As part of an effort to support the growth of cricket and to give back to the game he loves, former Edwardian, John Mason, donated cricket equipment worth over three hundred thousand New Leones to the Board and Management of Cricket Sierra Leone (CSL) early on Wednesday at the Company’s secretariat Kingtom Police Field, Freetown.
The items donated ranged from pads, helmets, wicket-keeping gloves, cricket playing shoes, and coaching kit bags to training gear.
Handing over the items, John said his dad was a dedicated cricketer, who played the game up to West African level.
“My dad took me to my first cricket match when I was six months old. I played normal cricket unto my old age, so the game is in my blood,” he remarked.
Receiving the items, the Board Chairman of CSL, Francis Trevor Samura, said the donation is a massive boost to grassroots cricket development, high-performance cricket, and domestic cricket programmes. “It can contribute to theICC scorecard regarding non-ICC income, which amounts to 20 per cent. Therefore, we appreciate this kind gesture and encourage other Sierra Leoneans and development partners at home and abroad for continued support. Equipment is among the Company’s dire needs,” he added.
This donation marks the second one the Company has received within eight months. The first one came from the Marylebone Cricket Club in March this year.