Freetown, Sierra Leone – In a spirited and competitive friendly football match, the Teko Barracks Descendants Helping Hands Association emerged victorious, defeating the Generals of Wilberforce Barracks 3-2 at SS Camp, Hill Station, Freetown, over the weekend. The match, which brought together the sons and daughters of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), was a celebration of unity, peace, and camaraderie between the two military communities.
The match kicked off with the Vice Chairman of Teko Barracks Descendants Helping Hands Association, Alpha Umaru Turay, popularly known as Tobobe, delivering an inspiring speech. In his address, Turay emphasized that the primary goal of organizing the friendly was to promote peace and strengthen the bond between the communities of Teko Barracks and Wilberforce Barracks.
“It’s about maintaining peace and unity, fostering understanding, and bringing us together as sons and daughters of RSLAF,” Turay said, setting the tone for the match.
The game itself was full of excitement, and the victory sparked wild celebrations among Teko Barracks supporters. Tom Deen, one of the standout players for Teko Barracks Descendants, shared his excitement after the win. He credited the team’s hard work in training, saying, “We’ve been training really hard for this match. It was a fun and competitive game, especially considering the age of the players on both sides. The energy was high, and we’re thrilled with the result.”
Despite the defeat, the coach of the Wilberforce Barracks Generals, Felix Marrah, remained positive. “We’ll look to get our revenge in the return leg,” he said. “This football match has been important for fostering peace and unity within our community. It has been a while since we met and played together, and it’s great to see the spirit of football bringing us together.”
The Vice Chairlady of the Teko Barracks Descendants Helping Hands Association, Susan Apolo Koroma, also spoke about the importance of the association’s work. She explained that their mission extends beyond sports, with a key focus on providing for the less fortunate in Teko Barracks and ensuring peace and unity among the members.
“We started this association to give back to our community,” Koroma said. “Through the contributions of our members and support from friends in the United States, we’ve been able to distribute school bags to children in need. Our main goal is to maintain peace, support the needy, and encourage the youth to continue these efforts even after their fathers retire.”
Koroma concluded by appealing to individuals and businesses for further support. “We rely heavily on donations to continue our work. We encourage others to help us as we work to make a difference in the lives of the people in Teko Barracks.”
This friendly football match exemplified the power of sports to foster peace, unity, and social responsibility, with the Teko Barracks Descendants Helping Hands Association leading by example in both athletics and community service. BT/24/12/2024
