Training with the Premier League Republican Team (note the shared use of the pitch, its poor quality and adjacent cess pit).
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A crowd will watch everywhere a match is played. The pitches are similar to school playgrounds with odd dimensions and obstructions. In fact apart from the National Stadium, there are no pitches that meet UK park standards.
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Live European soccer is shown in many places from "dusty shacks" to the local cinema. The cost averages 20p per match which is about a quarter of the average daily income.
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"Back to back" matches shows the demand for matches to be played at the National Stadium is high.
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Herbert Williams, Mayor of Freetown with Pastor Yatta, chaplain to National team and Joni.
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Celebrations and interviews after the Parliamentarians has beaten the Mayor's team.
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Lumley beach lends itself to beach soccer. Let's hope others in the European game can follow the lead of Craig Bellamy (www.craigbellamyfoundation.org) and put something back into soccer in Sierra Leone.
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In this country of soccer fanaticism there are supporters clubs for the main European teams in many towns. There are even retailers who target supporters of specific clubs!
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