His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has engaged and inspired players of Sierra Leone’s Under-19 Cricket Team in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
President Bio said: “I had a refreshing engagement with the Sierra Leone Under-19 Cricket Team in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. I was inspired by the zeal, determination and national pride of the talented young cricketers as they strive to make their mark on the international stage.
“Their passion and desire to make our country proud was very palpable. My government’s commitment to nurturing and promoting young talents remains unwavering.
“We are resolute in our desire to harness the benefits and potentials inherent in the soft power that our young people present through sports and arts. We shall continue to create abundant job opportunities, providing our young talents with a platform to flourish and contribute to our nation’s progress.
“Our unwavering commitment to this mission extends to nurturing patriotism, fostering national pride, and cultivating resilience among our young populace. I wish the Sierra Leone Under-19 team success in the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Africa Division 1 Qualifier Tournament for the chance to compete at the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2024.”
The Sierra Leone delegation for the International Cricket Council (ICC) U-19 Men’s World Cup Qualifier Africa Division 1 Tournament arrived in Dar Es Salaam on Monday, July 17th, 2023.
The delegation consists of a sixteen-man team, including 14 players and 2 officials. The tournament is scheduled to take place from July 23rd to 31st, 2023 in Dar Es Salaam.
To acclimatise to the East African weather and prepare for the tournament, the team arrived early and will engage in a series of test matches against participating nations. The six-day tournament will bring together Sierra Leone, Kenya, Nigeria, Namibia, Uganda and the host nation, Tanzania.
The Gymkhana Cricket Oval and the University of Dar Es Salaam Cricket Ground have been designated as match venues for the competition. The six nations will compete for a single ticket to the World Cup, playing a total of 15 matches evenly distributed throughout the tournament.
The opening matches on July 23rd will feature Namibia against Uganda and Tanzania against Kenya.
Sierra Leone’s first match was against their sub-regional rivals, Nigeria, on Monday, July 24th, 2023, followed by a match against Kenya the next day. The team got a rest day on Wednesday before facing Namibia on Thursday, July 27th.
Their fourth match will be against Uganda tomorrow Saturday, July 29th, 2023. The team’s final encounter will be against Tanzania on Sunday, July 30th, 2023.
Head Coach Kenneth Masinga expressed confidence in his squad, stating that they are prepared to meet the tournament’s requirements.
He said: “In terms of skills, our boys are competing against their peers. The only difference lies in international match exposure”.
Sierra Leone’s U-19 Cricket Team is showcasing their talent and representing their nation with determination and skill in the pursuit of a place in the U-19 Men’s World Cup.
