by FSL News | 12 Jul, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Football administrators and rival members of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) are calling on protesters to take to the National Stadium on Saturday during the CHAN qualifier against Senegal.
Soccer loving fans are required to dress in black as a mark of protest against the ‘death’ of football in the country.
The decision comes a few days after FIFA in a letter dated 7th July, agreed to postpone the SLFA Ordinary Congress, which had been scheduled for July 14th, 2017, until further notice.
The Congress should pave the way for the election of a president as Johansen’s term expires 3rd August as per the constitution.
According to members release signed by Kasho J Holland – Cole on Wednesday, “The general membership of the FA is calling on all football loving fans to come out in their numbers on Saturday, 15th July 2017 at the Siaka Stevens Stadium in the Cup of African Nations qualifying match between Sierra Leone and Senegal.
“All fans are required to dress in black as a mark of protest and mourning for the ‘death’ of Sierra Leone Football.”
The officials, who perform various membership roles in the running of football in the country, also stated, “The general membership of SLFA expresses dismay at the manner in which the current leadership of the SLFA continues to deprive young Sierra Leoneans of showcasing their talents to realize their dreams in football.
“We are also particularly concerned over events that have in no small measure contributed to stalling football activities across the country as well as bringing the game into disrepute for the past three (3) years.”
Isha Johansen, who was elected president of the SLFA unopposed on 3 August 2013, has been in a squabble with her rivals for almost her first term in office.
But, her executive unfazed as they have said they will go ahead with FIFA’s directives despite the Sports Minister among others have maintained that the SLFA Congress must go on as planned.
Johansen’s rival members further stated: “It has become obvious that the current situation has caused anger and frustration among football fans and the general citizenry.
“There have been far-reaching social implications on the youthful population some of which has been forced to engage in crime and other unproductive activities.
“The absence of a functional local league had also significantly diverted the minds of young and promising Sierra Leoneans especially girls who have either gone into early marriages or have regretfully succumbed to unwanted pregnancies.
“Young souls are crying on a daily basis due to this unprecedented turmoil-depriving them of their right to enjoy a unified football fraternity. Their hopes are now seemingly shattered courtesy of the divisions and hate fuelled by the activities of one individual whose ego and self-centeredness had caused the drastic decline of our beautiful game.
“Let’s all come out and tell the whole world that. Enough is enough”
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by FSL News | 12 Jul, 2017 | Players Abroad News
Former Inter Milan hit-man Mohamed Kallon and former AC Milan Midfielder Rodney Strasser (Pictured) have joined in solidarity to support and endorsed the ‘FOOTBALL HEART PROJECT’.
The project was recently set up after the death of Ivory Coast international Cheick Tioté in China last month due to cardiac arrest.
Football Hearts is an awareness project that aims to stem the tide of heart-related diseases and cardiac arrests in football.
The project was publicly declared on June 26, commemorative of the 14th year memorial of the death of Marc-Vivien Foe, who also collapsed and died of cardiac arrest while playing for his country Cameroon at the 2003 Confederations Cup.
Speaking from the USA, the former Sierra Leone captain Mohamed Kallon said, “I’m not sure why it is more common in footballers than in any other sport.
“In my opinion, it happens because of a pre-existing undiagnosed heart condition and the arrest can just be triggered by the exercise (although it can occur at any time even at rest) so it seems.”
“One the thing I find surprising is that some professional athletes do not have regular screening for heart problems throughout their career, that why I have joined this project to help raised awareness and to see how we can find a solution to this, I and my family is in total support of this initiative,” the former AS Monaco striker noted.
According to him, it’s hard to fathom the number of heart attack deaths this year —in the world game we need to act fast and save the lives of others.
Sierra Leone and Genoa midfielder, Rodney Strasser, stressed that the death of Cheik Tiote is an eye-opener for all of us Professional footballers, Journalists, and doctors to join such a project to save lives on and off the pitch.
“I am pleased to be in solidarity with such a project,” the Genoa Midfielder said.
“For an African footballer, stress seems to be one factor that plays a part in these reoccurring cardiac arrests. The game of football for many, especially for those from poorer backgrounds, is more of a day job than anything. The pressure of providing for their families back in their homelands could take its toll on them.
“Also, with many African nations not having the adequate modern equipment to detect potential heart problems, there is a greater risk of hereditary or developing health issues that don’t get the necessary diagnosis,” Strasser explained.
He added, “With some of these people being footballers or sportsmen playing in Africa or even going to play abroad, especially in more obscure parts of the World, teams in those nations too potentially may not have the ideal equipment such as a Defibrillator to detect any heart issues, putting them at an even greater risk.
“But, this could be easily argued in Muamba’s case, who was playing for an established Premier League team with adequate financial stability at the time of his collapsing he pointed.”
Strasser who is in Freetown on holiday said he as an individual and the Rodney Strasser Foundation (RSF) will host football matches around to increase the sensitization about cardiac arrest on football players, we will also be organising health Clinic for players within Sierra Leone and the sub-region.
“Losing a player on the pitch to cardiac arrest is very devastating whereas it occurs mostly in football and footballers are the victims which have now become a concern by all the former AC Milan and Parma player noted.
“My foundation will play an active role to educate and support this project to save the lives of fellow soccer players,” he added.
In 2013, FIFA launched the FIFA Medical Emergency Bag and FIFA 11 Steps to prevent sudden cardiac death, giving all 209 FIFA member associations a Medical Emergency Bag (FMEB).
The 11 steps were aimed at raising the level of awareness and appropriate action for all those involved with football internationally. These efforts follow the decision of the FIFA Congress 2012 to provide each of the 209 MAs with an AED as an indication of the importance of the prevention of sudden cardiac death.
“I can’t say if this has helped prevent cardiac arrests in football as a whole. But it does seem to be raising more awareness across the globe about the severity of a cardiac arrest, he pointed out.
Names of some African Football players who are victims of cardiac arrest
Cheikh Tiote, Emmanuel Okwaraji (Nigeria), Amir Angwe (Nigeria)
Hedi Berkhissa (Tunisia), John Ikoroma (Nigeria)
Bobsam Elejiko (Nigeria), Endurance Idahor (Nigeria), Chinonso Ihelwere Henry (Nigeria), Victor Omogbehin (England), Marc-Vivien Foe (Cameroon), Mohammed Abdelwahab (Egypt)
Chaswe Nsofwa (Nigeria), Guy Tchingoma (Gabon), Orobosan Adun (Nigeria), Sekou Camara (Mali), Shetemi Ayetigbo (Ireland) David Oniya (Nigeria), Kodjo Etonam Adjassou (Togo), Bart Opoku (Ghana), Benjamin Owusu (Ghana), Mohamed Lemine M’Boye (Tanzania), Patrick Ekeng (Cameroon), Ambrose Wleh (Liberia)
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by FSL News | 11 Jul, 2017 | African News
Mauritania B national side recorded a convincing 2-1 win over Moustapha Seck’s home-based Teranga ‘B’ team at the Nouakchott Stadium on Saturday.
The friendly was a preparatory game for the Senegalese who face Sierra Leone in the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) preliminary first leg tie in Freetown this Saturday.
Moulaye Ahmed Bessam and Abdoulaye Silèye were the scorers for the home side.
Alassane Ndao scored Senegal’s only goal – the Mauritanians, who lost the first leg of the double header in Dakar 2-0 are also preparing to face Liberia in the same CHAN qualifiers this weekend.
Meanwhile, the CHAN tournament will involve only non-professional players – featuring in their own country’s locally-based domestic leagues.
Its expected to be staged in Kenya from 12 January to 4 February 2018.
The winner of the double-legged tie will face the winners of the Guinea-Bissau and Guinea clash in the second round with the first leg billed to take place between 11 and 13 August, and those of the return leg the following weekend.
Kenya 2018 (also referred to as CHAN 2018) will be the 5th edition of the African Nations Championship.
Sierra Leone was knocked-out from the 2016 tournament in the preliminary round by Mauritania thanks to a 4-1 aggregate win.
The Mauritanians won the first leg 2-1 at the Nouakchott Stadium and six days later they registered a 2-0 victory at the same venue.
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by FSL News | 11 Jul, 2017 | Players Abroad News
Sierra Leone striker, Victor Mansaray (in action) last Saturday made his first appearance for Seattle the Sounders since returning from his loan spell with FC Cincinnati.
The 20-year-old who was recalled to the Sounders in June came off the bench the 67th minute for Bruin.
Clint Dempsey scored the equaliser for Seattle in the 44th minute as the Sounders drew 1-1 with Eintracht Frankfurt in an international friendly before 40,667 at CenturyLink Field.
A few minutes after his cameo, the Sierra Leone international forced the Frankfurt keeper into a low diving save after he headed in a cross from Nouhou at close range.
He nearly had another chance in the box but his first touch betrayed him and the ball was knocked out for a corner.
Mansaray played 328 minutes and made four all-competitions starts during his loan spell.
He was a sub five times in league play with three starts in the league and one in the Open Cup.
In the U.S North American Soccer League (NASL), midfielder, Michael Lahoud was pivotal for Miami FC in their 7-0 thrashing of San Francisco Deltas. The Sierra Leone international who had full-time action also accounted for an assist in Stefano four goals thriller.
Mohamed Buya Turay and his AFC Eskilstuna continue to rack at the bottom of the Swedish league table as they were again defeated 1-0 by Sirius. Despite the full-time action, the Sierra Leone forward was unable to find the back of the net. Another Sierra Leonean who was at the defeating end was Ishmael Koroma whose Nykoping suffered a 3-1 defeat to Vasteras.
John Kamara and his Kaisar squad also suffered 2-0 defeat to Astana in the Kazastahn top flight league while in Iceland, midfielder Kwame Quee’s Víkingur Ólafsvík moved away from the relegation zone after a 0-2 away win over FH VS. Quee was substituted in 90+2 minutes.
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by FSL News | 11 Jul, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Abubakar Tostao Kamara and his technical team, Amidu Karim and John Sama
Sierra Leone National home-based coach, Abubakar Tostao Kamara, says his team is ready and highly motivated for their first leg tie against Senegal on Saturday, July 15 at the National Siaka Steven Stadium.
Coach Tostao’s side will take on their Senegalese counterpart in the first leg preliminary of the African Nations Championship – CHAN, as they look to have a foothold ahead of the second leg in Dakar the following week.
The former Sierra Leone skipper (pictured with his technical team) is confident that his team will fare well against a tough Senegal side.
“Over the past few weeks the assessment of players towards training is very much positive, he said and added, “The players are highly motivated, working well and determined.”
The coach, who has assembled players from different football clubs across the country keenly aware that a win in Freetown could give his side the advantage going into the second leg in Senegal.
“We have prepared well, I and my technical team have assembled the best players across the country. We have done our homework.
“Based on that I have named 23 players which are expected to be in camp this week ahead of the match on Saturday,” said Tostao.
He pointed out that they have played series of friendly Matches which have yielded dividend to the players’ fitness and ability to approach the match.
He assured the nation of success which is the ultimate goal for the team to move into the next stage of the competition.
The CHAN – is a tournament for domestic-based players in Africa – will be staged in Kenya from 12 January to 4 February 2018 in Kenya.
The winner of the double-legged tie will face the winners of the Guinea-Bissau and Guinea clash in the second round with the first leg billed to take place between 11 and 13 August, and those of the return leg the following weekend.
Full Named Squad
Ibrahim Bangura aka Stop pain- SLP FC, Issac Caulker – FC Kallon Mohamed Rogers- East End Tigers, Abu Suma- FC Johansen, Yeami Dunia- FC Johansen, Mohamed kamanor- FC Kallon, Abu Kanu aka Abedi- FC Johansen, Alfred Sakila- Central Parade, Sorie Barrie – FC Johansen, Anderson Tongor Fullah – Port Authority, Kemson Fofanah – East End Lions, Prince Barrie – FC Kallon, Abdul Babu Bangura-FC Johansen, Mohamed Lamin Bangura aka Auwah – Ports Authority, Morie Alie- Bo Rangers, John Kargbo- FC Johansen, Johnny Caulker- FC Johansen, Mahmoud Fornah aka Lampard – FC Kallon, Mohamed Z Kargbo- Real Mack FC, Mohamed Thoronka – Kamboi Eagles, Donald Wellington aka Korbor Korbor – Port Authority, Gibrilla Kamara aka Orsu – FC Kallon, Nyakeh O. Alpha – FC Johansen.
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Sierra Leone | Highlights -