By Desmond Tunde Coker
Former Switzerland Ambassador H.E. Yvette Siaka Stevens recently donates Judo uniforms to the Sierra Leone Judo Federation in honor of her late son, Boris Siaka Steven who was a Judo blackbelt holder.
Ambasador Stevens it was the dream of her Son to support the Federation, but death snatched him away and couldn’t fulfill his dream.
She said that when her son visited Sierra Leone he held a meeting with the Federation and promised that he would speak with the Switzerland Judo Federation to see how they could help in supporting the Sierra Leone Judo Federation. “He eventually succeeded, and the items will arrive soon in Sierra Leone,” Ambassador Stevens said.
She said that while she was going through his room, she found some judo equipment and decided to hand them to the president of Federation who is doing extremely well as he was praised by her late son.
“Today he would have loved to be here but death has not permitted him but wherever he is today he would be happy because his dream has come to pass.” He was a black belter who won several medals and was planning to return home to support the Sierra Leone Judo Federation with training and courses which will enable the Federation to continue to grow from one level to another,” she said.
Responding while receiving the donation, the President of the Judi Federation who doubles as Vice President of the National Olympic Committee, Sensei Idriss Massaquoi thanked Ambassador Stevens for keeping her son’s dream alive. He promised to make good use of the uniforms. He sympathized with the family for a great loss.
Joseph Nyande, Chief Executive Officer of the National Olympic Committee, thanked Stevens’ family for such a timely donation.