by FSL News | 1 May, 2017 | Players Abroad News
Amadou Bakayoko won the Walsall FC Young Player of the Year award for the 2016/17 season.
Bakayoko, 21, development has been tremendous whilst coming through the Banks’ Stadium ranks.
The tall, powerful front-man was named as the Saddlers’ winner of the award at the end of the team’s awards ceremony on Sunday, April 30th, 2017.
Born in Sierra Leone, the 6ft 4 young striker with great physicality, who signed his first professional deal during the course of the 2013/14 campaign made over 30 appearances and scored 4 goals.
During the 2016/2017 pre-season, Amadou strong performances propelled him into the first team fray and in the first game of the League One season (home to AFC Wimbledon on 6th August) Amadou came on as a sub and provided a superb assist for Simeon Jackson.
He scored his first goal against Shrewsbury Town on his full league debut on 15th October 2016, in Walsall’s 3-2 home win.
Amadou, who was raised in the Netherlands started his trade in youth football at Velocitas 1897 and then moved to the prestigious FC Groningen academy, before moving to England in his mid-teens with his family.
The prolific striker who was the leading goal scorer for the Walsall youth team has also had spells at Port Vale in April 2014 and AFC Telford United.
The English League One side ended the season in 14th position.
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by FSL News | 30 Apr, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Thanks and appreciation message by Sahr Morris Jrn. NEA’s Award winner for Best Sports Journalist 2017.
“It is a truism in mere constancy that a society that fails to applaud good actors is on the brink of extinction” and on that note, it is with immeasurable joy, punctuated with a deep sense of humility and pride that I want to express my profound thanks and appreciation to Almighty God for the gift of life and guidance towards journalism as a career path. Without this Supreme Being, I would not have been here today to have been recognised as the NEA Sports Journalist of the Year for 2017.
I am eternally grateful and forever indebted to my family, friends and well-wishers who in diverse ways have contributed immensely towards my “Journalistic” career thus far. You people have a special niche in my heart for your trust and belief in me.
This achievement would have been impossible without you the voters and I am inspired and motivated by the confidence you people have reposed in me and as the public judge of this award, I will not let you down.
I hereby dedicate and share this award to my fellow nominees who in diverse ways have helped to shape my career in journalism and I am of the firmest belief that all of you guys deserve this award like me. Thanks for being healthy, friendly, and above all honest competitors. May God/Allah bless our journey towards promoting sports journalism in Sierra Leone? I have nothing but respect and admiration for your achievements fellow nominees.
I am grateful to the following groups, in whom I have seen a family and new found hope in what I am doing because you guys spurred me to this height. Thanks to the Liberals Brotherhood, Empirex Club, Masscom family, Prince of Wales Alumni Association, Generals Entity, New Apostolic Choir, Concord Times and Radio Mercury, Mercury PR Department, Nurses Association in Makeni, Friends of 2Together, Rendezvous, and all other social media outlets and groupings I have been privileged to be part of. From the remote part of my heart, I thank you all for being there for me.
Special thanks to LAKE Production for this honour and I must state here that despite the challenges in organising such event of grandeur and prestige, you were able to organise a program worthy of remembrance.
It has never been easy studying and balancing journalism. Sometimes publishing two or three articles a day and also combining it with academia is no easy feat. But, I am grateful for arriving thus far.
Thanks to all the numerous institutions that are always willing to help me with information such as FIFA, IAAF etc. You guys made me a better researcher in the quest to attain objectivity.
I will be remiss in my appreciation message if I fail to recognise the invaluable role of my wife and daughter in this journey of journalism. Sometimes, I will stay so late in the office that I will forget I have a family at home. Had it not been for an understanding wife whose support can only be compared to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, I would have crumbled under pressure many times. I love you honey and thanks for supporting my career journey.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU AND THANK YOU!
(C) Sahr Morris Jrn.
by FSL News | 30 Apr, 2017 | Players Abroad News
Abdul ‘Buduski’ Sesay was generally pleased with his output for his new side JS Hercules in their 1-1 draw away to Vasa IFK on the opening day of the Finish third-tier Kakkonen season on Saturday.
Sesay made his Hercules debut playing behind striker Mikko Suomela and played the whole match receiving his first booking in the 28th minutes of the first half.
Striker Mikko Suomela scored for the visitors in the opening 8th minutes of play before Tony Bjork levelled the scoreline for the home team in the 29th minutes from the penalty spot.
After the match, Sesay, who was delighted and expressed his satisfaction with his first performance for the club despite the draw.
“The result was not the best, but I was very pleased with my contribution. I’m looking forward to our next match in front of the home fans against GBK Kokkola next weekend,” he told footballsierraleone.net.
The Hercules new boy added: “We scored first and despite the draw, it was a positive result from the team away from home.”
The Sierra Leone midfielder who signed for Hercules a few months ago from Oulun Palloseura Jalkapallo (OPS) is expected to play a key role in coach Amokachi’s plan.
The 25-year-old was OPS top scorer last season 16 goals in all competitions in the Finish third-tier (Kakkonen).
@football_sierra
by FSL News | 29 Apr, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) and the new Premier League Board (PLB) are expected to meet next week to reschedule a new National League start date.
The 2017- 2018 Sierra Leone National Premier League season that was expected to kick off April 14, 2017, is now put on hold pending further talks.
An announcement by the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) on Saturday confirmed additional talks will be held.
The last edition of the Premier League was suspended through the season in 2014 because of the Ebola epidemic. East End Lions was topping the 2014 campaign prior to its suspension.
The Football Association’s official statement reads: “The Premier League Board (PLB) is meeting again on Friday the 5th May 2017 for further deliberations. Thereafter, they will then face the clubs the following day, for all the necessary protocols and the official date for the start of the league shall be announced there and then.
“The board members, led by Mr J.S Kelfala, were able to clearly establish their willingness and readiness to work assiduously towards a successful league this year.
“The five renowned football administrators have agreed to run a two-legged league with a break to be observed in August.”
Meanwhile, the SLFA has increased funds for the Premier League clubs from the Le 215,100,000 to Le 300,000,000.
@football_sierra
by FSL News | 27 Apr, 2017 | Players Abroad News
Chelsea secured their fourth consecutive FA Youth Cup with a 6-2 aggregate victory over Manchester City on Wednesday night.
Trevoh Chalobah, who is still eligible to represent Sierra Lene opened the scoring after six minutes before Ike Ugbo’s acrobatic strike put the hosts firmly in control. Lukas Nmecha pulled one back for the visitors just after half-time but Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi, Dujon Sterling and Cole Dasilva put the tie beyond doubt.
Chelsea coach Jody Morris said: “Bottom line is it’s been our title now for four years on the spin. Like any family: if someone come’s in your house and wants to take something from your house, you ain’t (sic) gonna let them are you?”
City required a sound start but fell behind early. Aro Muric tipped Jacob Maddox’s shot around the post and from the resulting corner Chalobah rose to plant home a magnificent header from 10 yards.
The hosts’ second was the highlight of the evening, however, as Ugbo arched his back to turn home Dujon’s Sterling’s cross with his right foot. Nmecha did reduce the deficit, taking down Matt Smith’s chipped through ball on his chest and sliding the ball right-footed into the bottom corner.
Hopes of a comeback dashed 10 minutes later when City’s defence allowed Hudson-Odoi to stroll into the area unchallenged and smash a shot in off the post.
Sterling added further gloss to the scoreline in the 66th minute when he overlapped on the right, powered into the box a fired a low shot past Muric at his near post. Dasilva completed the scoring with a tap-in after Mason Mount’s shot was spilt by Muric.
Trevoh Chalobah
Trevoh has represented England up to Under-19 level, captaining them at the 2016 European Under-17 Championships. He is also eligible to play for Sierra Leone.
The youngster made his international England Under-18 debut in March 2014 at the tender age of 14 and after a successful display earned the trust of the coaching staff to line up in every position across the back four before the end of the season.
@football_sierra
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