Hon. Recheal Mariatu Pessima, a parliamentarian for the Sierra Leone People’s Party in the Port Loko District, has organised the first-ever Female Division One Football Tournament in the country’s northwest in an audacious effort to empower female athletes and advance peace through sports.
Hon. Pessima has supported this competition with two goals in mind: to raise the calibre of female football competition in the area and to develop the skills of female players while promoting long-lasting peace among participants. She recognises the transformative power of football in fostering dialogue and conflict resolution.
Hon. Recheal Pessima underlined that this programme is consistent with President Julius Maada Bio’s steadfast dedication to giving young people a platform to demonstrate their abilities, with football serving as a vital medium for this expression. In an endeavour that would instil great pride in the region, she emphasised the significance of regional stakeholders cooperating to assist female athletes in their pursuit of representing the nation’s women’s national team. The tournament’s grand opening ceremony brought together leaders of the APC and SLPP, among other political parties in the area, along with the mayor of Port Loko City, to celebrate and support this momentous sporting event. It also served as a unifying platform. Mayor of Port Loko City and Vice President Two of the Sierra Leone Football Association, Alieu Badara Tarawaley, praised Hon. Recheal Pessima for her initiative in spearheading the tournament’s planning in his remarks.
He emphasised the similarities between her work and President Bio’s commitment to developing football in the nation, pointing to a previous match that took place in Port Loko as evidence of the area’s ardour for the game. During the celebrations, honours were given to worthy recipients, and the Bamoi Queens captain won the coveted best player of the match award. To support their participation in the competition, each of the twelve participating teams also received a financial boost of 10,000 Leone, which highlights the region’s dedication to developing female football talent.
The Female Division One Football Tournament’s debut not only marks a major advancement for women in sports in the northwest of Sierra Leone, but it also emphasises football’s ability to serve as a platform for the development of young talent and the promotion of peace and unity. Because of her commitment to this cause, Hon. Recheal Pessima sets a good example for the community and highlights the value of supporting women’s sports to create a more inclusive and prosperous future.
