Peace
And Unity Match Between Liberia, Sierra Leone Kicks Off
Concord Times (Freetown)
INTERVIEW
February 1, 2006
Posted to the web February 1, 2006
Abdul Karin Koroma
Freetown
Concord Times' Abdul Karin Koroma talks to Abu Bakarr Konteh aka Boxx,
Vice Chairman Kalleone Group of Companies about the peace and unity
events between Liberia and Sierra Leone to take place at the National
Stadium. The events kicked off Tuesday with a clash between the
national basketball teams of Sierra Leone and Liberia. Wednesday will
be a clash between George Weah eleven versus Kallon eleven. The
matches are to be climaxed by a musical concert, Boxx says, is a means
for the two sister countries to tell the world peace is here at last.
George Opong Weah leads the Liberian delegation.
What it the objective of this event?
The whole objective of this wonder event is to unify the people of
Sierra Leone and Liberia through football and music. This peace and
unity show is to tell the whole that the wars in Sierra Leone and
Liberia are over.
I understand one of the Liberia musicians died in an accident on
the way here?
It is true that one of the musicians died in a road accident while
they were coming to Sierra Leone.
He is an artist from LIB Records. He came with his album that he
intended to record in Sierra Leone. The concerts, which we are
organising tomorrow, are a tribute to the late musician. Sierra
Leonean and Liberian artistes would pay their last respect to the dead
artist.
How did Opong Weah feel when he heard the news of the death of the
artist?
The day I gave in the news he felt so bad and he could not hide his
feelings he told me that he is down because of the death of the
promising artist. The musician is young and promising. The death of
the musician was a big blow to George Opong Weah. He is still trying
to recover from the shock. It is really heart rendering but he is
trying to take heart.
Is it true that you are planning to organize the same event in
Guinea?
Yes it is true. We are planning to organize such a show also in Guinea
because George Weah wants to tell the world that the Mano River Basin
is safe and peaceful. We want to use this opportunity to sensitize the
international community. Opong Weah is a very important personality in
Africa and the world. Any thing he tells the international community
about these countries they would listen to him.
How do you feel working with George Weah and Mohamed Kallon, more
so when they are two big stars in the world?
I am one of the closet persons to Opong Weah and Mohamed Kallon. As
far as I am concerned, Opong Weah and Kallon are the same people. They
are peace loving and they have an open heart. Opong Weah and Kallon
love their countries. The two want peace to prevail in Sierra Leone
and Liberia. Opong Weah, Kallon and I are thinking the same way at the
end our goal is to bring peace among young people in Sierra Leone,
Liberia and Guinea.
What was Mohamed Kallon's reaction when he heard of the death of the
artist?
Mohamed Kallon burst into tears when he got the news of the death of
the artist. He felt so bad when I told him about the sad thing that
took place. No body is happy about the death because it came as a
shock to all of us.
What preparation have you put in place for the event?
As you know there will be a football match between Weah eleven and
Kallon eleven wherein Opong Weah and Mohamed Kallon will play for
their respective teams. Football fans will enjoy soccer at its best.
And the match will start at 7:00 pm. After the game there will be a
musical concert featuring the best of Liberian and Sierra Leonean
musicians battling for supremacy. There will be watertight security
for the happening.
What is the basketball team from Liberia doing here?
George Weah came with them. Opong came along with his team mostly
professionals from Europe. The basketball team will today play their
Sierra Leone counterpart at the national stadium. We are trying to
unite people in the Mano River Basin and we are using all possible
ways to bring people together.
Did the police play any part in the accident?
The Sierra Leone police were very helpful to us.
They helped us a lot as they took the injured to the hospital. The
accident took place after they left the Liberian boarder.
The last time Kalleone Group of Companies organised a HIV/AIDS
tour, this time you are spearheading a peace venture, why?
The head of Kalleone Group of Companies, Mohamed Kallon wants
development in Sierra Leone. That is why he came with this idea, which
his mentor George Opong Weah supported. Kallon has a future for this
country that is why he is interested in promoting anything that is
geared towards peace and stabilty in the country.
What is your last word to the people of Sierra Leone?
I want to thank God for bringing peace and unity to the two countries.
I want to say thanks to Opong Weah and Mohamed Kallon for been my good
bosses. I am thanking the governments of Sierra Leone and Liberia and
the Sierra Leone police for the role they played when Goerge Weah had
a break down in Sierra Leone.
Also I am thanking the staff at the Emergency Hospital at Goderich for
saviing the lives of the nine Liberians involed in the accident. I
appricaited the way and manner they treated the accident victims. On
behalf of Mohamed Kallon and George Weah I am thanking the staff of
that hospital.
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