By Andrew Warshaw
March 21 – Of all the upcoming fixtures in this week’s international programme, few will have the same resonance as Sierra Leone ‘s symbolic friendly with Malawi, the first on home soil since the west African country was officially declared free of Ebola.
Sierra Leone last hosted an international against Seychelles in July 2014, after which football virtually ground to a halt as a result of the ban imposed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to stop the spread of the virus which claimed thousands of lives.
Tuesday’s fixture against Malawi was almost cancelled over a $10,000 fee demanded by the now sacked sports minister Paul Kamara but will go ahead at the Siaka Stevens stadium in Freetown. A week later, Sierra Leone are due to host Gabon in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier though no points are at stake because Gabon will host the finals in January.
“It has been a difficult and challenging time but it has been equally challenging for the people of Sierra leone,” said Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) boss Isha Johansen (pictured).
“We are in an industry which has incredible powers to bring nations and cultures together and that is exactly what we are going to do tomorrow and on the 28th. Football is coming home.”
The return of international football is not the only good news for Sierra Leone fans. The sacking of Kamara, who had been seen as untouchable for over six years, is another sign of progress in a move to clean up the sport and weed out corruption.
In a cabinet reshuffle he was replaced by Ahmed Khanou just days after the SLFA alleged that his ministry had demanded millions of dollars to stage the game. Former SLFA Acting General Secretary, Abdul Rahman Swarray was quoted as saying: “This is a new direction in the sports ministry.”
It is believed the sacking of Kamara could lead to fresh revelations concerning those caught up in the country’s ongoing match-fixing investigation who may have believed they were previously being protected.
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