By Abu Shaw
The elimination of Leone Stars from the 2021 AFCON tournament in Cameroon is turning into an international embarrassment for Sierra Leone.
Latest reports have confirmed that the over 200 ordinary supporters who made the delegation to Cameroon to cheer up the national football team, are presently stranded at their hotels caused by the SLPP government officials who had abandoned them. Sources say the entire delegation, with the exception of the officials of the Sierra Leone Football Association SLFA, the National Sports Authority NSA and the Ministry of Sports, and other privileged delegates, is facing public humiliation in Cameroon. (Photo: Leone Stars supporters having their meals in the open after their hotel rooms were locked).
The supporters have been evicted from their hotels and they are seen having their food outside the hotel in the open. “We the ordinary people (Gbo-gbo Jammah) have been left at the mercy of hotel owners,” said the supporters who have been abandoned by the government sports officials who have not been evicted from their hotels. Things reached a boiling point for the ordinary supporters after the elimination of Leone Stars by Equatorial Guinea on Thursday.
Here is what the Sierra Leoneans narrated on Friday about their ordeal: “For the past 24 hours, it has been apprehension, tension, and insecurity among this Gbo-gbo jammah. We are currently in a complete state of uncertainty that is characterised by disillusionment, frustration, and anger. What is making the situation worse, distasteful, and nauseating is the apparent show of no concern and disregard of the suffering we are undergoing here in Douala, Cameroon.
“Today, at the Hotel Valley de Prince this early afternoon, the Sierra Leone occupants were asked to double in their rooms. At the Noubou Hotel Akwa, their doors were locked and they could not access their rooms for a better time of the day and at the Noubou Hotel Bonapriso, the doors were locked when we returned tired from doing our COVID-19 tests in anticipation of our return home tomorrow. The reason for all of these is that we have overstayed the days paid for by the Ministry of Sports.
“At the Bonapriso, we had to almost create a scene when the receptionist reached out to her boss to explain the situation and she was instructed to open the doors. Some of our colleagues had already begun asking for the cost of a night when the solace came. As it is now, we are very uncertain as to when we will depart for our motherland. No one seems to care and those who attempt it are also just doing a disservice to us. No accurate travel and other related information are required for people in a wilderness.
The Tour Operators who earlier flew us into Cameroon are saying that arrangement for our flight back home is still in the air since they have not received any detailed information from the Ministry of Sports, which I am made to understand, is responsible for the flight arrangement. Pray for us dear compatriots so that we can be flown home tomorrow to escape any further embarrassing situations in the hands of our Cameroonian hoteliers.
Sierra Leone Journalist Lamrana Bah from Cameroon Gives More Information on the Issue
Few people are taking the dignity of their compatriots away for their selfish reasons and most times with impunity. We were to return today, we can’t because someone wanted to stay another day, to justify their per diem and chill and forget how this will affect other arrangements and those they brought along. People have been embarrassed here some rooms were locked because the individuals should check out today.
Now they are being forced to share rooms just because some people don’t plan better or don’t care at all about what’s happening. No Leadership absolutely. Unfortunately, even those who are victims of this are scared and afraid to speak out for obvious reasons. I am very sure Anti-corruption Sierra Leone will open an investigation into how funds for this trip have been expended. Really don’t know watin we do God, even when we try to be happy some people will deliberately make we suffer.
