{"id":1842,"date":"2022-01-29T17:58:09","date_gmt":"2022-01-29T17:58:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/all-news\/president-bio-appoints-antonio-rudiger-as-brand-global-sierra-leone-football-ambassador"},"modified":"2022-02-06T14:14:35","modified_gmt":"2022-02-06T14:14:35","slug":"president-bio-appoints-antonio-rudiger-as-brand-global-sierra-leone-football-ambassador","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/photo\/president-bio-appoints-antonio-rudiger-as-brand-global-sierra-leone-football-ambassador","title":{"rendered":"President Bio appoints Antonio R\u00fcdiger as Brand Global Sierra Leone Football Ambassador"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. <\/strong><\/span>Yesterday, Friday 28 January 2022, President of Sierra Leone \u2013 Dr Julius Maada Bio pronounced Antonio R\u00fcdiger as \u2018Brand Global Sierra Leone Football Ambassador\u2019 and handed him the country\u2019s diplomatic passport, at a ceremony attended by family members, well-wishers and government officials held in State House, Freetown.<\/p>\n

Antonio R\u00fcdiger is a Sierra Leonean-German professional footballer who plays as centre-back for Premier League club, Chelsea and the Germany national team.
\nSierra Leone\u2019s Director of Protocols in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Lamina Paul Vamboi, said it was a remarkable and historic occasion in the history of football in the country, as one of Sierra Leone\u2019s distinguished compatriots was appointed Brand Global Ambassador by President Bio.<\/p>\n

He added that the ceremony reaffirmed the commitment by the government of Sierra Leone to canvass and promote sports as well as sporting activities, with the aim of ensuring the country\u2019s participation in sports on the international stage.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, Antonio R\u00fcdiger is being recognised for his outstanding role and contribution to Sierra Leone in the area of promoting sports. Also, he is a benefactor to His Excellency the President\u2019s top priority of promoting Free Quality Education in the country,\u201d Mr. Vamboi noted.<\/p>\n

Reading the citation for the awardee Antonio R\u00fcdiger, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman, Yusuf Keketoma Sandi, said the humble personality of R\u00fcdiger was the reason for his successes on the pitch and his highly decorated football career. He added that the footballer had also launched his foundation, focusing on sports education, sports infrastructure, sports inclusivity and literacy.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur recipient does not relent or hesitate to donate to causes dear to his heart that benefit millions of children in Sierra Leone. His mission, it seems, is about changing lives and changing stories. On Sunday 19 January 2020, he met with His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio, on the margins of the UK-Africa Investment Summit in London and pledged Le1 billion ($101,000) for Sierra Leone\u2019s Free Quality Education initiative.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo doubt, it still remains the largest contribution by a single individual to the Free Quality School Education programme,\u201d he disclosed.<\/p>\n

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\nIn a brief acceptance speech, Antonio R\u00fcdiger expressed gratitude to President Julius Maada Bio for the recognition and award and extended appreciation to his family without whose support, he said, the award and recognition would have been impossible. He added that he felt honoured and proud to accept the award.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you very much. I feel honoured to serve this country and put this country in a better light,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n

While handing over the diplomatic passport to Antonio R\u00fcdiger, President Dr Julius Maada Bio congratulated him on his award and thanked him for accepting such a distinguished honour. He added that R\u00fcdiger has shown that he is not only a Sierra Leonean by blood, but also by his action when he donated one billion Leones to the endeavour of advancing education to every child in the country.<\/p>\n

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\nPresident Bio further noted that the country appreciated the efforts of R\u00fcdiger in improving the lives of his fellow compatriots and assured that whenever the footballer is on the pitch playing, the country tunes in to watch him with love and passion.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe confer this on you because we think you deserve it. We need to do more for you as you continue to do more for us. We are proud of who you are, what you are doing. Your humility in greatness is what we admire about you as Sierra Leoneans. We are proud of you and hope that you can represent us,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n

THE CITATION FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENT OF MR. ANTONIO RUDIGER AS \u201cBRAND GLOBAL SIERRA LEONE\u201d FOOTBALL AMBASSADOR, READS AS FOLLOWS:<\/strong>
\n\u201cYour Excellency, Ministers of Government, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen: Benjamin Franklin once said, \u201cout of adversity comes opportunity.\u201d Our honouree hails from Kono district \u2013 born at a time when Sierra Leone civil war ravaged the nation and displaced populations. Against all overwhelming odds, he persisted and prevailed and today he has excelled and triumphed. His humble personality belies his successes on the pitch and his much highly decorated career.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince his international debut for Germany in 2014, he has won 49 caps scoring two goals five years apart in two world cup qualifications. At club level, he has had a distinguished playing career from VfB Stuttgart through AS Roma to Chelsea where he has plied his trade with since 2017 with assured verve. He has won numerous honours with Chelsea Football Club including the FA CUP, the SUPER CUP, the CHAMPIONSHIPS LEAGUE, the CONFEDERATIONS CUP including eight man of the match performances.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the field of play, he is described as a \u201ctough tackler\u201d with a \u201ccommanding presence in the air.\u201d Indeed, a tough tackler he has been off the field too where he has worked assiduously to tackle some of his country\u2019s challenges. His voice has been trenchant against racism in football but he has also maintained a soft spot for the vulnerable and the underprivileged. He has used his professional football career to model what is possible and as a platform for enhancing lives.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince the establishment of his Foundation in Sierra Leone he has undertaken impactful projects that effuse good conscience and magnanimity.<\/p>\n