by FSL News | 28 Jul, 2016 | Players Abroad News
HJK v Göteborg Next match 04 August 2016
Goals from Japanese international Atomu Tanaka in the 47th minutes and Colombian Alfredo Morelos in the 75th gave Mohamed ‘Medo’ Kamara’s side HJK Helsinki the advantage to progress to the next stage of the competition.
The visitors edged IFK Göteborg 2-1 in their Europa League third round qualifier first leg contest in Sweden at the Gamla Ullevi stadium on Thursday.
Mika Lehkosuo’s side will take their slender advantage to the Sonera Stadium on Thursday next week as they host the Swedish side Göteborg in Finland.
The Sierra Leone midfielder Mohamed Medo Kamara was again very lively in midfield and in the 38 minutes has an effort on goal.
He has played in every Helsinki’s Europa League matches this season and will be desperate to help his side joins big names in this seasons’ competition – the likes of Manchester United, Athletic Club, Internazionale Milan, Fiorentina, Celta Vigo, and Feyenoord in the group stages of the competition.
Few Thursday’s 28th July 2016 Europa League results.
IFK Göteborg 1-2 HJK Helsinki Jelgava 1-1 Beitar Jerusalem
Aberdeen 1-1 NK Maribor – NK Domzale 2-1 West Ham
AEK Larnaka 1-1 Spartak Moscow Heracles Almelo 1-1 Arouca
FC Oleksandria 0-3 Hajduk Split FK Austria Vienna 0-1 Spartak Trnava
Lille 1-1 FK Qabala – Lokomotiva Zagreb 0-0 Vorskla Poltava
Slavia Prague 0-0 Rio Ave Torpedo Zhodino 0-0 Rapid Vienna
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by FSL News | 26 Jul, 2016 | African News
Chelsea and Super Eagles midfielder, John Mikel Obi has been named in Nigeria’s Olympic football squad announced on Monday for Rio Olympics .
The 29-year-old is one of Coach Samson Siasia’s experienced players in the 18-man squad for the tournament and did not fly with the rest of his Chelsea team-mates to Los Angeles for their pre-season tour to the USA.
The tournament runs from August 3rd until 20th and means that the Chelsea midfielder will likely miss the first two Premier League matches of the season against West Ham and Watford and could also possibly miss the League Cup second round on August 22.
Nigeria has been drawn in Group B of the Rio Games alongside Sweden, Colombia and Japan, at the group stage and will begin their campaign against Japan on August 4.
They are the first African country to win the gold medal. Nigeria also finished runners-up at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, under Coach Samson Siasia, who will again take charge in Brazil.
Mexico won the London 2012 Olympics men’s tournament.
Nigeria Olympic squad:
Goalkeepers: Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa FC, South Africa), Emmanuel Daniel (Enugu Rangers)
Defenders: Kingsley Madu (AS Trencin, Slovakia), William Troost-Ekong (Haugesund FC, Norway), Ndifreke Udo (Abia Warriors), Saturday Erimuya (Kayseri Erciyespor, Turkey), Abdullahi Shehu (CF Uniao, Portugal), Muenfuh Sincere (Rhapsody FC), Stanley Amuzie (Olhanense FC, Portugal)
Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea, England), Okechukwu Azubuike (Yeni Malatyaspor, Turkey), Usman Muhammed (CF Uniao, Portugal), Oghenekaro Etebo (CD Feirense FC, Portugal), Sodiq Saliu (Seraing FC, Belgium)
Forwards: Aminu Umar (Osmalispor, Turkey), Imoh Ezekiel (Al Arabi, Qatar), Sadiq Umar (AS Roma, Italy), Junior Ajayi (CS Sfaxien, Tunisia)
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by FSL News | 25 Jul, 2016 | Players Abroad News
Oulun Palloseura (OPS) attacking midfielder Abdul Sesay has targeted reaching double figures for the season.
The 24-year-old, who has netted eight times in Twelve (12) appearances in this campaign, trails Mexican international Alberto Ramírez Torres by just two goals.
Sesay ended the last campaign with just 3 goals and he is looking to get on the score sheet more regular this term.
Sesay told Football Sierra Leone UK that he wants to extend his goal scoring exploits by targeting double figures by the end of the season.
He said: “I got eight in the league so far and it would be nice to get to double figures.
“Every footballer must have a target, you’ve got to set your standards as high as possible and it’s important for me to try to improve on last season’s disappointing tally.”
“We have been doing well – We’re league leaders – We know from now on we’ve all got to chip in and get goals. If we do that, we’ll find ourselves winning a lot more games and hopefully the league, ” he told www.footballsierraleone.net
The former Atlantis FC player registered his first professional hat-trick for OPS in a 5-1 win over Jalkapalloseeura FC YPA in the Finish Kakkonen on May 14 this year.
OPS will travel to Jalkapalloseeura FC YPA for their second meeting this season on Sunday 31, July 2016.
Meanwhile, The former Atlantis FC player has accounted for two international goals for Sierra Leone in six appearances.
His first was against Chad in the 2018 World Cup preliminary match played in Nigeria at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium (Port Harcourt) in October 2015.
He was an unused substitute in the 1-0 victory over Sudan June 4, 2016, at the National Stadium in Freetown.
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by FSL News | 25 Jul, 2016 | Players Abroad News
FC Riga midfielder John Kamara pictured feeling fitter and happier this season
Sierra Leone international John Kamara is getting back to his best and the secret behind the midfielder’s form is simple: he’s fit.
Kamara, who turned 28 last May, has been superb for his Virsliga side FC Riga this season.
The former PAS Lamia 1964 midfielder’s improvement has been down to hard work and regular football action this season, amassing 1,192 minutes in fourteen appearances so far this campaign.
Kamara, who was rated the most effective player, told footballsierraleone.net, “This is probably the best I’ve felt in a few years.
“I’m probably the fittest I’ve felt and that’s showing in my game.
“The season couldn’t have started any better – It was tough previous seasons but now I feel like I’m getting back to my best.
“Training, every day, has been the marker. The manager puts on good sessions, everyone’s lively and it’s like a game – so when it comes round to the game, you’re ready.”
The tough and lanky midfielder is still confident he can even get better.
“I’m still young and can get better, am working on my intensity – playing a bit higher up with my running and breaking play up, stuff like that, affecting the team.”
Kamara made his international debut for Sierra Leone in 2013 and has appeared in FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
He was introduced in the dying minutes for Leone Stars in the victory over Sudan in Freetown on June 4, 2016, in the Africa Cup of Nation’s qualifier.
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by FSL News | 24 Jul, 2016 | African News
Scottish Champions Celtic are delighted to announce the signing of veteran Ivorian defender and former Manchester City player Kolo Toure.
The former Arsenal defender has joined the Hoops on a one-year deal and his move reunites him with Brendan Rodgers, the pair having previously worked together at Liverpool.
Toure, 35 has a wealth of experience, having played in the English Premier League with Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool, winning two league titles and three FA Cups. He has also been capped 118 times by his country.
Celtic manager, Brendan Rodgers, welcomed the signing and explained to club’s website that Kolo Toure’s attitude and experience will benefit his young squad.
“I brought Kolo into Liverpool to add that bit of experience and help to the centre-halves there at the time,” the Hoops boss said. “You saw from his impact there and in particular last season, he was a very important player for Jurgen Klopp towards the end of last season, playing in the Europa League final.
“He was outstanding in the big games for me when I was there. He looks after himself, he’s a wonderful professional and he has a good experience.
“With a lot of young players in our squad, he can really help them and he can be of great assistance for the likes of Scott Brown, who is a wonderful leader.
“But he needs support and help around him as well. It will be nice for Scotty to have someone behind him who has that real big-game experience. Kolo can do very well for us.”
Toure retired from international football just after helping the Elephants to a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations triumph.
He made his international debut against Rwanda in April 2000, played in all six matches as the Ivorians secured their second African title after a dramatic 9-8 penalty shootout win over Ghana in the final.
He was signed by Manchester City in 2009 before joining Liverpool on a free transfer last summer.
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