Africell-SL, SLAA Officially Launch Freetown Marathon 2023

Africell-SL, SLAA Officially Launch Freetown Marathon 2023
By Abdulai Sankoh Mystic
The leading Mobile Network Operator in Sierra Leone Africell Sierra Leone (Africell-SL) and the Sierra Leone Athletic Association (SLAA) has on Friday 17th November 2023 officially launched the second editions of “Freetown Africell Marathon 2023”.
The launching ceremony took place at the Africell Volleyball Court, Lumley beach in Freetown.
Given a clue on this year event, the Chief Cooperate Affairs Officer, Africell Sierra Leone (Africell-SL) Joe Abass Bangura said that exercises and sports is very keen for the development of the body, adding that it will benefits its subscribers immensely.
According to the Chief Cooperate Affairs Officer the Freetown Africell Marathon is divided into various categories such as the Full, half, 10k and the 5k marathon, adding that it will commence on Sunday 10th December 2023, 6:AM.
He continued that the first three winners for every categories will take home various cash prices, adding that it’s going for Both male & Female.
He revealed that registrations for the full marathon is One Hundred and Fifty New Leones (NLe150), One Hundred New Leones (NLe100) for the half and free for the 10k and 5k marathon participants respectively.
Speaking on-behalf of Sierra Leone Athletic Association (SLAA), the Head of Marketing, SLAA Dominic Moore thanked God Almighty for another opportunity to witness another grand breaking marathon that will be taking place on Sunday 10th December 2023, adding that lots of athletes are yearning for this opportunity and they as organization is thanking Africell for such a wonderful idea.
“the relationship between SLAA and Africell is very cordial and we will continue to give our supports to strengthen this relationship, because it’s what we’re looking for, to work with partners”, he Lamented.
He continued that this Freetown Africell Marathon is a very big event, adding that athletes all over the country have trained and prepared enough for that day.
He furthered that with time this Freetown Africell Marathon will go international, adding that it’s main important thing they as association is working towards.
Coach Harold Palmer, Sierra Leone Athletic Association (SLAA) thanked Africell Sierra Leone for such a laudable venture, adding that the SLAA can not do it alone.
“All over the world not even talk about the Boston and New York marathon, it’s company that will kick start the event before the association come in”, he affirmed.
He disclosed that they will use this year Freetown Africell Marathon as a yastic for the all African Games that will be hosted in Ghana next year, adding that it’s the first time we’re having a complete full marathon in this country.
He continued that Sierra Leone is bless to have the only certified route measurer in West Africa, adding that they will be very conscious of the finish time and if any athlete finish within the stipulated international time they will automatically qualify for the All African Games in March next year.
According to Coach Palmer the full marathon will be kick start at 6:30am, the half is 7:00am, the 10k 7:15am and the 5k marathon will start 7:20am, adding that when you talk about athletic then you talk about time, he emphasized that they will be very strict when it comes to the time this year.
He furthered that only accredited bikes from Africell will be allow during the race, adding that any other bike they will left with no option but to ask the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) to arrest it.
He revealed that medications for all athletes running the full and half marathon will be hold at the SLAA Head Office 22 Wellington street in Freetown, adding that they will be using one hundred officials and seventy five stations/water pots.
The route measurer, Sierra Leone Athletic Association (SLAA) Coach Alfred Tamba Dura said that he is the only certified grade-B athletic measurer for the whole of West Africa, adding that as a Sierra Leonean we should proud of him and this year marathon he said will go international.
He furthered that starting point for the Freetown Africell Marathon 2023 is from the Africell building around Gulf club Lumley beach, adding that the athletes will take a U-turn at Congo Water which is 21.098 the mid-point and they will have to do another balance of 21.097 for them to complete the full marathon which 42.195.
According to Coach Dura for the half marathon the mid-point is Saint Joseph Secondary School then the athletes will take a U-turn to the finish point at the Africell building which is 21.018 for the half marathon, adding that all athletic will be running in left part of the street to avoid traffic congestion.