September 16, 2015 By Sahr Morris Jr.
Leading sports betting company in Sierra Leone, Mercury International, on Tuesday (September 15) donated Le30 million to football stakeholders to boost their ongoing ‘Ernest Bai Koroma’ football gala at the Siaka Stevens Stadium in Freetown.
Before presenting the cheque to the tournament’s Organising Committee Chairman, Mercury International’s Charity Foundation Chairman, Samir Hassanyeh, said they are pleased to support all sports-related events in the country.
He said their contribution to sports is unchallenging because they are lovers of sports. “We have supported and continue to support various sporting disciplines in the country, which is why we are asking other corporate entities to emulate us,” said Hassanyeh.
Chairman of Mighty Blackpool Football Club, Patrick Bangura, who also doubles as the tournament’s Organising Committee Chairman, thanked Mercury International for their continued support to football and other development activities across the country.
He said the tournament, which is organised by football stakeholders in Sierra Leone, is to complement President Ernest Bai Koroma’s effort towards the eradication of Ebola in the country, and to use football as one way to continue spreading the Ebola prevention message.
“The donation today from Mercury is not a novelty because they are always supporting sporting activities,” Bangura said, adding that the tournament is being organised ahead of the President’s 62nd birthday.