Alderman Lions grants Solomon Bockarie Dutch citizenship (Photo: Robbin Pieterman)
Sierra Leone is set to lose one of its promising athletes after sprinter; Solomon Bockarie recently acquired Dutch nationality at a Citizenship swearing in ceremony held at a town hall in the Netherlands.
The 28-year-old has spent several years in the Netherlands and last September joined the Zoetermeer athletics club thanks to the efforts of the municipality and former chairman of ARV Ilion.
Bockarie who represented Sierra Leone in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow applied for Dutch citizenship just after having a successful winter with his club.
Sierra Leone is set to lose one of its promising athletes after sprinter; Solomon Bockarie recently acquired Dutch nationality at a Citizenship swearing in ceremony held at a town hall in the Netherlands.
The 28-year-old has spent several years in the Netherlands and last September joined the Zoetermeer athletics club thanks to the efforts of the municipality and former chairman of ARV Ilion.
Bockarie who represented Sierra Leone in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow applied for Dutch citizenship just after having a successful winter with his club.
The former Sierra Leone Olympia is now eager to represent the Netherland in the forthcoming World championships in Beijing, China, the 2016 European Championships in Amsterdam and his ultimate goal; the Rio 2016 Olympics Games.
According to www.dichtbij.n: “With a personal best of 10.32 seconds Bockarie is not far from the Dutch national record and can be of great value for the country’s relay team with medal chances at the Olympics.”
If he decides to represent the Netherlands, Bockarie will become the latest athlete from Sierra Leone to switch citizenship after Eunice Barber who initially competed for Sierra Leone switched over to compete for France in 1999 and onwards.
She won the heptathlon at the World Championship in 1999, the long jump in 2003 and finished second in heptathlon in 2003 and 2005 all whilst representing France.
According to www.dichtbij.n: “With a personal best of 10.32 seconds Bockarie is not far from the Dutch national record and can be of great value for the country’s relay team with medal chances at the Olympics.”
If he decides to represent the Netherlands, Bockarie will become the latest athlete from Sierra Leone to switch citizenship after Eunice Barber who initially competed for Sierra Leone switched over to compete for France in 1999 and onwards.
She won the heptathlon at the World Championship in 1999, the long jump in 2003 and finished second in heptathlon in 2003 and 2005 all whilst representing France.
By: Sahr Morris Jr.
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