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Sierra Leone: Indiscipline - A Bad Scene in Our Football
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Concord Times (Freetown)
OPINION
28 March 2008
Posted to the web 28 March 2008
Sahr Morris Jr
Freetown
Last Sunday, an ugly incident occurred at the National Stadium after referee Rashid sounded the final whistle in a match between Bo Rangers and FC Kallon which ended in a goalless draw.
It was rather an unfortunate sight to see National players, to be precise Christian Coker of Leone Stars and FC Kallon's first choice goalkeeper asserting all sorts of abusive languages and motherly invectives on the referee.
In as much as it was a frustrating moment for FC Kallon to see their title hopes dashed out from their faces, I do not subscribe to the argument that, that was the best way of expressing emotions.
The indiscipline and misconduct of our players in all fonts towards the game is alarming and unfortunately authorities are not taking the issue seriously. This misconduct has marred our local games and even our National team, Leone Stars.
Leone Stars in all of our 2008 Nation's cup qualifying matches suffered suspension for indiscipline. Captain Mohamed Kallon, who has taken the country's football to the map in the last decade was banned and fine for two matches for unruliness, his single attitude set a bad precedent for Sierra Leone's soccer.
Another instance wherein Sierra Leonean football players exhibited high rate of lawlessness could be traced to the last Zone II tournament, held in Guinea Bissau. Two of our players; David Simbo and Salifu Samura were booked shown a deserving red card.
Back to our local leagues, the rowdiness is so pervasive that even club officials are not left out.
Some of them are in the habit of abusing their opponents or sometimes referees when they think he or she has not sought their interest. These so called club officials should be an example but yet to the dismay of the public they are seemingly the worse culprits of indiscipline.
Our players and Officials must be aware of the fact that both the World and African Football governing bodies are taking strict measures over misconduct which implies that such is not acceptable in the field of soccer.
To see young players whom the country is looking up to as future National team players in such a messy attitude is really unfortunate.
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As stated earlier, such behaviour which in one way or the other has affected our national team in world football will continue to hinder the progress of our football.
I am appealing to officials, stakeholders, coaches and other authorities concern, as we are preparing for the junior U-17 championship, and Youth U-20 championship, there is need to stress on discipline to these players.
Misconduct has never helped us and will only lead us into more trouble with the international football governing body and African football body having no respite in imposing heavy fines and penalties on us. A word for the wise is quite sufficient.
NO ROOM FOR INDISCIPLINE AND LAWLESSNESS: IN COMMENTING ON THIS TOPIC, IT IS ALWAYS WISE TO EMPHASISE THAT THERE IS NO ROOM FOR INDISCIPLINE AND LAWLESSNESS IN ANY SPORTING ACTIVITIES MORE SO FOOTBALL.
I WILL NOT COMMENT ON THE CONDUCT OF THE PLAYERS WHO ABUSED THE REFEREE AS I WAS NOT PRESENT MYSELF BUT RATHER I WILL EMPHASISE THE NEED FOR ALL SPORTING PARTICIPANTS TO SIGN UP TO A BEHAVIOUR CONTRACT WHICH MUST BE THE BASIS OF THEIR CONTRACTS IN THE SPORTING ACTIVITIES THEY ARE INVOLVED IN AS ANY BREACH MAY RESULT IN SUSPENSION OR EVEN SEVERE CONSEQUENCIES.
FOOTBALLERS IN... [Read Full Text]
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