by FSL News | 11 Jan, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Former Sierra Leone caretaker coach, Sellas Tetteh, has been appointed the new head coach of Dansoman-based club Liberty Professionals, Football Sierra Leone understands.
He replaces George Lamptey who exited the club at the end of last season citing personal reasons.
Tetteh, 60, left Sierra Leone after Leone Stars final 2017 AFCON qualifier against Ivory Coast claiming two months unpaid wages.
Tetteh was the architect of Ghana glory during the 2009 Under-20 World Cup which they won.
The former Ghana U-20 and Rwanda have agreed to lead Liberty into the new campaign as head coach having previously served as the Technical Director for the club.
He was appointed as caretaker coach for Sierra Leone in August 2015 and his initial contract expired last October after Leone Stars were eliminated in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers by Chad before extending his stay.
The Ghana football season will commence early next month, according to reports.
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by FSL News | 10 Jan, 2017 | Players Abroad News
Sierra Leone striker, Mohamed ‘Poborsky’ Bangura has parted ways with Chinese League One side Dalian Yifang Football Club. The 27-year-old left the club despite two years remaining on his contract.
The former AIK striker signed a three-year deal in December 2015 with the Chinese second tier side that was understood to be around US$1.1 million but according to various reports from Sweden, both parties reached an agreement on mutual consent to end the said deal.
Though further reasons were not given for the decision, the former AIK and İstanbul Başakşehi striker is now a ‘Bosman player’ (which gives him permission to discuss with a new club).
Bangura endured little plus season with the Chinese outfit, scoring less than five goals in all competitions as his season hampered by injuries.
The 2011 Sierra Leonean player of the year joined Dalian Yifang from AIK where he scored eight goals in the Swedish league during the 2015 league season and also helped AIK Stockholm to finish third.
Bangura’s professional journey started from IFK Värnamo in 2010 before joining AIK. He has since played for Celtic, Elfsborg, Istanbul Basaksehir and returned to AIK before moving to China.
He became the fourth Sierra Leonean to have played in China after Mohamed Kallon, the late Mamadu Alphajor Bah, and Gibril Sankoh.
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by FSL News | 8 Jan, 2017 | African News
Egypt’s national coach Hector Cuper has stated his team will do its best to win the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals which kicks off in Gabon on 14 January.
Under the helm of Argentinean coach Hector Cuper, the Pharaohs will be based in Port-Gentil for their group stage matches and they face tough competition alongside Ghana, Mali, and Uganda in Group D.
“I always ask the player to give 100% of his effort to win every match, regardless of its importance,” said Hector Cuper, coach of the Egyptian national team. “We are going to Gabon, and we want to win the competition.”
The Pharaohs are the most successful side in the history of the African football tournament and has won the cup a record seven times.
It, however, missed the last three editions after winning the trophy in Angola in 2010.
“People are asking me questions on the street about the World Cup, but winning the AFCON is also important, we will never think that the African championship is not important, we will try to do our best.”
The Hector Cuper’s Squad:
Keepers:
Ahmed El-Shennawi (Zamalek), Essam El-Hadary (Wadi Degla), Mohamed Awad (Ismaily) and Sherif Ekramy (Ahly).
Defenders:
Ahmed Dwidar (Zamalek), Ahmed Elmohamady (Hull City, England), Ahmed Fathi (Ahly), Ahmed Hegazy (Ahly), Ali Gabr (Zamalek), Hamada Tolba (Masry), Karim Hafez (Racing Club de Lens – France), Mohamed Abdel-Shafi (Ahly Jeddah, Saudi Arabia), Omar Gaber (FC Basel, Switzerland) and Saad Samir (Ahly).
Midfielders:
Abdallah El-Said (Ahly), Ahmed Gomaa (Masry), Amr Warda (Panetolikos, Greece), Ibrahim Salah (Zamalek), Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan (Mouscron, Belgium), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal, England), Mohamed Ibrahim (Zamalek), Tarek Hamed (Zamalek) and Ramadan Sobhi (Stoke City, England)
Forwards:
Ahmed Hassan ‘Kouka’ (Braga, Portugal), Mahmoud Abdel-Moneim ‘Kahraba’ (Ahly Jeddah, Saudi Arabia), Marwan Mohsen (Ahly) and Mohamed Salah (AS Roma, Italy).
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by FSL News | 7 Jan, 2017 | Players Abroad News
Abdul-Rahman Bangura has handed Atlanta Silverbacks a timely boost by returning to training ahead of the hectic US National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) 2017 calendar.
The Sierra Leone international was named skipper of the fourth-tier side last season but has been on the sidelined with a knee injury he suffered in training end of September 2016.
However, Bangura confirmed this week he is back in training and looking forward to the new campaign.
“I was disappointed not to be able to help my teammates following the knee injuring I suffered at the end of September.”
“I was restricted to only 9 games last season, despite my absent we ended up 2nd position and we were the regional champions of our conference, but we lost in the Championship final.
“I’m fit and ready for pre-season next month and looking forward to a very new challenge,” Bangura told footballsierraleone.net
Bangura, 31, signed a professional contract with the Atlanta Silverbacks on 28 February 2014 and made his debut in Silverbacks 2-1 victory as a substitute in the 89th minute away against FC Edmonton.
Abdul made his first start with the club on 31 May 2014 against Minnesota United FC. He played the full 90 minutes; however, Atlanta lost the game 2-1 at home.
The American National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) starts in Mid-April till October/November ending.
Bangura was first called up to play for Sierra Leone during the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification against Seychelles.
He got his first cap and played the first match in Freetown in Leone Stars 2-0 victory over Seychelles.
The former Härnösand FF defender has made four appearances for Leone Stars against Ivory Coast, Seychelles and twice against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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by FSL News | 6 Jan, 2017 | African News, Sport News
Super Eagles skipper Mikel John Obi today completed his move from Chelsea to Tianjin TEDA and admitted he had to leave Stamford Bridge for a new challenge.
Football Sierra Leone understands that the Nigeria international has signed a three-year contract with Tianjin in the Chinese Super League.
The 29-year-old deal we understand worth around £140,000-a-week. He had just five months left on his current deal with the present Premier League leaders and was pursued by a number of clubs, including Valencia, Marseille, and Inter Milan, but found Tianjin’s offer too good to turn down.
In a statement today, he wrote: “I haven’t featured as much this season as I would have liked and at 29 I still have many years in the game ahead of me.
“With this in mind, I feel now is the time to seek a new challenge. I’m delighted to be joining Tianjin TEDA at a time that the Chinese Super League is really taking off.
“I look forward to helping Tianjin continue to grow both on and off the pitch in the next few years
“To everyone at Chelsea, goodbye and thank you. You will always be a part of who I am and I wish you the best of luck. I could not be happier to be saying goodbye with the club back where it belongs – top of the League.”
Mikel won 10 major honours after joining from Lyn Oslo in 2006, including the Premier League twice, the Champions League and Europa League.
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