The National Scrabble Association of Sierra Leone has reduced its delegation for the African Scrabble Championship in Monrovia, Liberia, from 11 members to seven due to a lack of financial support.

The decision has left four players out of the trip, raising concerns about the financial challenges facing smaller sporting associations in Sierra Leone.

Each player and members of the Sierra Leonean Scrabble community in the diaspora have been tasked with contributing $150 each to help cover registration, transportation and feeding costs for the delegation.

Despite these efforts, the funding shortfall has forced the Association to reduce the number of people travelling to the continental championship, which is scheduled to commence on Thursday in Monrovia.

“It’s a shame that we are travelling with a seven-man delegation to Liberia instead of eleven.”

A player left out of the delegation

The NSA Executive Director reportedly made a personal contribution from his own pocket to support the delegation, although the amount was insufficient to resolve the financial difficulties.

A senior member has called on the government to pay greater attention to smaller sporting associations, stressing that athletes representing Sierra Leone in disciplines beyond football deserve meaningful support.

“I think the athletes deserve better treatment. We all love football, but attention should be paid to the smaller associations too. The government must recognise that Sierra Leone’s sporting ambassadors do not wear football jerseys alone. Scrabble players also carry the national flag and deserve the opportunity to represent their country without being held back by financial constraints.”

A senior NSASL member

The situation calls for a fairer approach to sports funding, ensuring that smaller associations receive the necessary support to prepare their athletes, meet competition expenses and compete on the international stage. No athlete should have to miss a continental championship simply because the resources to make the journey are unavailable.