The Old Edwardians Football Club (OEFC), UK, America and Australia Branch (or Edwards Now) on Sunday 8th January 2023 donated Christmas incentives amounting to 1,800 dollars to 41 former players of the team at a ceremony held at the Sierra Leone Labour Congress Hall, Wallace Johnson Street in Freetown.
The school was founded in 1942.
The Secretary-General of the OEFC, UK, America and Australia Branch, Mr. Augustine Thorpe revealed that they are passionate about the club and have been donating to ex-players of the 1970s and 80s for the past five years, that the donation is from the monthly contributions from members in the diaspora asserting that some of the ex-players are in dire need of help.
He commended the former players for their loyal services to the club in the past and appealed to them to be committed and continue to support the club at all times especially during football matches, funerals, weddings, sicknesses and other functions, attend meetings and pay their contributions to the local association.
Mr. Augustine Thorpe also urged the former players to unite and be committed, informed there are 10 committed members of the organization in the diaspora to help less-fortunate players who have served the club over the years and observed that it does not matter which club or institution they are now working they are still Edwardians.
He called for unity and commitment to move the club to higher heights, especially attending funerals and other functions and recalled that in the past the media was not invited to the donation of Christmas incentives to former players but that this year the media was invited to encourage other clubs to emulate the sterling example.
Mr. Thorpe also named some of the contributors including Darlington Tucker, Augustine Fofanah, Sheik Massalay, Pateh Bah, Ahmed Mohamed, Prince Moses, Alhaji Kamara, Alfred Massaquoi and Abu Bakarr Kamara.
He underscored that going further, the incentives would be based on commitment, dedication and performance and informed that they always reach out to the local executive to give a list of dedicated members to benefit from the yearly incentives and appealed to all quoting the School Song to be loyal to their school adding that they would offer a lot more to the ex-players apart from money.
He informed that members of the executive include Cybill Tucker as President and Darlington Tucker as Financial Secretary General.
Anabie Issa Sesay, Acting Chairman of the Old Edwardians Ex-Players Association said the donation is the first of its kind for other clubs to emulate, that they have been receiving same for the past five years and commended them for the sacrifices adding that those in the diaspora has been yearning for ex-players to come together for long to assist their less –privileged colleagues.
He concluded that the day is his happiest as even when he was sick recently they called and assisted him recalling that from seven when they started they now have 41 members and warned the ex-players to abide by all the regulations of the club so as not to fall short.
On behalf of their colleagues, Abu Bakarr Kamara and John Ajina Sesay acclaimed the OEFC, UK and American Branch for the gifts they have been receiving for the past five years and pledged their continued loyalty and support to the club.
Highlights of the well-attended event were the distribution of the incentives and social interaction.
