by FSL News | 4 Aug, 2018 | Players Abroad News
As the English Champions kick-off, a potential debutant for Sierra Leone in Ethiopia Osman Kakay has played full-time in Queens Park Rangers 1-0 away defeat to Preston at the Deepdale Stadium this afternoon.
The Championship is the second tier of English football.
Steve McClaren’s return to management ended in disappointment as his side went down at Preston North End.
However, the defender (Kakay) has been a regular under the former England manager throughout pre-season.
He made his debut in QPR’s 2-1 victory over Rochdale in the EFL Cup tie in August 2016.
His first professional debut was in the Scottish Championship in January during a loan spell with Scottish side Livingston.
In Scotland, he played 12 times for Livingston. Kakay, 20 is a promising talent and Sierra Leone Coach John Keister must spoil for choices if he decides to bring in new youthful and fresh faces to his already competitive squad.
Another interesting inclusion could be Crystal Palace attacking winger Sullay Kaikai, who is also a youth product of the Selhurst London-based club.
Kaikai made his debut in the Premier League for Crystal Palace on the last day of the 2015/2016 season against Southampton.
The 20-year old striker was introduced to replace English defender Jordon Mutch in their 4-1.
Crystal Palace fans recently praised Kaikai, who was born in the London to parents hailing from Sierra Leone, after his impressive performance during their Scandinavian trip defeating Halmstads BK on July 16.
Palace won 6-1 in pre-season, with Kaikai coming off the bench to impress.
The youngster replaced Christian Benteke early on in the tie, and his display caught the eyes of many fans and soccer pundits.
He scored and provided an assist as Palace strolled to success.
In Denmark, another new face Mustapha Bundu recorded his season’s first goal for Danish top tier club Aarhus GF in their 1-0 victory over SønderjyskE.
He told football Sierra Leone, “I’m happy with the goal and hopefully more goals to come this season.”
Meanwhile, the Sierra Leone national recently played to a goalless draw in Liberia and the Leone Stars team mainly dominated by local players.
They face Ethiopian Walias in Hawassa City on September 9 a crucial game for both nations, who will be meeting for the first time at any level.
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by FSL News | 4 Aug, 2018 | Players Abroad News
Tejan Bah has declared himself ‘happy’ with his form for new Swedish club Vasterhaninge IF after his recovery from a knee operation.
The defensive midfielder, who is trading his football in Sweden with Div. 3 club Vasterhaninge IF, has been described as a hardworking technical player.
He was an impact player with former club Hammarby under 19 and U21 Premier Norra League in Sweden, scoring seven goals from midfield in all competitions in 2015.
The former Nyköpings BIS and Varmdö IF midfielder played among the best youth players at the 2014 Gothia Cup.
He scored a goal against Newcastle at the world’s largest international youth football tournament in Gothenburg.
Bah, who experienced operation last year September because of a minor meniscus is pleased with his progress and recovery.
“Basically I’m just happy with the way everything is going for me at the moment and I’m working hard to rejuvenate my career after a serious injury,” he told footballsierraleone.net.
“I’m getting some recognition again for the way that I’m proving myself on the pitch so I have to be pleased with the way things are going for me.”
“I signed in May and since then I have played 12 games no goal yet but 7 assists and we are top of the league with 29 points,” the midfielder explained.
Bah has never represented Sierra Leone when asked about his intention he said, “The opportunity to represent my country I will cherish.
“I recently trained with coach John Keister when I was on holiday in Sierra Leone last December.”
“I am hoping have done enough to convince the coach.”
“Obviously, it will be an honour to represent my country if given the chance to prove myself.”
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by FSL News | 3 Aug, 2018 | Players Abroad News
BK Häcken 1-1 RB Leipzig (1-5) Bravida Stadium – Gothenburg 02/08/2018 – Second qualifying round, 2nd leg.
A 1-1 draw for BK Häcken at the Bravida Stadium against RB Leipzig saw the Gothenburg club knocked out of the Europa League 5-1 on aggregate.
Belgium attacker Massimo Bruno just after the break in a tight second leg encounter scored the match opener in the 47th minute.
Daleho Irandust levelled the scores five minutes to full time but was more like a consolation for the home team.
Sierra Leone striker, Alhassan Crespo Kamara was again unable to find the net.
They lost heavily in Germany last week (4-0) in the first leg first leg second round of the Europa League qualifiers.
“Sad to go out, but we were playing a team that is almost favourites to win the whole Europe League. It was a class game,” says Häcken’s goal scorer Daleho Irandust.
Kamara and his club will now fully turn their attention to their ongoing Allsvenskan where they are standing 10th from fifteen matches winning only five.
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by FSL News | 1 Aug, 2018 | Players Abroad News
Moldovan Champions FC Sheriff has been eliminated from the UEFA Champions League following a goalless draw with Macedonian side Shkëndija in Moldova.
Alhaji Kamara’s side was unable to overturn a first leg 1-0 deficit on Tuesday night.
KF Shkëndija made European history after reaching the third round of this year’s Champions League qualifiers for the first time.
Besart Ibrahim’s only goal at the first meeting in Skopje proved to be enough for the Macedonian reigning Champions.
The Sierra Leone striker was again unable to find the net in both legs but remain a vital figure in the side.
The results mean FC Sheriff have dropped into the third qualifying round of the Europa League, where they will face FC Santa Coloma, Andorra, or Icelandic FC Valur.
The first leg of the third qualifying round of the Europa League FC Sheriff will play on the 9th of August in Tiraspol. The away match will be held on the 16th of August.
Follow the Uefa second qualifying round deciders
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by FSL News | 1 Aug, 2018 | Players Abroad News
IK Frej Täby defender Alie Sesay has expressed delight after his impressive performance against the Lone Star of Liberia.
Sesay was one of the foreign-based players in John Keister’s squad that played to a goalless draw in Liberia on Sunday, July 22 at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex.
The tie was the 23-year-old fourth for Sierra Leone. He made his debut against Cameroon in a 0-0 draw during the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers on 11th October 2014.
The former Barnet FC defender played his third international game for Sierra Leone in a 5-1 defeat to the Ivory Coast in November 2014.
“I was so happy to be back putting on the national pride (Sierra Leone shirt) because it has been a while,” Sesay told Football Sierra Leone.
“Now, I am really looking forward to the Ethiopia game as we have a good chance of qualifying.”
The former Leicester graduate added: “It was an overall good experience; it was a good result away from home playing with majority home-based players.
“The home-based players played really well and I was impressed with them.”
The combative defender has been one of the most consistent players for the Swedish Superettan side since joining them in 2017 from Barnet FC.
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by FSL News | 30 Jul, 2018 | Players Abroad News
Striker Sheka Fofanah says he is looking forward to playing in the Arab Club Champions Cup on Wednesday in Lebanon.
The forward, who scored on his CAF Champions League debut for Al Merreikh in a 2-1 win over Township Rollers in Khartoum in February, is hoping to help his Sudanese club get a positive result.
Al-Merrikh of Sudan will take on Syrian club Al-Jaish on Wednesday, August 1st in the first leg doubleheader at the Zgharta Sports Complex in Lebanon.
Mirdachiyyé Stadium is a 5,000-capacity and it is the home ground of Salam Zgharta football club.
The former Frýdek-Místek striker joined Al-Merrikh Sporting Club on a two-year deal in December since then he has registered nine goals.
The 20-year-old, who notably bagged a debut brace and is now focusing on winning something with his new side in Sudan.
“Always be ready because you never know who is watching at an international stage like this,” he told Football Sierra Leone from Lebanon.
“This is a great competition and I’m here to do my best at a different level. If we can get a positive result the return leg in Sudan will be up to us to complete the job,” Fofanah added.
The 2018–19 Arab Club Champions Cup is the 28th season (not including 1990) of the Arab World’s inter-club football tournament organized by Union of Arab Football Associations, (UAFA).
This is the first season since it was renamed from the Arab Club Championship to the Arab Club Champions Cup.
Fixtures
Wednesday 1 August 2018
Al-Jaish Syria – Al-Merrikh Sudan
Zgharta Stadium, Zgharta.
11 August 2018
Al-Merrikh Sudan – Syria Al-Jaish
Al-Merrikh Stadium, Omdurman.
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Sierra Leone | Highlights -