Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – The President of the Sierra Leone Athletics Association (SLAA), Martin Momoh Bangura, has emphasized the broader benefits of Coach Christian Gendemeh’s recent training as a General Conditioning Coach, stating that his expertise will serve all sports disciplines in the country, not just athletics. Bangura made this remark on Friday, December 6, 2024, during the presentation of Coach Gendemeh’s International Coaching Course (ICC) certificate to Prince Vandy Sualley, President of the National Olympic Committee/Commonwealth Games Association of Sierra Leone (NOC/CGA-SLE).
During the presentation, Bangura commended Coach Gendemeh for his outstanding performance and underscored the SLAA’s commitment to capacity building. “One of our key priorities as an association is to improve the capacity of our technical officials,” Bangura said. He expressed gratitude to the NOC President, Prince Sualley, for providing the opportunity for Gendemeh’s training. “We are here today to present the result of that opportunity,” Bangura stated, highlighting the importance of seizing such chances for continuous development in sports.
Coach Gendemeh’s journey to Hungary, sponsored by the Olympic Solidarity through the NOC, was recommended by the athletics community due to gaps in conditioning expertise within the SLAA. Gendemeh trained at the University of Sport Sciences in Budapest for 10 weeks, completing 115 courses and 100 hours of practical sessions.
Reflecting on his experience, Coach Gendemeh noted that his training went beyond athletics and included conditioning for various sports, including football, basketball, volleyball, and cricket, as well as general fitness for individuals of all ages. “I was trained not only for athletes but also for people from all walks of life. My training can benefit everyone in terms of general fitness and well-being,” Gendemeh said.
He expressed his gratitude to the SLAA, the NOC, and other stakeholders who supported him throughout the course, and he pledged to apply his newfound knowledge to improve sports in Sierra Leone.
In his response, NOC-CGA President Prince Sualley praised Gendemeh’s achievement, noting that it reflected well on all involved in facilitating his training. “We are proud that you went to Budapest and returned with this accomplishment,” Sualley said. He also commended SLAA President Bangura for his foresight in recommending Gendemeh for the training.
Sualley emphasized the importance of applying the knowledge gained from such training. “The course you completed is not only for athletics but for all sports in Sierra Leone. Now the real work begins, as we look forward to seeing how you will implement what you’ve learned,” Sualley added.
The NOC President reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to supporting Gendemeh and urged him to be decisive in his efforts to strengthen sports development in the country. BT/8/12/2024
