By Alpha Barrie

Following the presentations of trophies and medals within three months, the President of the National Olympic Committee/ Commonwealth Games of Sierra Leone (NOC/ CGA-SLE) has commended the National Senior Women’s Team, for consistently bringing laurels home.

Cricket Sierra Leone (CSL) on Friday, August 1st, 2025, made a representational presentation of trophies and medals to the President of the National Olympic Committee/ Commonwealth Games of Sierra Leone (NOC/ CGA-SLE), Prince Vandy Sualley, in acknowledgment of the National Senior Women’s Team’s astronomical performance at the just-concluded ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Division 2 Qualifier in Gaborone, Botswana.

The team, which emerged as runners-up in the tournament, after winning the BCA Kalahari Women’s T20 International Tournament in May, was led by CSL’s Chairman Francis Trevor Samuar and other officials including the newly appointed National Senior Women’s Team’s Coordinator Sarah Johnson.

Presenting the trophies and medals to Prince Sualley at the NOC/ CGA-SLE’s headquarters at 13 Walpole Street in Freetown, Chairman Samura said the team actually demonstrated strong sense of nationalism, dedication and courage under challenging circumstances, appealing to the Committee for support towards the girls who represented the Country without receiving any allowance and return back home with laurels..

“I am appealing on behalf of the Board, for NOC’s support to this female players, they’ve done us proud as a Country, honestly and truly speaking, looking at the facilities we have and looking at the successes they are recording or bringing to the people and nation of Siena Leone, they really need recognition, they need support,” he affirmed.

The Chairman underscored during the just concluded International Cricket Council (ICC) annual general meeting in Singapore, there were presentations, one of which they were asked as national federations presidents to work with their local NOCs for support through the Olympic Solidarity fund.

“It’s exactly 27 days today they shall be leaving for Namibia to participate in the massive Women T20 Cricket World Cup qualifier. They’ve dealt with the puppies; they will now go and meet with the bulldogs so we need to prepare them. We have over three weeks to prepare them for the qualifiers. From that qualifying stage, the top two teams will qualify for the ICC Women T20 World Cup in 2026 that will be hosted in the UK,” The CSL Chairman noted.

In his response, NOC/ CGA’s President Sualley congratulated the team for their noteworthy achievements, commending them for being consistent in brining laurels to the country.

“It’s always a pleasure to welcome sporting disciplines when they come from abroad representing us; it is even more gratifying when they come home with laurels. In this case cricket has been very much consistent, this is the second time you are coming with laurels within this short possible time, the last you were here with gold and now it’s silver, hopefully the next time it would be another gold medal and a qualification to the Women T20 Cricket World Cup,” he stated.

The NOC Chief assured the team that they would do their best to support team before they depart for the qualifiers in Namibia and also they will surely present their case to the Olympic Solidarity because they deserve it.

“We are going to do everything humanly possible for us to come in wherever way we can so that you will be comfortable when you will be leaving the shore of Sierra Leone next time to compete at that higher level.”

“I want to congratulate the team members, for your effort, I would also implore you to continue working hard, now that the competition is only going to get stiffer as we move along. I would expect you to put in more work as you prepare for the next stage of the competition,” President Sualley stated, adding I am not going to make any promises, the only promise I can make to you right now is that we are going to try our level best to see what area we can come in to help. We would definitely approach the Olympic Solidarity and see how they can come in and assist in your situation.”