by FSL News | 1 Apr, 2018 | African News
The FIFA Referees Committee has selected 36 referees and 63 assistant referees, representing 46 different countries, for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.
Sixteen out of the total number are from Africa; the contingent comprises six referees and ten assistants.
Preparations for the road to Russia kicked off in September 2014 not only for the 32 participating teams but also for the initial group of 53 FIFA referee trios from around the world.
The choice of the final group of match officials selected to officiate at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia was based on each referee’s skills and personality, as well as his level of understanding of football and ability to read both the game and the various tactics employed by teams.
Over the last three years, preparatory seminars have taken place for referees and assistant referees focusing on fair play, protecting players and the image of the game, as well as consistency and uniformity.
The selected FIFA World Cup match officials will attend another dedicated seminar for two weeks in the second half of April at the technical centre of the Italian Football Association in Coverciano, Italy. The officials will be divided into two groups, which will also include video assistant referee (VAR) candidates.
Following this seminar, the FIFA Referees Committee will announce the names of the referees selected to act as VARs during football’s most important competition, the FIFA World Cup. The selection process will take into account the candidate’s VAR experience in domestic leagues, FIFA competitions and FIFA refereeing seminars since the beginning of the VAR project in 2016.
Between now and the World Cup in June, the selected referees, assistant referees and VARs will be monitored and supported by FIFA Refereeing on an individual basis to ensure they are fully prepared. Following the seminar in Coverciano, all of the match officials will take part in a final preparatory seminar at the FIFA World Cup match officials’ HQ in Moscow, which will start ten days before the tournament kicks off. This seminar will also cover VAR.
During the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the selected match officials will operate in a variety of roles, e.g. referees, assistant referees, fourth officials, reserve assistant referees and video match officials.
The 6 African referees
Abid Charef Mehdi (Algeria), Diedhiou Malang (Senegal), Gassama Bakary Papa (Gambia), Grisha Ghead (Egypt), Sikazwe Janny (Zambia)
Tessema Weyesa Bamlak (Ethiopia)
The 10 African assistant-referees
Achik Redouane (Morocco), Ahmed Waleed (Sudan), Birumushahu Jean-Claude (Burundi), Camara Djibril (Senegal), Dos Santos Jerson Emiliano (Angola)
Etchiali Abdelhak (Algeria), Hmila Anouar (Tunisia), Range Marwa (Kenya), Samba El Hadji Malick (Senegal), Siwela Zakhele Thusi (South Africa)
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by FSL News | 31 Mar, 2018 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Photos: Marcelo Na Ritche: Sierra Leone Shooting Stars arrived in Guinea Bissau
The Sierra Leone U20 team is already in Bissau to challenge the ‘Djurtinhos’ tomorrow, Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018, at the National Stadium ’24 de Setembro.
The match is the first leg doubleheader of the African Cup of Nations U20 qualifiers of the pre- (CAN’2019) of the category to be held in Niger.
In his first statement, Shooting Stars Cameroonian technician Ken Tabi said to the microphones he feels at home, as well as his players, pointing out the climate, which according to his reading, is similar to the climate of Sierra Leone, thanking the good reception at Osvaldo Vieira International Airport, adding that they feel comfortable in Guinea-Bissau.
“We came not to participate in the game but to win, the team is in a high spirit of winning with a view to bringing joy to the Sierra Leoneans, “said Ken Tabi.
When asked if the arrival on the eve of the game would not influence the group’s performance, Ken Tabi noted that his team does not complain of fatigue.
Noting that they made a transit from the neighbouring republic of Guinea Conakry, where they rested and trained this morning before entering the plane to Bissau, given that the climate situation is the same as Freetown, capital of Sierra Leone.
Meanwhile, Guinea Bissau technician Emiliano Te’ lined-up 20-man squad including 15 foreign-based for the Niger 2019 first leg doubleheader U20 AFCON preliminary qualifier.
The aggregate winner over the two legs will face Nigeria’s Flying Eagles of Nigeria.
By Bissau Journalist Sene Camara’ (Seninho) Follow us On Twitter @football_serra/Facebook Football Sierra Leone
by FSL News | 31 Mar, 2018 | Players Abroad News
Boston University men’s soccer team midfielder, Peter Kargbo is targeting a chance to play professional football in the US Major League.
Kargbo, 20, who is a product of the Craig Bellamy Foundation, was one of the fortunate achievers following a scholarship in 2013 to the United State.
The young prospect since his move to the US has been brilliant, a three-time All-CIF First Team honoree for the Dunn School in California.
He told FootballSierraLeone.Net: “I’m in the US playing for Boston University men’s team. My ultimate goal after University is to be drafted for a professional contract in the Major League Soccer.”
“I moved here in 2013 when I was 15 on a scholarship, my ultimate dream has always been to play professional football, the MLS precisely.
“It was not easy to move from Sierra Leone to America at such an early age; I faced a couple of challenges at first that I had to overcome quickly to settle down.
“I love it here now, I have moved from California to Boston just pursuing my dream whilst also getting a quality education at such a university.
He continued: “Football has always been the driving force and has been taking me places and if I make it pro will just be an icing on the cake for me.
The Bellamy graduate added, “I want to help back home and give back but first I need to put myself in a position to do so, going pro will make me well-known in my country this will help a lot in this quest.”
Read More on Kargbo…Boston University 2017 Men’s Soccer Roster
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by FSL News | 30 Mar, 2018 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Rodney Michael, who is based in the United States is expected to be part of the Sierra Leone U20 squad, Football Sierra Leone understands.
Shooting Stars will play away in Bissau on Sunday, in the first leg of the 2019 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The 19-year-old starlet and US Dunn School product is earmarked to make his Sierra Leone U20 debut at the 24 de Setembro Stadium. The second leg is to be played at Bo City Stadium.
The Sierra Leone native, who played for the Santa Barbara Soccer Club from 2014-2017, led the club to the 2016 U-18 National Championship and earned Best-XI honours.
Read More. Michael Lands on Top Drawer’s All-Freshman First Team.
Another player, who has confirmed he will be joining the team is 18-year-old Benevolence Kargbo from Lizzy sports academy in Ghana.
Sources close to the Sierra Leone Football Association, (SLFA) have confirmed the team will travel today Friday en route Conakry Guinea and arrive in Guinea Bissau Friday night for the match barring any unforeseen circumstances.
In another development, Mercury International on Thursday approved $30,000 in emergency funding as a major boost to the country’s National youth side.
Sierra Leone expected a delegation to Guinea Bissau
1 Sylvanus Parkins, 2 Mohamed Nbalie Kamara, 3 Joseph Turay, 4 Tijan Sie Bangura, 5 Salif Conteh, Bankole Cole, 6 Masalaki Bangura, 8 Mohamed Fogbawa, 9 James Mansaray, 10 Julius Goba, 11 John Thomas Kamara, 12 Solomon Lewis, 13 Alhassan Koroma, 14 Alusine Koroma, 15 Musa Kamara, 16 Ahmed Vandi, 17 Rodney Michael, 18 Benevolence Kargbo, 19 Ballie Kamara, 20 Ibrahim Kamara.
Head of the delegation – Saddick Deen Nyarkoh
SLFA – Abu Bakarr Kamara
Head Coach – Ken Tabi
Asst Coach – Raymond Lewis
Team Doctor – Usif Kamara
Masseur – Philli Koi
Welfare Officer Abu Mazolla Kargbo
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by FSL News | 29 Mar, 2018 | African News
Guinea Bissau technician Emiliano Te’ has named his 20-man squad including 15 foreign-based for the Niger 2019 first leg doubleheader U20 AFCON preliminary qualifier, which will take place on April 1.
The Bissau’s U20 side are set to host Sierra Leone’s Shooting Stars on Sunday, at the 24 de Setembro Stadium, with the second leg expected to be played at Bo City Stadium.
Shooting Stars Cameroonian coach, Ken Tabi is faced with a tougher task. Sampdoria Primavera player Janclaudio Gomes Ricciulli, Chaves defensive midfielder Manuel Pami Costa, Ismael José Gomes from Porto and left-back João Vaz Mendes are some of the noticeable players in the Bissau’s side.
The Senegalese referees, who will be in charge of the contest, are Alioune Sow SANDIGUI (SEN), Amadou Ngom (SEN), and El Hadji Abdoul Aziz GUEYE (SEN).
This will be the 21st edition of the Total Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, the biennial international youth football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for players aged 20 and below.
The winner between the two countries will face Nigeria’s Flying Eagles of Nigeria.
The Flying Eagles will then play away to the overall winners of this first round clash on May 11, 12 or 13 with the return leg in Nigeria a week later.
The overall winners of this clash will then feature in a final playoff which could involve Morocco/Mauritania or Guinea.
This final U20 AFCON qualifier is billed for July and Zambia are the defending champions.
The four semi-finalists will be at the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup.
15 foreign-based below…
1 – Bubacar Sidibé (Alcanenense Portugal) 2 – Jefferson Encada (Olhanense Portugal) 3 – Samir Banjai (Desportivo de Chaves – Portugal 4 – Babagaldé Malam Baldé (SL Cartaxo Potugal) 5 – Emílio Paulo Mendes Biepar (Palencia Cristo Atlético – Spain 6 – Ismael José Gomes (Porto) 7 – Carlos Vaz Fernandes (FC Carregal de Sal – Portugal) 8 – Janclaudio Gomes Ricciulli (Sampdoria – Italy) 9 – Mada Alberto Pereira (Sport of the Birds) 10 – Florentino Luís da Silva (Sport of the Birds) 11 – Manuel Pami Costa (Chaves ) 12 – Umaru Esmeraldo Pereira (Real Sport Club Massamá) 13 – Al-Hassan Djassi Ould Hamed Lamin (Lazio Societa Sportiva SPA) 14 – João Vaz Mendes (Sport of Trofense) 15 – Roger AC Pinto (Rio Ave)
Home-based players below… 16 – Iano (Sport Bissau and Benfica), 17 – Ussumane Baipar (Sport Bissau and Benfica), 18 – Emerson (UDIB), 19 – Ivanov (UDIB), 20 – Salifo (Flamenco Pefine), 21 – Horácio Braima Djau (Club Sintra Football)
Sierra Leone U20 Previous Results
Sat 28/07/12 Sierra Leone 1 – 1 Cameroon U20
Sat 11/08/12 Cameroon 2 – 0 Sierra Leone U20
Fri 04/04/14 Sierra Leone 1 – 0 Guinea U20
Thu 24/04/14 Guinea 0 – 1 Sierra Leone
Fri 09/05/14 Sierra Leone 0 – 2 Ghana
Fri 23/05/14 Ghana 2 – 1 Sierra Leone
Sat 02/04/16 Sierra Leone 0 – 2 Gambia
Sat 23/04/16 Gambia 2 – 0 Sierra Leone U20
Compiled by Bissau Journalist Sene Camara’ (Seninho) and @bittar32 Follow us On Twitter @football_serra/Facebook Football Sierra Leone
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