 meters at the Commonwealth Games carting away two Gold medals and a Silver with her Nigerian teammates in the 4 x 100 meters relay. She would then go on to the African Championships where she nipped Ivory Coast’s Muriel Ahoure at the finish line of the 100 meters to take home Gold. It was a breakthrough year for Blessing as a dominant world class woman sprinter.

Denis Kiprutto Kimetto in Photo; Courtesy IAAF @Giancarlo Colombo

Dennis Kimetto brought the year to a close with a world shattering world record of 2:02:57 in the Marathon when he broke the holy grail of running records at the 41st edition of the Berlin Marathon on 28th September 2014. This will eventually earn Dennis many accolades that included a nomination as the IAAF Men’s athlete of the Year. Dennis whose motivation stems from his aversion of poverty which fuels him, is an unheralded athlete from the vast pool of Kenyan runners who has now separated himself from the crowd by becoming the World Record Holder in the Marathon The bummer of the year was that of the doping scandal that has rocked Kenyan athletics; when Rita Jeptoo of Kenya tested positive for performance enhancing drugs at the Chicago Marathon. She outran everyone to finish with a time of 2:24:35 at the 37th Edition of the event on October 12th but a sample of her drug test will come back positive causing a flurry of speculations that has now caused the world to look at Kenyan runners with suspicion even though that is very unfair and unwarranted. Rita was recently banned for 2 years from running for for her offense.

The question now is what will be the legacy of what she did to other Kenyan and African athletes.

ASM/ February, 2015

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African Sports Monthly Magazine is a Pan African sports magazine produced and published by Songhai Sports Network, 86 USA. Founded in 2010. We cover all sports disciplines across Africa and internationally.

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