The Administrative officer who doubles as caretaker of the Freetown golf course, Shieku Sokotay Bangura has revealed that the prestigious annual Sierra Leone Golf Open Tournament organized by the Freetown Golf Club has been cancelled due to the Ebola outbreak in the country.
The week long tournament which is normally played from the 24th -30th of November every year wont take place this year so golfers from Sierra Leone and other West Africa Countries will have to miss out of this year’s tourney due to the Ebola outbreak.
He said: “Due to the current crisis in the country organizers had no alternative but to cancel the event, even though golf is a non-contact sport. Most golfers from other countries have turned down our invitation because of fear of the Ebola crisis and the club cannot organize a competition of that level just for golfers within the country.”
The week long tournament which is normally played from the 24th -30th of November every year wont take place this year so golfers from Sierra Leone and other West Africa Countries will have to miss out of this year’s tourney due to the Ebola outbreak.
He said: “Due to the current crisis in the country organizers had no alternative but to cancel the event, even though golf is a non-contact sport. Most golfers from other countries have turned down our invitation because of fear of the Ebola crisis and the club cannot organize a competition of that level just for golfers within the country.”
The last competition was won by a Ghanaian golfer Amos Korbla who bagged a $10,000 prize.
In other development, he revealed that four of the golfers; Brima Mansaray, Idrissa Farnel, Adulai Kamara and Mustapha Kamara are presently stranded in Monrovia, Liberia.
According to Marshall Bangura, the four golfers were in Liberia before the Ebola outbreak in Liberia and they have been unable to return to Sierra Leone due to the closure of the Liberian border by the Government.
He said the golfers are however staying at the Sierra Leone Embassy in Liberia and that the golf club in Freetown is with them in heart and spirit and hope they will return safely soon.
In other development, he revealed that four of the golfers; Brima Mansaray, Idrissa Farnel, Adulai Kamara and Mustapha Kamara are presently stranded in Monrovia, Liberia.
According to Marshall Bangura, the four golfers were in Liberia before the Ebola outbreak in Liberia and they have been unable to return to Sierra Leone due to the closure of the Liberian border by the Government.
He said the golfers are however staying at the Sierra Leone Embassy in Liberia and that the golf club in Freetown is with them in heart and spirit and hope they will return safely soon.
By: Sahr Morris Jr.
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