by FSL News | 30 Jan, 2021 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
- Sierra Leone will no longer host the much-awaited Zone-A U-17 men’s youth tournament due to COVID-19, the local federation (SLFA) confirmed on Friday
- The men’s youth tournament which will serve as the regional qualifiers for the 2021 CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, will be hosted in Senegal from 5th-13th February 2021
The West African Football Union (WAFU) earlier granted the tournament’s hosting rights to Sierra Leone and the tournament was previously scheduled to commence in December last year but was rescheduled for the second time to a later date, due to the outbreak of Coronavirus in Sierra Leone and logistical constraints faced by WAFU.
The SLFA says: they regret to announce to the general public that despite all efforts with all reasonable means possible, the COVID-19 situation has made it virtually impossible to host the proposed WAFU U-17 AFCON Qualifiers in Sierra Leone, bearing in mind that the country is currently under a 10 pm-5 am curfew and a national lockdown to and from the country’s capital, Freetown.
Host Senegal, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea are tipped to compete in this year’s tourney.
By Alusine Rehme Wilson – Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone.
by FSL News | 27 Jan, 2021 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
- The President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), Madam Isha Johansen, has been declared eligible to vie for membership of the FIFA Council, which is the highest decision-making body in world football
- As a result, Johansen will be hoping to rise to the top of Fifa’s decision body when elections are held at the Congress of the Confederation of African Football scheduled on 12 March 2021 in Rabat, Morocco
- The 37-member FIFA Council will include seven members from the Confederation of African Football
Johansen, who was elected as the SLFA’s boss unopposed on the 3rd August 2013, is a member of Fifa’s member Association Committee since 2017.
The CAF Executive Committee member declared her intention over a few years ago to run for SLFA second term despite rival members calling her seven years in office as overdue.
Furthermore, FIFA also approved the candidacies of the four aspirants to the CAF presidency.
The new council will be made up of the following individuals:
- The President
- CONMEBOL: one vice-president and four members
- AFC: one vice-president and six members
- UEFA: three vice-presidents and six members
- CAF: one vice-president and six members
- CONCACAF: one vice-president and four members
- OFC: one vice-president and two members
The FIFA Council replaced the largely discredited Executive Committee as FIFA’s decision-making body under reforms instituted in the wake of the 2015 corruption scandal in soccer’s world governing body.
Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, the writer @bittar32 contact bi****@*********************ne.net.
by FSL News | 22 Jan, 2021 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
- Former Sierra Leone midfielder, Mohamed Tejan Kamara, aka Opong has commenced a school building project in Kpandebu village, Nomo Faama Chiefdom, Kenema district
- An initiative aiming to provide education, and recreational facility for the kids approximately 308.8 km from Freetown
- The Heart of Giving Children Foundation is to build six classrooms, two toilets, one staff room, a playing and recreational ground in pursuit to help underprivileged kids in and around the Chiefdom
“This is about me giving back to my country. At the age of 12, I lost my dad in Kono during the war, and at age 16, I lost my mum. These two periods were the most difficult in my life. I became an orphan roaming the street of Freetown sleeping rough,” Kamara explained.
He went on, “At times I was sleeping in some unfinished buildings at Kroo Town Road before having the chance to play for Mighty Blackpool where with blessings I was able to prosper in life.”
“To be brief, after my experience as a kid, I am determined despite the obstacle to provide anything in my own little way for children in need.”
The Heart of Giving Children Foundation is in line to support the government flagship program which is the Free and Quality Education (FQE).
The Paramount Chief of Nomo Faama Chiefdom, Kenema district, Patrick Kannah Kabbah lV, has bountifully blessed the praiseworthy initiative.
“Ten months ago the foundation moved with forty feet container full of school learning materials to his Chiefdom that was shared among schools in the Chiefdom. So, I am proud of the brains behind the gesture towards our kids.”
Kannah is calling on all the youths in the Chiefdom to help in their little way to support the work.
Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, the writer Sigismond Nicol
by FSL News | 5 Jan, 2021 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
- Ten months after lockdown imposed on football and contact sports activities over fears of the spread of coronavirus pandemic, the National Sports Authority, NSA have lifted all suspension.
- In March 2020, football and other sporting activities across Sierra Leone were suspended.
As a result, the top-tier football league, division two and other sports in the country were all affected.
“Following constructive engagement with the National Covid-19 Emergency Response Center, (NaCOVERC) on the ban on sporting activities to be lifted,” NSA said in a statement.
The release further confirmed football matches and related activities, will continue behind closed doors.
“The decision is in consonance with our observance of the country’s Covid-19 regulations and restrictions in order to reduce the risk of the spread of the disease.”
Meanwhile, big spenders Bo Rangers were top of the league table with 23 points from 13 matches played during the first half of the halted season.
GAME OVER! Football in Sierra Leone suspended over Coronavirus
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by FSL News | 18 Dec, 2020 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
The Leone Stars A team will debut the Umbro outfit for the first time in March 2021 for the African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin.
Umbro says they are pleased to announce a new long-term partnership with the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA).
“Wearing the double diamond for the next four seasons, the Leone Stars become the ninth African nation to join our roster of clubs alongside the most recent addition, Federation of Uganda Football Association.
Beginning in early 2021, we’ll provide the national team – including men’s and women’s senior as well as underage teams – with match kit, training wear, off-field apparel and equipment. We look forward to a successful partnership over the coming years.” Umbro noted on their official website.
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by FSL News | 9 Dec, 2020 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
- Prominent football philanthropist and seasoned administrator, Rodney Michael, who a few weeks ago declared to contest the Presidency of the Sierra Leone Football Association, has been ‘CLEARED’ of match-fixing following a lengthy investigation.
Most notable, the match-fixing inquiry includes a World Cup qualifier between Sierra Leone and South Africa that ended goalless in Atteridgeville, South Africa, in June 2008.
The Committee says, having reviewed the evidence analysis in the report aforementioned, they have concluded that there is not enough evidence to sustain the allegation.
“These persons are therefore unequivocally discharged of all allegations of match-fixing against them by the Ministry of Sports and the Sierra Leone Football Association.”
Among those cleared were two former internationals and five officials. They are Motala AIF defender Ibrahim Koroma, former U17 skipper Samuel Barlay, East End Tigers owner Victor Lewis, Abdul Kanasiue Rollings, Rodney Michael, Alphan Koker, and Bernard Sorbeh.
However, former Sierra Leone skipper Ibrahim Kargbo, and former Administrator Abu Bakarr Kabba, including seven others, are still facing an investigation by the Committee.
It is worth mentioning that in 2019, former SLFA Administrative Secretary, Abu Bakarr Kabba was banned by Fifa for five years with a fined of US$50,000 while former Sierra Leone captain Ibrahim Kargbo booted with a life ban.
Meanwhile, In 2013, Rodney Michael and Sierra Leone superstar Mohamed Kallon were among those disqualified from contesting the SLFA presidential election.
As a result, Isha Johansen, who now doubles as CAF Executive Council member, went unopposed to become the first female president of the SLFA.
Rodney Michael remains the most revered and popular football administrator in the country. His exoneration has placed him in good footing ahead of the next SLFA’s elective congress.
Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, the writer Prince Scott @PrinceArmaniSc2.
Sierra Leone | Highlights -