African Sports Monthly Vol I. Issue II February 2018 | Page 63

crafty politicians who only use them and
their sporting discipline to popularize
themselves and persuade spectators to
vote for them. Before and during these
games they make speeches full of lofty
promises that they will develop and
make sports a priority in the community,
something they do not intend to follow
through on.
Disappointingly enough, as soon as the
elections are over with, these political
prophets and snake oil salesmen who
had preached and used sports as a
vehicle to reach thousands, would slickly
shy away from the athletes, organizers
and even the spectators whom they had
convinced only a few weeks earlier that if
they are voted for, they would make
great things happen for them and their
community.
Sports is special; it is a blessing to every
nation. It provides a livelihood for people,
it is used to build peace in once
fractured communities and it is a tool for
national development.
Since we are using Sierra Leone as a case
in point to discuss this anomaly due to
the current state of affairs with their
upcoming national elections,
politicians in Sierra Leone as in all other
African countries need to be genuine
and turn their attention to developing
sports and make sure that they grow
sports with the intent to build
sustainable communities and not just
use it to get elected.
If your popularity soared during an
elections campaign season because you
used sports as a vehicle to reach people,
why can’t you see the light that sports is
truly a vehicle that connects with
people. Build your popularity