By Kandeh Sesay
Sierra Leonean wrestlers from the United States, Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom are voicing strong concerns over the leadership of Prince Vandy Sualley, who has served as President of both the National Olympic Committee and the Wrestling Association for over nineteen years. In a series of complaints, the athletes have accused Sualley of monopolizing the association and using his position for personal gain, leaving the country’s wrestlers to suffer in silence.
According to the diaspora wrestlers, Sualley’s tenure has been marked by a lack of transparency and a failure to hold elections, which has allowed him to maintain control over the association. They further allege that non-wrestlers have been taken on international trips under the guise of official participation, with some traveling solely for personal benefit. One such individual, they claim, is Alfred Daniel, who was allegedly brought along to Albania despite having no wrestling credentials.
These allegations of mismanagement are not new, according to the wrestlers. They claim that Sualley misappropriated funds meant for the development of wrestlers, particularly money provided by the German Embassy for the sport’s growth. Instead of using the funds for their intended purpose, they accuse him of diverting the money for his own use.
The wrestlers are now calling on Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to launch an investigation into Sualley’s activities. They argue that such persistent corruption within the country’s sports leadership is a barrier to the development of wrestling in Sierra Leone.
Efforts to reach Prince Vandi Sualley for a statement have been unsuccessful, as no response has been received from his office.
