by FSL News | 7 Apr, 2017 | Players Abroad News
Abdulai Baggie pictured in celebration is clearly an optimist, the Sierra Leonean sees a half-full glass as opposed to a half-empty one.
The former Stockport County midfielder says he is hopeful Poole Town actually reach the playoffs in their pursuit for a promotion place.
Poole Town presently sit 5th place in the English National South league seven-point gap on the chasing pack with just five games to the end.
Baggie’s side will be away to Chelmsford on Saturday in another cracker and, a win will almost guarantee a playoff berth.
And when questioned about Town’s current league position Baggie was upbeat.
“No pressure on us, I’m hopeful – we are almost certain of making the playoffs, he said. “Our remaining games obviously are massive for everyone at the club.”
“We have to keep our nerves because making the playoffs will be a massive achievement because of the stature of the club.”
“We were tipped to be relegated this season. And that is not the case so far this season and that’s why I think we are focused on doing well,” He told footballsierraleone.net.
Baggie scored a brilliant goal for Poole Town in last Saturday’s 2-1 win over Concord Rangers in the English National South survival encounter.
Baggie netted his second goal of the campaign with a fine volley from a Luke Burbidge cross, a move that was the only real highlight of the opening 45 minutes.
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by FSL News | 6 Apr, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone has slumped further eighteen places down in the latest FIFA world rankings to 113 from 95 in March, placing the Leone Stars 31st in Africa.
Sierra Leone highest ever world ranking was in August 2014 when they moved up to 50th and 7th in Africa.
The Leone Stars were not active during the FIFA friendly dates and it worth mentioning that their last competitive football was back in September 2016, when they were eliminated by the former African champions Ivory Coast in Bouake during the qualifiers of the 2017 African Nations Cup, despite a 1-1 score-line.
However, Sierra Leone Stars will battle it out in Group F alongside Ghana Black Stars, Kenya, and Ethiopia, in the qualifiers for a place in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted by Cameroon.
Sierra Leone’s first qualifier for Cameroon 2019 is in June when they host Kenya in Freetown.
The Pharaohs of Egypt are the best-ranked team in 19th position in the world followed by Senegal 30th and 2017 African Champions Cameroon (33), Burkina Faso 35th and Nigeria 40th respectively.
Meanwhile, Brazil went top for the first time in seven years, replacing Argentina.
The five-time World Cup winners became the first side to qualify for next year’s tournament in Russia with a 3-0 victory over Paraguay last week.
Holland are down to their lowest place of 32 in today’s FIFA rankings.
The next Fifa /Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 4 May 2017.
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by FSL News | 5 Apr, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has refuted various reports on several African media that they (SLFA) are set to announce a new kit supply deal with Denmark-based sportswear company Hummel.
Reports from various international media stated that information from Sierra Leone is that the country’s Football Association is set to announce a kit supply deal Hummel adding that the Denmark kit manufacturer has agreed to sponsor the country’s senior national team, Leone Stars ahead of their 2019 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers which will commence in June 2017.
The media report stated: “A deal is expected to be signed on Wednesday (April 5, 2017) by both parties following a brief meeting between Hummel representatives and the Sierra Leone football association officials.”
A further quote from an FA official stated: “Hummel is back and we will do our best to keep this sponsorship. It will help the FA to minimize cost on kits.”
However, the SLFA media officer, Ibrahim Kamara in an exclusive interview with this media rebutted the reports as false and nothing closer to the truth.
“This is not true, there has not been any arrangement, not even meet with any Hummel person,” the SLFA media officer said.
The SLFA further released a press statement disproving the said reports and their statement reads: “The SLFA wishes to inform the general public that reports making the rounds claiming that a sponsorship agreement has been met between the sporting brand Hummel and the Sierra Leone Football Association are baseless and untrue. In fact, there was never a meeting between the two parties as purported by the said misguided story.
“SLFA will like the public to know that any information with regards sponsorship deals with any sporting brand will be officially put out through the SLFA Media Department.”
Hummel is reported to be the world’s sixth largest sporting brand and they started sponsoring the national teams’ kit in 2007 when teaming up with London-based Mediatel in the Millwall FC friendly match to celebrate the Bicentennial of the Abolition of Slavery.
In 2011, the Executive Committee of SLFA cancelled the said Hummel contract between them and Mediate/Hummel sponsorship but the then Youth, Employment and Sports Ministry went on to use the Danish brand in Leone Stars the last match against Niger on March 27th in Niamey which angered the SLFA executive committee.
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by FSL News | 4 Apr, 2017 | Players Abroad News
JS Hercules have unveiled their new signing, 25-year-old Abdul ‘Buduski’ Sesay was signed from OPS.
“Hercules and the entire coaching team chuckled with satisfaction while receiving more experience and leadership,” the club said on their website.
The Sierra Leone international midfielder a few days ago confirmed the move that he has signed a one-year deal until the end of 2017.
Sesay, who have won five caps with Sierra Leone, is happy and looking forward to work under Hercules’ head coach Nigerian legend and former Everton striker Daniel Amokachi in photo.
Speaking after he was unveiled, the 25-year-old said he is ready to give his best to his new club and the manager.
“I’m happy to come to here and work for the club and manager, and I am going to play with some exciting players.
“I’ll try to give the best I’ve got. Those who know me know that I’m very determined individual since I was a kid,” Sesay told footballsierraleone.net
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by FSL News | 4 Apr, 2017 | African News
James Kwesi Appiah, the first black man to qualify Ghana for the World Cup has been reappointed head coach of Ghana and will also take charge of the local Black Stars.
The former Asante Kotoko left back, who managed the team from 2012 to 2014, qualifying the team for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, will lead the Black Stars against Sierra Leone, Kenya and Ethiopia in the race for Cameroon 2019.
Only the winner of the group will guarantee a place in Cameroon. The 57-year-old will officially start work May 1 on two years deal. He replaces Avram Grant who stepped down as coach after the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
His first major task will be against Ethiopia in the qualifier of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in June.
The Black Stars are presently struggling to reach World Cup 2018 in Russia with just a single point from their two games five points behind Group E leaders Egypt.
Uganda are second behind Egypt and Congo-Brazzaville the other team in the group.
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