The six-man squared from Sierra Dolphins include Osman Kamara, 50M freestyle and butterfly, Binturabie Jalloh freestyle breaststroke 50m ,Ruth Turay back stroke and freestyle 50M,Saidu Kamara breaststroke 50M breaststroke 100m, Ishmael Koroma freestyle 100m backstroke50m,and Morris Bale freestyle 100m. The championship will be organised in a 50m swimming pool consisting of 10 lanes.
Swimming Association scribe, Mohamed Turay told AYV Newspaper that swimming is the only sporting discipline that has qualified to Rio 2016 summer Olympics. He said the zone 2 trip to Dakar is part of their preparation for Rio 2016, while stating that the several challenges lie ahead. We are faced with financial constrain to support the training of our swimmers and also training facilities in country. This is one big challenged facing the country and the swimmers as well.
The Head Coach of the association, Bobson Mansaray, expresses satisfaction over the squad noting that the swimmers are in good form and shape. ‘I like the spirit of the athletes and their cooperation during training sessions; this is what coaches would want to see ahead of competitions. Together with my team that will travel to Dakar we are much more prepared now, Mansaray said.
According to a letter from the Senegalese swimming and saving life association president Dr Mohamed Diop, stated that nine countries have confirmed their participation in the championship. The participating countries include Burkina Faso, Congo Brazzaville, cote d’voire, Gambia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo, while stating that there are three agreement in principle countries which include, Guinea, Niger, and Benin. We are still waiting to hear from the following countries such as Cameroon, Congo-Kinshasa, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea Equatorial, Liberia and Chad the letter stated.
The national swimming team will leave the shores of Freetown for Dakar on the 24th May and return on 30th May 2016.
