FC Riga’s John Kamara dropped from Sierra Leone’s 18-man squad in Bouake

by FSL News | 3 Sep, 2016 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone

John Kamara pictured is out of Leone Stars 18-man squad

By Ishmail Saidu Kanu, Desmond Tunde Coker and Festus J Lahai in Bouake, Ivory Coast.

Sierra Leone and Riga FC midfielder, John Kamara has been dropped out of the Leone Stars 18-man squad for today’s crucial 2017 AFCON qualifiers against The Elephants of Ivory Coast in Bouake.

The Riga midfielder was among the 16 Foreign Based Players invited by head coach, Sellas Tetteh.

Speaking to Sports Journalists at the Elephant’s Hotel in Buoake, the 2014 Sierra Leone Player of the year said he was called outside by Assistant Coach John Keister including five Home Based Players, informing them that they would not be part of the 18 man squad.

He said Coach Sellas Tetteh as a professional gaffer should have been the best person to talk to him about such decision not his assistant.

“I John Bankole’ was not treated as a professional,” the disappointed midfielder said and accused the coaches of the national team coaches of running football ‘as a business without any focus’.

“I have played all my games and continue to be a regular player for my team and I have been part of this team for over four years now. I don’t think I should be left out of this squad for home-based players because there has been no league in Sierra Leone since the outbreak of the Ebola Disease in 2014,” he said.

The Latvian based midfielder said the attitudes of coaches in Sierra Leone have led to the poor state of football in the country.

“I decide to come public because I wanted Sierra Leoneans to know what I have been going through as a player,” adding that he might not get any further call-up to the team by the Sierra Leone Football Association.

On the decision to omit Kamara from the final 18-man squad, Coach Sellas Tetteh said the Latvia based player was left out of the squad due to the number of Foreign-based midfielders they had, adding that Mohamed Medo Kamara and Khalifa Jabbie are the best options due to the importance of the match and his game plan.

The Ghanian tactician said there is no home-based midfielder in the team who has played in Kamara’s role since 2014.

Hr also refuted the players claim that they have been running football in Sierra Leone as a business.

“I sent Keister to convey the message to Kamara because we are working together as a technical team and that shouldn’t have been a problem concern” Coach Tetteh adding that the midfielder has been very pivotal player for his club but has to compete with other midfielder in the national team.

Coach Tetteh said the behaviour of John was unacceptable and didn’t really know why he went that far.

“He’s frustrated and wanted to destroy the peace here”, he said adding that such display by the player will not affect his game plan as the boys are focused and well prepared to face the Ivorians.

The match will be played at the Peace Stadium in Buoake at 6pm prompt.

Credit – SWASAL
Supported by – The Ministry of Sports

Leone Stars arrive in Bouake for crucial encounter confident

by FSL News | 2 Sep, 2016 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone’s National team, the Leone Stars yesterday evening arrived at their camping based for their final Group I encounter with Les Elephant tomorrow afternoon.

Sellas Tetteh and the rest of his side from their week long camping in Ghana checked into Hotel Residence Elephant (Leone Stars camp) and they will be taking a full squad training session today.

The Saturday’s clash that is expected to be played in the Ivorian city of Bouake will determine which team competes in the continental big stage next year in Gabon.

Leone Stars will be going into this tie second behind Ivory Coast, that make this tie a do or die encounter for Sierra Leone away from home.

Leone Stars have never defeated the Ivorians in their last seventh attempts; however, Les Elephants endured a frustrating time against their West African counterparts Sierra Leone as they were held to a 0-0 draw in Port Harcourt Nigeria in their 2017 qualifying Group I match-day 2.

This will be the eight meetings between the two sides. Ivory Coast has an edge over Sierra Leone, having won all five and played to a goalless draw of their previous matches.

Meanwhile, the Elephants head coach, Michel Dussuyer is cautious to face Sierra Leone at the Stadium of Peace Bouaké.

When asked about the strengths of his Ivorian side against Sierra Leone, Dussuyer said: “We must score goals. The Sierra Leone team is well organised.

“They can defend well and they can be very aggressive. We have already had the opportunity to play against this team. They are coming to win.”

Dussuyer added, “The ideal scenario is to score an early goal and this forces them to come out of their base and will leave a little bit of space.

“Although the Sierra Leone is quite playful, they have the quality, and can cause problems in our defence,” Dussuyer remains cautious.

Previous Results:

15 Oct 1972 Sierra Leone v Ivory Coast  W 0-1 FIFA World Cup
29 Oct 1972 Ivory Coast v Sierra Leone  W 2-0 FIFA World Cup
08 Jan 1984 Ivory Coast v Sierra Leone W 1-0 International Friendly
27 Mar 1994 Ivory Coast v Sierra Leone W 4-0 Africa Cup of Nations
06 Sep 2014 Ivory Coast v Sierra Leone W 2-1 Africa Cup of Nations
14 Nov 2014 Sierra Leone v Ivory Coast W 1-5 Africa Cup of Nations
06 Sep 2015 Sierra Leone v Ivory Coast  D 0-0 Africa Cup of Nations

@football_sierra

AFCON: Kei Kamara’s inclusion could backfire for Leone Stars

by FSL News | 1 Sep, 2016 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone

With just two days to go before Sierra Leone take on Ivory Coast in the country’s most important match for over two decades at the Bouake stadium this Saturday, the controversy surrounding Sellas Tetteh’s side is ever growing.

According to Osasu Obayiuwana, who is a qualified lawyer but functioning, mostly, as a journalist, broadcaster and blogger for nearly 25 years now, Sierra Leone Ghanaian technician Sellas Tetteh…has had enough. “He is fed up and did not want Kei Kamara in the team that will face the African Champions, he revealed.

Osasu also stated, “Officials of the SLFA say @keikamara been imposed on Coach Sellas Tetteh, who emphatically DOES NOT want him for the match.”

When asked about this development, the Sierra Leone Sports Minister Ahmed Khanou in his response to the news stated, “I am not aware of this and you may be aware of the fact that Kei is en route to Abidjan, arriving this evening.”

The minister did not go any further.

Here are the ten strong points tweeted by producer/programme maker for SuperSport.

1.”There is a big fire raging in the Sierra Leone team, ahead of their qualifier against Cote D’Ivoire.

2.”Officials of the SLFA say @keikamara been imposed on Coach Sellas Tetteh, who emphatically DOES NOT want him for match.”

3.”During a chat with @ishajohansen2, who visited Abuja recently, she told me @keikamara described Tetteh as a “Kindergarten coach.”

4.”The statement @keikamara made was not said to Sellas directly. He made that statement, about Sellas, to me,” said @ishajohansen2.

5. “Sellas Tetteh is the only African coach to win the @FIFAcom WYC. He lifted the trophy in Egypt, with the Black Satellites in 2005.

6. “Sellas Tetteh, who is on loan to Sierra Leone, from @ghanafaofficial, only gets a match allowance from them. The SLFA is “broke.”

7. “Sellas Tetteh was reportedly summoned by Sports Minister when he was reportedly told he must field @keikamara in CIV.

8. “Sellas Tetteh told the S’Leone Sports Minister that “he does not need the player and does not fit into his plans for the AFCON QF.”Since @keikamara made the reported statement, about Tetteh, @ishajohansen2 says he is yet to tender an unreserved apology to the coach.

9. “Since @keikamara made the reported statement, about Tetteh, @ishajohansen2 says he is yet to tender an unreserved apology to the coach.”As it stands, Tetteh has contemplated throwing in the towel and could pack it in, after S’Leone’s final qualifier. He is fed up.”

10. “As it stands, Tetteh has contemplated throwing in the towel and could pack it in, after S’Leone’s final qualifier. He is fed up.”

@football_sierra – @bittar32