by FSL News | 18 Dec, 2016 | Players Abroad News
Amadou Bakayoko is finally finding his feet with the English League One side Walsall FC since scoring a hat-trick in the Checkatrade competition against Grimsby in Walsall’s 5-2 victory back in August.
Born in Sierra Leone, the 6ft 4 striker with great physicality and pace, Bakayoko has signed an extended contract, tying him to the West Midlands-based club until 2018 with a promising future ahead of him.
“The first game we had against Grimsby was my first start for the club and was my first chance to really impress and prove something to the fans, players and staff,” said the 20-year-old.
“I’m more confident in my ability than I ever have been. It’s not arrogance. I know I can go out there and do my thing now,” the Sierra Leone-born was quoted as saying.
Walsall striker Amadou Bakayoko has signed a new contract to keep him at the club until the summer of 2018
He has made 18 appearances so far for the West Midlands-based club including Walsall 1-1 draw with Bradford City on Saturday.
During the 2016/2017 pre-season, Amadou regular goals and strong performances propelled him into the first team fray and in the first game of the League One season (home to AFC Wimbledon on 6th August) Amadou came on as a sub and provided a superb assist for Simeon Jackson.
He scored his first goal against Shrewsbury Town on his full league debut on 15th October 2016, in Walsall’s 3-2 home win.
Amadou moved to the Netherlands at age of six and started his trade in youth football at Velocitas 1897 and then moved to the prestigious FC Groningen academy, before moving to England in his mid-teens with his family.
The prolific striker who was the leading goal scorer for the Walsall youth team has also had spells at Port Vale in April 2014 and AFC Telford United.
FSL NEWS – @football_sierra
by FSL News | 13 Dec, 2016 | Players Abroad News, Sport News
Queens Park Rangers’ promising and exciting right-back, Osman Kakay, has said he will always consider playing for Sierra Leone if the country’s football body (SLFA) makes an approach or when the time is right.
Kakay, 19, who was born in England from Sierra Leone and Nigerian parents, has recently signed a new one-year deal to keep him at QPR until the summer of 2018.
Speaking to footballsierraleone.net, the youngster said: “Playing for Sierra Leone is something I will always consider, but at the moment, my main concern is my club football. To really push on and achieve big things but will not rule out the option to represent my father’s land.”
“Also, I have Nigeria and England to listen to about my international future.”
Following his outstanding performances in Queens Park Rangers’ academy, he signed his first professional contract with the club in 2015.
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 last season for Livingston.
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by FSL News | 13 Dec, 2016 | Players Abroad News
NEW DEAL FOR BUYA TURAY
Mohamed Buya Turay (Pictured) has today signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract, keeping him at AFC United until 2019.
Turay, 21, was the club’s top scorer last season registering ten Superettan goals helping the club to automatic promotion into the Swedish top flight.
Upon signing the new deal, the youngster told footballsierraleone.net: ‘I’m really happy to have signed a new contract. And, I’m looking forward to the new season.”
“Since I arrived here from Västerås SK 2015 my target was to progress as a player. I will continue to work hard and I hope this new deal gives me an additional chance to exceed 2016 achievement at the club.”
The exciting striker has been very instrumental since his arrival in Sweden but has yet to be recognised at international level for Sierra Leone.
The club said: “Buya is a player with great potential and it means a lot to us that we have been able to extend to him.
“He has contributed a lot and has been one of the pieces of the puzzle behind the Allsvenskan advancement. Buya has evolved tremendously over time with us and it goes according to the plan we had for him when he arrived.”
Turay has enjoyed productive spells at Juventus IF, Västerås SK and AFC United this season, scoring over 40 goals in as many games.
He started his playing career with childhood local club Mattia FC Waterloo in the Western Area of Sierra Leone.
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by FSL News | 12 Dec, 2016 | Players Abroad News
Five players have been shortlisted for the Sierra Leone Football.com Player Of The Year Award.
MLS striker Kei Kamara, Olimpija Ljubljana midfielder Julius Gibrilla Woobay, Swedish newly promoted side AFC United’s sensational Mohamed Buya Turay, Sheka ‘Eto’o’ Fofanah from Danish first-tier side Vejle Boldklub and FC Zurich defender Umaru ‘Zingalay’ Bandura are nominated.
You can vote for your favorite online at
http://www.sierraleonefootball.com/2016-sierra-leone-football-com-player-year-nominees
@football_sierra
by FSL News | 8 Dec, 2016 | Players Abroad News
A disappointing 2-0 away defeat for Sierra Leone skipper Umaru Bangura and his club side FC Zurich in Turkey in their final Group L match in Ankara late Thursday. (Photo: Zürich players observe a minute’s silence for the players of the Brazilian team Chapecoense prior to their UEFA Europa League group stage match against Osmanlispor)
FC Zurich crashed out of the Europa League at the hands of Turkish football’s dark horse Osmanlispor who qualify for the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 after defeating the Swiss team FC Zurich.
Midfielders Dzon Delarge and Erdal Kilicaslan were the scorers for Osmanlispor.
Bangura, 29, who is unavailable for a post-match interview was playing in his usual position in central defence as the Turkish side Osmanlispor finished the group as leaders. They have 10 points. Spain’s Villarreal beat Romanian Steaua Bucharest 2-1 and completed group stage in the second spot.
Meanwhile, here are the eight transferring teams to the UEFA Europa League having finished third in their Champions League group: Beşiktaş, København, Legia, Ludogorets, Lyon, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Rostov, and Tottenham.
The round of 32 draw takes place on Monday and will be streamed live in UEFA.com’s DrawCentre from 13:00CET
Group L results:
Osmanlispor (Turkey) – Zurich (Switzerland): 2-0
Villarreal (Spain) – Steaua Bucharest (Romania): 2-1
Group L standings:
Teams P W D L G F GA +/- Pts
Osmanlispor 6 3 1 2 10 7 3 10
Villarreal 6 2 3 1 9 8 1 9
Zurich 6 1 3 2 5 7 -2 6
Steaua 6 1 3 2 5 7 -2 6
@football_sierra
by FSL News | 7 Dec, 2016 | Players Abroad News
Umaru Bangura’s Swiss Challenge League leaders on Thursday will be away in Turkey taking on Osmanlispor in their final Europa League group stage contest with a chance to reach the competition round of 32.
Precisely, Bangura’s Zürich-based club can qualify from Group L with a win in Turkey, but this tie is deeming to be his side’s toughest tests yet.
After reclaiming his spot in the FC Zürich first team four weeks ago, when they thrashed Servette 4-0 away from home at the Stadium de Genève, the Sierra Leone skipper has played in every game since returning from injury.
Mathematically, any of the four teams are still within sight of making the UEFA Europa League last 32 as only a single point separated them.
However, FC Zürich has an unpredictable record against Turkish oppositions, in their previous games; they won twice, two draws and two defeats.
FC Zürich won 2-1 when they host the Turkish side Osmanlıspor for the first time, on 29 September at their Letzigrund, Zurich Stadium in match-day two.
But Bangura’s side will have to be at their best this time if they are to progress, as Osmanlıspor remain unbeaten at home in Europe this season with four wins and a draw registered clean sheets in all of those wins.
The Swiss side have failed to make it through the UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League group stage in two attempts since making the cut on their first appearance in 2007/08.
Elsewhere, Villarreal who have now won just one of their last five matches will hosts Steaua Bucharest in another tough mouth-watering contest at their Estadio El Madrigal, Stadium Villarreal.
@football_sierra
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