SAN FRANCISCO, November 13, (THEWILL) – The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) will probe one of their players Kei Ansu Kamara, forward for Major League Soccer club Minnesota United, over his alleged defamation of the team’s hotel in Benin ahead of their 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against the Super Eagles of Nigeria on Friday.
On Thursday morning, the 36-year-old striker, took to social media to complain about the mattress and pillows in his room at the Lushville Hotel and Suites, which is the base for the Leone Stars. Kamara sounded off that he found it difficult to sleep on the hard bed.
However, the SLFA moved swiftly to condemn Kamara’s claims and apologised to the hotel management. Sierra Leone’s delegation to the country for the fixture which includes government officials led by the Minister of Sports, Ibrahim Nyelenkeh and the SLFA President, Isha Johansen are also lodged in the hotel.
The SLFA statement read:
“The Sierra Leone Football Association will open an investigation into a viral video posted by the Sierra Leone National Team striker Kei Kamara in which he is seen defaming a hospitality establishment at which the National Team Delegation including the Minister of Sports Ibrahim Nyelenkeh, the Executive Director of the National Sports Authority Dr. Kenneth Brima and the President of Sierra Leone Football Association Madam Isha Johansen are currently residing.
“The SLFA unreservedly apologises to the Management of Lushville Hotel and Suites in Benin City, Edo State, emphasising that the views expressed by Kei Kamara are his individual comments which are strongly condemned by the FA.”
The player in question just returned to the Leone Stars squad after retiring last November. In the now viral video, he summarised his conversation with the receptionist and shared the pictures of the pillow and the video around 5.30 on Thursday.
“I went to the front desk to talk to the lady about how I can’t sleep. She was so calm and said don’t worry, we will fix everything in the morning. I said I can’t sleep, I have been lying down for two to four hours and again she said, don’t worry, we will fix it in the morning.
“And why can’t I sleep? This bed, these pillows. My head can’t sink in this thing; my head can’t get in this pillow, so my neck hurts. My body can’t get comfortable because this is a box spring, not a mattress.
“I switch to one part, then switch to the other side and she says don’t worry, don’t worry, we will fix everything in the morning. I told her it’s already morning, it’s 5:30, I have practice at 8:00am. She is so calm and I can’t get mad about it because she had this calmness and I haven’t heard all that before.”
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
