"Being an athlete and training to compete against the rest of the world out of Africa is not an easy feat", as life and daily existence in itself, is fraught with numerous challenges. Athletes across Africa save for those from comparatively advanced nations like South Africa, Egypt and Morocco to name but a few, are faced with a great many insurmountable challenges that range from poor nutrition to lack of proper training instructions which hamper their performances.
Many African countries are faced with the challenge of how to create an environment within their borders that is not only supportive of the needs of the athletes across many fronts but make them successful in their careers.
As nations ponder on how best to build capacity for their national sports programs so too are well wishes and boosters from those nations who are most times former athletes themselves as well as passionate sports fans. These individuals are usually ones who have been exposed to the right knowledge and wherewithal and see themselves giving back in a variety of ways to their countries of birth.
One such goodwill program is an initiative that was recently launched in Texas USA by Mr. Modupe Jonah of Texas USA alongside Mr. Leslie Koroma Sr. Founder and CEO of this Magazine (African Sports Monthly). The program Identifies the best Athletes in Sierra Leone and find ways to provide basic support for them through allowances, food provisions and advice on their nutritional needs to enhance their training and preparation to compete against the best in the world. The program is called TOP PHYVE.
As the initiative grew, Mr. Modupe Jonah a passionate engine for the growth and sustenance of the program was by chance able to meet and recruit Clinical Dietician Ms. Huliamatu Bah of Oklahoma City, OK, USA who coincidentally is also from Sierra Leone.
Ms. Bah who has now been with TOP PHYVE for most of the rest of the Pilot Phase of the program ever since she came onboard in June of 2017 has been providing much needed nutritional advice to the two athletes who were identified and supported during the pilot phase of TOP PHYVE.
Ms. Bah’s credentials as a Clinical Dietician is a breath of fresh air for a program like TOP PHYVE that provides support to athletes in Africa, where advice on what to eat, how much to eat and when to eat has never been the norm. She brings a critical expertise to an environment that will tremendously benefits from her prescription to athletes who are hoping to achieve global prominence.
African Sports Monthly was able to catch up with Ms. Huliamatu Bah to talk to her about her career choice, TOP PHYVE and her foray into the world of Sports.
African Sports Month(ASM): How did you get to arrive at the choice of being a Clinical Dietician and is it a fulfilling career choice?
Ms. Huliamatu Bah: I have always been curious about how the human body works especially in correlation with food. After I got my bachelor's degree in biochemistry, I got a job working at a weight loss clinic which was eye opening. I learnt a lot about diet, healthy eating and interpreting labs results from the physician. I was also taught how disease can be impacted by food. The physician (Dr. Lee) told me that I was very good at interacting and explaining different things to his clients; he suggested I consider becoming a dietitian. At the time I did not know what a dietitian was or what they do. I did some research about dietetic and it sounded like an amazing and fulfilling career. I applied to get my masters in dietetic and was accepted.
ASM: You were approached and sold on the innovative approach of TOP PHYVE by Mr. Modupe Jonah, what is it about TOP PHYVE that caught your attention and made you want to be part of it?
Ms. Huliamatu Bah: I am very excited to be working with my fellow Sierra Leonean by using my passion for food and nutrition to help them succeed in their careers. I believe that the nutrition knowledge they will attain during their time in Top Phyve will benefit them for the rest of their lives and they will be able to pass their nutritional knowledge down to their kids.