Real Republicans Chairman Alhaji Umaru Bah has officially confirmed the takeover of the Division One side VEM Buck Football Club after he completed the acquisition of the club from Pastor Buck, changing the Club’s name to Sierra Dooper Fisheries FC.
The official transition to the new ownership and change of name took place on Tuesday October 25 2022 at the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Football Academy at 21 Battery Street, Kingtom in Freetown.
In his statement, the new owner of the club, Alhaji Umaru Bah said he have been in Real Republicans FC since his childhood, noting that since taking over the Soccer Ambassadors they are sensing a steady progress.
He underscored that Real Republicans had its junior team which later graduated to the top flight football, adding that Sierra Fisheries FC won the league thrice before the club was sold.
He confirmed that he has acquired VEM Buck FC and that he wants to bring back the memory so they want to rename the club to Sierra Dooper Fisheries FC instead of VEM Buck FC.
“With the progress been made with Real Republicans many people around the world reached out to me thanking us for the success. We all know that Sierra Fisheries was a club that was sold and the name was changed. The club was not in existence anymore so I thought it fit to bring the name back. I have acquired VEM Buck FC and changed the name to Sierra Dooper Fisheries FC but most importantly I remain the Chairman of Real Republicans FC, definitely it’s going to be a separate management. The Leone Stars Team B Manager maintained. “Sierra Dooper Fisheries is going to have it own management and I remain to be the Chairman of Real Republicans. Like I said a lot of people are asking about Sierra Fisheries so I want see how I can touch other people out there,” he reiterates.
Giving a brief back ground of Sierra Fisheries FC, Veteran Coach John Jebbor Sherrington said the club came from Real Republicans’ second division team which get promoted to the top flight football league and both teams were having the same management. “After Real Republicans defeated Sierra Fisheries 9-0 which left the then owner, Jamil Sahid Mohamed bitter with such devastating result, he decided to split from the Republicans FC. Since then both clubs became arc rivals and Sierra Fishery went on to win the top flight league three times before the club was acquired and the name was also changed.
Making his statement on behalf of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) North East Region’s Chairman Brima Jalloh thanked Alhaji Umaru Bah, appreciation him for investing in football noting that the FA will always received people who are coming to invest in football with open hands.
He further encouraged the Real Republicans Chairman to continue with his good work, pledging the FA’s support in all his ventures.
The vote of thanks was done by the Chairman of Sierra Dooper Fisheries FC, Ibrahim Sogbeh.
