World Futball Project Launched In Sierra Leone

22,080 footballs donate to Sierra Leone by ‘One World Futball Project’ were on 30th January 2014, launched by the Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Alhaji Samuel Sam Sumana, at the National stadium in Freetown. While delivering the keynote address and launching of One World Futball, the Vice President said Sierra Leone has triumphed and that it is high time Sierra Leoneans work together in the interest of the country. The Vice President thanked Chevrolet for sponsoring the project and also made special recognition for the inventor of the footballs, Tim Jahnlgen, for their efforts in bringing together young people to making sure football serve as means of communication. He informed the audience that the nation has triumphed through the opportunities been provided and the projects being implemented recognizes the need for gender empowerment, creating opportunities for people with disabilities and young people in society. The Minister of Sports, Paul Mohamed Kamara, said for the first time in the country’s history, the nation has benefitted from a very large consignment of gifts from One World Futbol Project – Chevrolet. He said the unique quality of the ‘One World Futball’ is that it is non-inflatable, difficult to damage and very resistant to wear and tear. “This wonderful benevolent gift to Sierra Leone from One World Futball/ Chevrolet through the Ministry of Sports is a clear manifestation of their regard and appreciation of the giant strides Sierra Leone is making in sports development, especially football under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma,” he said. “This is a symbolic moment for us to launch this football revolution,” he noted, also adding, “Madam Johansen called it ‘the dawn of an era’”. Kamara said the strides in sports cannot be disassociated with the love of sports by the President and the Vice President, stating that the president is the best squash player in the country while the VP was a dynamic football striker. He said the President, in his vision, decided three years ago to set-up the Ministry of Sports and that since then the country’s ranking in sports is positive, also that the President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), Isha Johansen, is the first female to head a football body in the world; reiterating that she is a member of CAF and Committee Member of FIFA. “With Isha we are seeing the benefit of effective collaboration,” he said, disclosing further that FIFA will be sponsoring the building of a mini stadium for the development of women football as well as building another mini stadium at Wellington for the development of youth football. The Deputy Minister of Sports, Ishmael Al-Sankoh Conteh, said this is an opportunity for young people in the country, adding that Football is vital in addressing the various differences amongst the people. “We are trying to see how best we could engage our youths through sports to address issues of violence, and drugs,” he said, adding that after going through a turbulent 11 year war, Sierra Leone is faced with young people that are violent and being influenced by drugs, therefore the importance of sports. “Through sports we can engage them to be better people by improving their psychology,” he said. He said in their efforts to achieve this, they will be targeting communities, football clubs and youths. The One World Futball project is to bring the healing power of play to youth living in disadvantaged communities worldwide through the One World Futball. “While we haven’t yet figured out how to create world peace and end world hunger, it’s possible that a child to whom we give a ball will,” said the Founder of One World Futball, Tim Jahnlgen. The One World Futball represents a breakthrough in technology in a product that has seen little innovation in decades- the recreational, multi-sports ball, made of closed cell foam, the nearly indestructible One World Futball; never needs a pump and never goes flat, even when punctured multiple times.