by FSL News | 6 Feb, 2018 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Head Coach of Sierra Leone national team, John Keister, on Friday, February, 3 with immediate effect resigned his position as the head coach of Sierra Leone premier league side, FC Johansen.
The 47-year-old former Walsall and Dover Athletics midfielder, in a press statement, failed to mention the reason (s) for his decision and when further asked by this media, he stated that: “It is high time I called it a day for a newer challenge.”
The press statement confirming his decision reads: “This release is to inform the general public that as of today the 2nd February 2018, I have parted company with FC Johansen Football Club.”
“I would like to thank the owners of the club for their support over the years and most importantly the players for their trust and dedication during the time with the club. A special thanks to Alusine Kabba whom I have worked with throughout my time at the club not only as the Welfare Officer but as my little brother.”
The former Leone Stars midfielder further stated that he was looking forward to working with and developing young players in the country and to also giving them the opportunity to live their dream through football.
Keister, who was appointed head coach of the national team in May, 2017, has enjoyed good coaching time with FC Johansen, qualifying them from first division to the premier league and also guided them to their first major domestic title, the controversial 2016 Leocem FA Cup title after a 1-0 victory over Republic of Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces FC (RSLAF) at the Wusum Stadium in Makeni.
Follow us on twitter @football_sierra – The writer @morrisjr88
by FSL News | 19 Jan, 2018 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone ranking in photo
Sierra Leone have moved down to 98th position in the first 2018 FIFA world rankings announced on Thursday.
The national men’s soccer side finished 2017 as the 97th best-ranked team in the world.
In Africa, Leone Stars position unchanged as the 23rd best on the continental pecking order – they’re static on 360 points.
Their highest ever rankings came in August 2014, when they were ranked 50th globally.
Sierra Leone last official competitive match was against Nigeria during the WAFU Cup of Nations in September 2017, they were defeated 2-0 by Nigeria’s home-based Eagles at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium in Ghana.
Meanwhile, Tunisia have replaced Senegal at the top of the continent global ladder.
Africa’s top 10 (World position in brackets)
Tunisia (23) Senegal (24) Egypt (30) Morocco (39) DR Congo (43) Burkina Faso (44) Cameroon (45) Ghana (50) Nigeria (51) Algeria (57)
Germany maintained top spot of a static top ten, while Iceland (20, up 2) are the only team to enter the top 20, with the Netherlands (21, down 1) dropping out.
Follow Us On twitter @football_sierra @bitta32 Photo Credit Lansana Kamara
by FSL News | 22 Dec, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Liberian FA president, Musa Bility, has resigned as Chairman of the Fifa Taskforce to Sierra Leone, just three months after he was appointed.
Senegal’s FA boss, Augustine Senghor is expected to take over from Bility.
The controversial LFA’s president is presently under investigation by the investigatory chamber of FIFA’s Ethics Committee, Football Sierra Leone understands.
Bility was appointed in September and assisted by two Fifa employees – Veron Mosengo-Omba and Solomon Mudege among others, to help resolve the ongoing power struggle in Sierra Leone football.
In a letter dated 1 December signed by Bility, seen by this medium, Bility has tendered an unexpected resignation letter to the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Ahmad Ahmad.
Bility says, “Mr president, due to my very busy schedule which is making it very difficult to focus on the situation in Sierra Leone, I wish to request your good offices to kindly accept my resignation as Chairman of the FIFA Taskforce on Sierra Leone with immediate effect.”
After nearly a year of the new Fifa’s involvement, a mediation team led by Bility made several recommendations to help resolve the ongoing impasse after concluding its findings.
It is now uncertain whether the communiqué that was issued which redesigned the roadmap to heal the bitter and protracted rift in the game after a two-day visit led by Bility, will be followed by the new Chairman.
The power struggle over the running of football in Sierra Leone deteriorated after the FA’s Congress in Makeni was postponed unexpectedly in 2015.
Meanwhile, the SLFA boss Isha Johansen, and her secretary-general Chris Kamara were both ordered by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to step aside following their charges of abuse of office and public funds.
Both denied any wrongdoing, the case is ongoing.
The SLFA in November released a statement sacking Christopher Abdul Kamara as secretary general of FA.
Follow the writer @bittar32 Contact: Bi****@*********************ne.net
by FSL News | 22 Dec, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone men’s national side will finish 2017 unchanged as the 97th best-ranked team in the world, according to the latest FIFA World Rankings released on Thursday 21st December.
In Africa, the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone position also untouched (23rd) on the continental pecking order after maintaining 360 points.
Sierra Leone’s highest ever rankings came in August 2014, when they were ranked 50th globally and 7th in Africa.
The Leone Stars previous highest ranking was in 1996 when they reached the 51st place on the global ladder.
Meanwhile, there were no changes to the top 10 in FIFA’s latest standings, with 2014 World Cup champions Germany retaining top spot.
Brazil maintained second place ahead of 2016 European Championship winners Portugal, while Lionel Messi’s Argentina are still at fourth.
Senegal still remains the top-ranked African side in the world having kept their 23rd position.
Tunisia‚ Egypt‚ DR Congo, Morocco, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria and Algeria completed the top ten on the Continent.
Sierra Leone 97th – In Africa 23rd
Follow Us On twitter @football_sierra
by FSL News | 30 Nov, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), have lifted their suspension on national head coach John Keister, the FA said on Thursday.
Keister, who was suspended with two others ‘Indefinitely’ after a leaked audio recording emerged in August, has had his suspension rescinded.
The FA issued a statement today confirming that Keister will commence preparation for the Sierra Leone second qualifying outing in Ethiopia March 2018 in the race to Cameroon 2019.
The FA, also confirmed that Prince Tamba Moses and Alusine Kabba suspension has also been lifted.
Keister guided the national team to a 2-1 victory over Kenya – his first win in charge of Leone Stars in their opening 2019 Africa Cup of Nations first leg qualifying tie in Freetown on June 10.
He lost his first match as coach of Leone Stars in an international friendly against Liberia Lone Stars in Monrovia.
Prior to his suspension, the Manchester-born, who started his career at Tigres in 1992 before moving to England in 1993 was apologetic.
He stated in his apology, “On 12th July 2017, an audio clip in which I spoke on some issues was widely circulated and went viral, globally.
“I am very sorry with apologies and will like to categorically state that, the discussion was entirely private and meant for just four of us, who were in my vehicle which was in motion.
“It was not deliberate and never intended to smear, defamed; castigate anybody’s hard-won reputation or character. It was either premeditated or had any semblance of conspiracy against anybody or an organisation, agency or country.”
“I must express my utter disappointment and frustration over the recording of my discussion without my approved consent,” Keister regretfully stated
Follow us on Twitter @football_sierra
by FSL News | 30 Nov, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Christopher Abdul Kamara, the suspended secretary general of Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), has been sacked with immediate effect.
Kamara and the FA boss Isha Johansen, a CAF Executive Committee member were both ordered by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to step aside following their charges of abuse of office and public funds.
Both denied any wrongdoings and the case is ongoing.
According to the SLFA, Kamara, who was instructed by the Executive Committee following his suspension to do an official handing over note to the acting General Secretary Abdul Rahman Swarray and also release the official email password, has defied orders.
The SLFA said in a statement: “The present Executive Committee of the SLFA has relieved the General Secretary of SLFA Christopher Abdul Kamara of his duties with immediate effect for an act of Gross Insubordination and Misconduct.”
“He was instructed by the Executive Committee to do an official handing over note to the acting General Secretary Abdul Rahman Swarray and also release the official email password.
“After several verbal instructions, the Acting President, Brima Mazola Kamara gave an official ultimatum to Christopher Kamara to release the password within 72 hours but did not comply.
“Therefore, the Executive Committee is left with no option but to act in accordance with its powers within the SLFA Statutes *(Article 34(f))* and the SLFA Condition of Service for staff, The FA’s statement concluded.
However, Football’s world governing body, Fifa a few weeks ago overturned a decision by SLFA to set aside Isha Johansen and Chris Kamara from their respective roles, ruling it ‘invalid’
“We deem that the dismissals are invalid and the SLFA President and General Secretary remain in their function,” Fifa Secretary General Fatma Samoura stated in a letter.
Follow us on twitter @football_sierra
Sierra Leone | Highlights -