September 27, 2016 By Sahr Morris Jr.
The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) male football team will battle against FC Johansen in this year’s grand-finale of the LEOCEM-sponsored FA Cup, which has a price tag of Le 40 million.
Both teams will face each other on Sunday, 2 October at the Wusum Stadium in Makeni City, Northern Sierra Leone, while the battle for bronze medal will be between Marampa Stars and the 2014 champions Kamboi Eagles at the same venue, a day before the finals.
According to the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) head of media, Abubakarr Kamara, the four teams will go home with a total sum of a hundred million Leones, provided by the sponsors LEOCEM.
“The Champions will take home 40 million Leones, the runner-up will bag 30 million Leones while 3rd and 4th place will receive 20 and 10 Million Leones respectively,” Kamara said.
Sorie Ibrahim Sesay, Head of Competitions at the SLFA, disclosed that several surprises and upsets were created in this year’s tournament and citied as major ones amongst them the Port Loko-based Marampa Stars who made it to the semis, Yambatu Stars of Moyamba and Lamboi FC of Port Loko, who all went out in the quarter finals.
According to the statistics made available by Sesay’s department, this year’s FA Cup recorded a total of 177 participating football clubs from 12 out of the 14 districts and 6 out of 14 Premier League clubs.
He further revealed that the Organising Committee members were able to witness each District FA Cup Finals to present Le 2,000,000 cash prize on behalf of the sponsors and further paid Le 2,500,000 as progression fee to all teams progressing from the round of 32 on to the finals.