16-year Arsenal prodigy Osman Kamara has expressed his desire to represent Sierra Leone soon but admitted if England comes calling, it will be difficult to turn down.

The young striker, who was speaking to the Arsenal website – said, “I’ve definitely got ambitions to play international football one day, but I’m still a bit torn over which nation I would choose.”

“My parents are from Sierra Leonne, and I think playing for them would make my family and parents really proud, but if England comes calling it will be tough to turn that down! Right now all I’m really focusing on is becoming a reliable team-mate, being consistent and showing my qualities. Those are my only real goals for the rest of the season.”

• How it all started for the Sierra Leone native

“I started playing for my first-ever Sunday league team when I was eight years old. It was called Senrab FC in east London, which is where a few famous players have started off down the years. It was a real eye-opener for me that if I really want it and if I work hard and sharpen my technique, then I could make a career and a journey out of football.”

“I played with Senrab for two seasons and then I had a trial at Crystal Palace – that was for seven weeks and was my first time going to an academy environment. It was all new to me, the intensity, the level and it was seriously different from what I was used to, so it took a while for me to adjust on the trial. I thought I played well, but it just wasn’t to be there. Funny story, but I actually met Noah Cooper [fellow first-year scholar] while I was there.”

• “It was such a good feeling when Arsenal signed me, especially because it’s my boyhood club.”

About three weeks after I didn’t get signed by Palace, I got offered a trial at Arsenal at under-10 level. Obviously I was over the moon, but also a bit nervous because it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I had to stay focused and just take the opportunity. The trial started really well – they put me into matches after the first week because I was playing so well and scoring a lot of goals, then they extended my trial for six weeks and then signed me off the back it. Just like meeting Noah when I was at Palace, I came up against Karmani Ryan [also a first-year scholar] on my Arsenal trial, when he was at Chelsea.

It was such a good feeling when Arsenal signed me, especially because it’s my boyhood club. My family were extremely proud of me and it gave me a real confidence boost, and after that I was playing really well because I knew that I was good enough to play for a club academy in London.

Read the Full Article Throughout the season, we’ll be catching up with our young Gunners to find out more about their route to our academy. This week, it’s Osman Kamara.

GAIS have returned to the Swedish Superettan after being crowned Ettan Södra champions following a 1-1 draw with Lunds BK on Saturday.

After spending 2020/2021 out of the Swedish Second tier football, Gais proved they are ready for another crack in the second-highest level in Sweden.

“At the start of this year’s season, the goal was clear we are going back! And so it became. Thank you to those of you who supported GAIS in every way. Now we have to finish the season. There will be a celebration in connection with the last match, at home against IFK Malmö on November 5th,” the club said on their website.

The 23-year-old Sierra Leone-born Michael Kargbo contributed eleven goals helping the club promotion.

In 2020, he featured 29 times in all competitions for Varnamo at the Ettan Södra with 14 goals.

He was Varnamo’s top scorer, with six assists that season before his move to Gais. 

Vi står alltid kvar! pic.twitter.com/8EoI2X1ZsA

— GAIS (@GAIS_SE) October 29, 2022

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Fatih Karagümrük defender Steven Caulker is delighted with his current form since joining the Turkish Süper Lig.

The Sierra Leone skipper, who missed preseason, admitted that the International friendly games against South Africa and DRC helped him despite the disappointing results.

The former Liverpool and Tottenham defender has fast established himself as a first-choice under the supervision of Italian legend Andrea Pirlo.

“The games I played for the National team in September were my first competitive since the summer after the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau as I missed preseason – while I was at Fenerbahçe waiting for transfer,” Caulker told FootballSierraLeone.Net.

“I joined up with teammates at Karagümrük late after I signed, but I have been working on building my match fitness. Games in South Africa and Morocco helped me return to my club and be match ready.”

Caulker, who scored his first goal for Fatih in a 3-0 win over Hatayspor in his third appearance, was pleased with how things are improving.

“Since I’ve returned, I have been in the team – it’s being good, lots of recent results being more positive.”

On Manager Andrea Pirlo, Caulker lauded the Italian legend for doing unbelievable work to improve the club.

“Obviously, a young manager in a different league, different from the clubs Andrea Pirlo played for, the likes of Juventus and Milan at the top-level football.  

“A big change him coming here, but I feel his work being really positive. We all believed in him. We’re applying what he asked us to do on the pitch. I am pleased to be a part of it.

“We got a good squad – and after recent results, it nicer for us at the middle of the table working on how we can sort of get to top five. The manager has an unbelievable work ethic. We are working hard day in and day out, and I hope this will help in terms of chasing a place in Europe.”

Fatih Karagümrük presently twelfth on the log after their last two straight wins. Their next outing is a difficult task against Galatasaray SK on Saturday. 

Steven Caulker is delighted with his current form after helping @karagumruk_SK to two straight wins in the @turkishsuperlig

Caulker has fast established himself as a first-choice under Italian legend Andrea Pirlo. @karagumruk_sk #SaloneTwitter #FSLNews #SierraLeone. pic.twitter.com/OPdmgIx3rM

— Alie Bittar (@bittar32) October 27, 2022

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Striker Amadou Bakayoko opened his Bolton Wanderer’s League One account this season in their 2-1 win over Burton Albion on Tuesday.

The striker drew parity in the 87th minute after Samuel Joseph Hughes had given the visitors the lead in the 73rd minute.

Jon Dadi Bodvarsson completed the dramatic League One comeback win in the 98th minute as Bolton finally ended their Burton curse.

Bodvarsson struck a last-gasp winner in the eighth minute of stoppage time after Bakayoko equalised after 87 minutes.

Wanderers’ victory was their first in eight meetings against the Brewers, having lost five and drawn two of their previous meetings dating back to 2015.

The win moved Ian Evatt’s side up to fifth after two straight wins, while Burton sits firmly second from the bottom.

⚽️ GOAL: BAKAYOKO!!!

At last! A brilliant finish from Bakayoko with an angled volley, gives the striker his first league goal of the season and a deserved equaliser for the Whites.

⚪️ 1-1 🟡 [87’] #BWFC 🐘🏰 pic.twitter.com/h9kigMm45O

— Bolton Wanderers (@OfficialBWFC) October 25, 2022

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• Return Leg – Zambia Vs Sierra Leone -Heroes Stadium Saturday, 29 October 

Hapoel Rishon Lezion winger, Emmanuel Samadia will not be part of the Sierra Leone U23 trip to Lusaka Zambia.

The Israeli second-tier side has lost their last two games as they are desperate to win their next match on Friday when they take on Hapoel Petah Tikva FC away from home. 

Samadia has been a pivotal figure for Hapoel Rishon Lezion since joining the club. As a result, the club need his contribution. 

Coach Amidu Karim’s side bid for a place in the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations next year in Morocco but must overcome their Chipolopolo counterparts at the Heroes Stadium in the second leg tie.

Samadia, 21, will be a big miss for Sierra Leone after a decent first-leg performance from the Israel-based midfielder in Liberia in the 1-1 draw at the SDK last Saturday.

Nonetheless, coach Karim is confident of a positive result in the decider. However, the four other foreign-based who will be available are Mbabane Swallows’ midfielder Mohamed Kabia, Troyes U19 striker Moses Turay and Italy-based right-back Demba Kamara and Columbus Crew attacker Jay Tee Kamara.

Over two legs, the aggregate winner will face either Egypt or Eswatini in the final qualifying round.

The U23 AFCON tournament will serve as a ticket for the U23 Paris 2024 Olympics.

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