By Ishmael Zay-Bangura
Freetown, 15th June, 2026 – Orange Sierra Leone has organized an electrifying inter-school football tournament, rallying young athletes under the theme: “Together Against Online Hate.” The competition wasn’t just about goals and glory; it was a bold stand against the digital darkness consuming today’s youth.
The following eight schools participated in the tournament: Prince of Wales, Saint Edwards Secondary School, St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Methodist Girls High School, Annie Walsh Memorial School, Limount College, Providence International School, and Bilingual High School.
Providence International School
Divided into boys’ and girls’ categories, the tournament transformed the football pitch into an arena of hope, unity, and fierce but friendly rivalry.
Speaking on the mission, Head of Communication, Branding, and Sponsorship at Orange SL, Philip Emeh, stated that they are pulling children away from endless scrolling and toxic comment sections. He said, “This initiative is a lifeline with less screen time, more teamwork, and a loud message: stop cyberbullying.”
His words found an echo in Mohamed Chernor Fofana, the spirited captain of Providence International High School. “Too many of us are glued to phones, WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram. It eats into our studies, and cyberbullying is real. This initiative opens our eyes to refrain from any sense of bullying,” he said.
The boys’ final was pure theatre. Providence International and Saint Edwards Secondary fought tooth and nail through regulation time, neither willing to blink. Then came the dreaded penalty shootout, a crucible of nerves. Providence kept their cool, converting four spot-kicks with ice in their veins, while Saint Edwards crumbled under pressure. Final score: 4–2 on penalties in favour of Providence.
The girls’ final delivered just as much drama. Methodist Girls High School and Bilingual High School waged a tactical war, ending in a deadlock. In the shootout, Methodist’s goalkeeper turned into a wall, and their finishers were ruthless. 3–1 on penalties and the Methodist girls collapsed into a joyful, tearful pile of triumph.
Methodist Girls High School
Victory came with more than bragging rights. Winners in both categories pocketed NLe. 10,000 each, a handsome reward for their grit. The runners-up, heartbroken but proud, walked away with NLe. 5,000 apiece.
As the sun set over Freetown, the real winner was clear: a generation choosing connection over conflict, and football over hate.
