The 2023 “One Nation Tournament” grand finale football match contested between the Western Rural and the Northeest Region at the Bo Mini Stadium on March 18, 2023, (LRMG) to determine the regional champion for this year’s tournament ended in a grand style. The event was organised by Leone Rock Metal Group.
It is important to note that the purpose of the tournament is to continue to help develop the skills and cooperation of young people in Sierra Leone and to preach ONENESS across the various regions in the country through sports.
At 12 noon, the stadium had already been decorated for all celebrated grand finale of LRMG’s One Nation Tournament. The field was filled with exciting spectators and esteemed guests, including the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Rtd. Brg. Julius Maada Bio and the First Lady Fatima Bio, the Chinese Ambassador, Minister of Sports, Deputy Director of SLFA, CEO – LRMG Mr. Gilbert Zhao, among others.
The event also featured exciting entertainments from the Confucius Institute at University of Sierra Leone (USL) and other musical performances, creating a professional entertaining atmosphere.
In his speech, the CEO -LRMG, Mr. Gilbert Zhao noted “It is the very first time in Sierra Leone to have these three government agencies – the ministry of sports, the national sports authority, and the Sierra Leone Football Association coming together to organize a football tournament. Again, it is very rare to see Mining Companies investing and/or engaging into football. But Leone Rock Metal Group is a company that gives back to the people of Sierra Leone in any form and shape, promotes development and fosters peace and unity in accordance with the laws that governs the country, and Football has demonstrated its impact in building national cohesion hence the need for the ‘One Nation Tournament’”.
The Minister of Sports, Mr. Ibrahim Nyelekeh acknowledged the efforts of the company in building national cohesion and the human resource capital of the country. He said, “The tournament had a total of 150 players, 25 for each of the six teams that participated in the Group stage, Quarter final and the Final with each team playing a total of two matches in all the stages amounting to 12 matches in total which is very key in creating employment opportunity for youth in of Sierra Leone. He said that as a ministry they have recently received NLE 30,000 from LRMG which is a huge boost for the ministry’s activities. “The government of Sierra Leone is very proud of your presence in the country and all the many successful projects your company has embarked on that have helped the people of this country. We are hoping for more sustainable engagements and cooperation like this. Thank you, Leone Rock, thank you,” he said.
The Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Wang Qing, explained how the tournament has preached ONENESS and its significance in the forthcoming multitier elections. He noted, “Raping up the tournament here today is a symbolic event, as we have seen in our previous matches the North hosting the South, the West hosting the East and so on which is very much instrumental in showcasing unity across the country, adding that this is not only a plus for LRMG but for the people of Sierra Leone. “As we entertain ourselves today, with Northwest region and Western Area Urban logging heads, let’s keep in mind the essence of this tournament which is to promote national cohesion. Best wishes to us all,” he said. He ended by informing all that LRMG has been supportive to the embassy in ensuring both Chinese and Sierra Leonean staff are being fairly treated and realize same opportunities where necessary.
The game started with a kickoff by the President, Julius Maada Bio and the CEO of LRMG, after they had symbolically examined the medals and trophies that were customized by LRMG for deserving players and regional teams.
It was a beautiful, sunny, and hot day but every spectator stays glued to their seats in an entertaining
Both teams were ready to take home the NLE 100,000-star prize set by LRMG as the match was expertly officiated by the Local Organizing Committee and Sierra Leone Referees Association. The team coaches were on their toes, fans cheering up their respective teams as players gave their best shots. Both teams displayed an impressive performance.
However, Northwest emerged the winner of the match by 1 goal to zero against the Western Area Rural in the last minutes of the second half of the match, bagged home the Prestigious trophy of the “One Nation Football Tournament”.
Climaxing the match was the distribution of the trophies and medals to deserving players and teams who had participated in the “One Nation Tournament”. This was followed by the presentation of the prizes: NLE 100,000 was presented to the Northwest Region for emerging as the winner, and NLE 75,000 was presented to the runner up, West Rural.
All the regions that participated in LRMG’s One Nation Tournament applauded the management and staff of the company for promoting sports, oneness, and sustainability in the country.