by FSL News | 11 Feb, 2019 | Players Abroad News
FC Zurich will fancy their chances of progressing to the Europa League next stage by eliminating the second best team this season in Serie A Napoli.
With the capital club hosting their Italian counterpart in Thursday’s debut appearance in the UEFA Europa League round of 32 for the first time, a tough test emerge.
The first leg will be played at the Letzigrund Stadium on Thursday, 14 February 2019, with the second-leg match taking place at the Stadio San Paolo the following week.
However, Sierra Leone skipper Umaru Bangura, who has been pivotal in their quest this season faced a curious situation.
“I am confident, despite knowing is going to be a tough game against one of the competition favourites,” Bangura told Football Sierra Leone.
“We are playing at home and, nothing is impossible in football, we’re capable of beating any team because this is football.”
Bangura confirmed the matchday excitement, “The city is waiting Italy is closer to Switzerland, it feels like an International derby.”
When asked to relate previous group matches to this round of 32 contest, Bangura said, “All the matches are not the same but, we have to be at our best against a very good team. Every team at this stage are top sides.”
Bangura’s presence at the heart of the Swiss defence was good enough as they went through to the group phase of a European competition for the first time in 11 years.
They ended up as runners-up to Bayer Leverkusen in UEFA Europa League Group thanks to their victories in each of their opening three fixtures.
The Italian side hoping to make up for the disappointment of narrowly losing out in a tough UEFA Champions’ League group.
During this year’s Champions League campaign, SSC Naples amassed nine points in the group with Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool and Red Star Belgrade.
The Italian side was eliminated from the competition because they scored fewer goals.
It could be recalled that he was part of the Zürich side that won the Swiss Cup that warrants their return to Europe’s second-tier competition as we as helping the side promotion to Swiss Super League.
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by FSL News | 11 Feb, 2019 | Players Abroad News
Sierra Leone native Amadou Bakayoko makes his first home start of 2019 on Saturday to help Coventry City picked up their first win since New Year’s Day.
Jordy Hiwula scored the only goal of the game at Rochdale in the 68th minute after collecting a pass from Bakayoko before slotting in beyond new Dale goalkeeper Andy Lonergan.
After the break, Bakayoko was close to scoring when he met a Luke Thomas cutback.
The striker, who was returning from injury last started for City in the away trip to Walsall early December 2018.
The former Walsall man was one of five changes from the side that faced Gillingham last week at the Ricoh Arena coming on in the 60th minute in their 1-1 draw.
He joined the Sky Blues League One side Coventry City for an undisclosed fee, signing a two-year deal in August 2018.
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by FSL News | 11 Feb, 2019 | Players Abroad News
Sierra Leone’s Hassan Milla Sesay made his debut for IFK Helsingfors in their 2-1 defeat to FC Honka in Men’s Finnish Cup on Saturday.
The 2018 Ykkönen Champions signed the former FC Lahti defender last month on a one-year deal with an option to extend.
All three goals of the match were scored in the first half. The guest team Honka took the lead when Arlind Sejdiu scored the opener in the 11 minutes.
Sesay’s side responded well with a goal of their own, Kevin Larsson header level things up before Arlind Sejdiu completed his brace to sink HIFK 15 minutes before the break.
The result means the new Veikkausliiga side are first from bottom in Group A standing.
Kevin Larsson was pleased with the goal but naturally disappointed with the outcome of the match.
“We still have a lot to improve as a team. In the first half, we had a good time, but it wasn’t enough today. Now we’ll be tomorrow, and then we will continue to practice hard again on Monday, Larsson told clubs website.
Despite the result, IFK’s head coach, Tor Thodesen, was pleased with the play and looks confident about the future.
“I was satisfied with the game presentation, and we are in these matches come to try out different patterns but losing is always tough,” Thodesen commented.
“Now we have played against a series of pre-eminent teams, and I believe that we will be able to catch up with them at the latest in Veikkausliiga and that we have a powerful team in the series.”
HIFK first squad
3 Palm Tino, 5 Cozar Torres Fernando, 7 Mattsson Joel, 8 Halme Jukka, 11 Selander Riku, 12 Kollar Daniel,13 Sesay Hassan,14 Larsson Kevin,15 Gela Xhevdet,17 Bäckman Jani and 27 Mohamed Hussein
FC Honka first squad
4 Ivanov Robert, 5 Aalto Henri,10 Kaufmann Lucas,11 Hakola Juha,13 Murray Timothy,14 Martin Gonzalez Borjas,16 Rasimus Konsta,19 I look at Arlind, 21 Perovuo Joel, 23 Sumusalo Mikko, 33 Tammilehto Duarte.
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by FSL News | 6 Feb, 2019 | Players Abroad News
Follow Us on Twitter @football_sierra, on Facebook/Instagram Football Sierra Leone – the writer @bittar32 contact: bi****@****************ne.net.
Umaru Bangura will captain the city-based against St.Gallen in the Swiss Super League round 19 in the absence of 20-year-old Kevin Rüegg.
Head coach Ludovic Magnin has called on the experience Bangura to lead his side away to St.Gallen later this evening, kick off 20:00hrs.
Rüegg is officially the first team captain but, has not been included in the Matchday squad.
The former Dinamo Minsk defender was also named as first team captain in their 4:3 win over Aarau in a warm-up match last month.
The match was originally scheduled to take place last Sunday but was postponed to today due to heavy snowfall and unplayable terrain.
FC St.Gallen 1879 – FC Zürich
Wednesday, 6 February 2019, 20:00 h
Kybunpark, St.Gallen
by FSL News | 6 Feb, 2019 | Players Abroad News
Sierra Leone defender Mustapha Dumbuya made his debut for Phoenix Rising, playing the first half in their goalless draw against MLS side Minnesota United FC in the opener of the 2019 Mobile Mini Sun Cup.
The former Falkirk and Partick Thistle Dumbuya, a few days ago joined the United Soccer League side.
Dumbuya is expected to be part of the squad on Thursday when Phoenix Rising takes on Sporting KC in the same competition at the Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex and kickoff at 6:00 p.m.
PHOENIX RISING FC 0-0 MINNESOTA UNITED FC – Photo by Michael Rincon
Scoring Summary:
Disciplinary Summary:
PRFC Starting XI (first half): 1-Carl Woszczynski (31’, 28-Zac Lubin); 36-Mustapha Dumbuya, 5-Joey Farrell, 3-A.J. Cochran, 8-Collin Fernandez; 25-James Musa, 23-Devin Vega, 27-Kevon Lambert; 7-Junior Flemmings, 9-Adam Jahn, 30-Jason Johnson
PRFC Starting XI (second half): 28-Zac Lubin; 50-Austin Ledbetter, 2-Doueugui Mala, 6-Kody Wakasa, 26-Amadou Dia; 52-Raheem Sumersall, 37-Moshe Perez, 59-Jose Aguinaga, 39-Karsten Hanlin, 35-Trialist 1, 33-Joey Calistri
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by FSL News | 6 Feb, 2019 | Players Abroad News
George Davies out of SKN St. Pölten Turkey trip due to injury
Sierra Leone midfielder George Davies did not travel with SKN St. Pölten to there training camp in Belek Turkey due to a knee injury, the club has said.
“SKN St. Pölten travel with a total of 24 players training camp in Turkey. In Belek without Issiaka Ouedraogo, who is currently banning back problems, and returnee George Davies, who is suffering from a knee injury. ” the club said on the website.
Stefan holiday and Valentin Lamprecht two talents from the St. Pölten Academy replaces both Davies and Ouedraogo.
The team led by Leitwolf Ranko Popovic wants to get their finishing touches for the upcoming Austria Bundesliga and the ÖFB Cup.
Attacking midfielder Davies during his loan spell in Latvia won two silverware before he returned to parent club SKN St Polten from FC Riga.
The 22-year-old made over 20 appearances including Europa League qualifying matches in his nine months spell in Latvia.
He joined Austrian side on a free transfer in July 2017 from German second league side; SpVgg Greuther Fürth on a three-year deal until 2020.
They are presently third in the Austrian Bundesliga.
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