by FSL News | 4 Jun, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Newly appointed Sierra Leone head coach, John Keister, has selected a squad of 20 players including three foreign-based for the testing encounter against Lone Stars of Liberia on June 5 in Monrovia that is expected to be played at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium.
Khalifa Jabbie (Pictured) just from winning the treble with FC Sheriff Tiraspol in Moldova, Finland-based Tornion Pallo -47 striker Thomas Koroma, who is expected to make his Sierra Leone debut in Liberia and Austria-based midfielder George Davies on loan to Floridsdorfer AC from German second-tier side Greuther Fürth 1903 are all named in the squad to face Liberia.
However, the team is dominated mainly by home-based players.
The test will be Keister’s first encounter since replacing Sellas Tetteh in May.
The match is a warm-up encounter ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers opener against the Harambee Stars of Kenya on June 10 in Freetown.
Liberia, on the other hand, will use the encounter as preparation ahead of their Group G AFCON opener away to the Warriors of Zimbabwe on June 11.
Sierra Leone squad to Liberia:
1. Ibrahim Bangura aka Stop pain- SL Police, 2. Issac Caulker- FC Kallon, 3. Yeamie Dunia- FC Johansen, 4. Mohamed L. Bangura-Ports Authority, 5. Abu Bakarr Suma- FC Johansen, 6. Kemson Fofanah- EE Lions, 7. Mohamed Kamanor- FC Kallon, 8. Julius Gobah- Ports Authority, 9. Abu Bakarr Samura aka Lucio- FC Kallon, 10. Abu Kanu- Mighty Blackpool, 11. Ibrahim S. Barrie- FC Johansen, 12. Khalifa Jabbie- FC Sheriff Tiraspol, 13. Nathaniel T. Fullah- Ports Authority, 14. John Caulker- Mighty Blackpool on loan to FC Johansen, 15. Alfred Nyuma- Central Parade, 16. Donald Wellington- EE Lions on loan to Ports Authority, 17. Abdul Bangura aka Babu- FC Johansen, 18. Mamoud Fofanah aka Lampard- FC Kallon, 19. Thomas Koroma- TP-47, Finland, 20. George Davies-Gruther Furth, Germany
Technical team: John Keister- Head Coach – Amidu Karim- Asst. Coach 1- John Sama Asst Coach 2 – Prince Tamba Moses- Goalkeeper Coach.
Team Doctor:Â Yusuf U. Kamara
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by FSL News | 1 Jun, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
The Sierra Leone national team remained static at 113 in the latest FIFA world rankings ahead of their fixture against Kenya on the 10th of June at the National Stadium in Freetown.
Sierra Leone has not played any international match since September 2016, John Keister’s men are 39 places behind their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Group F opponent the Harambee Stars of Kenya.
The Kenyans under the supervision of local coach Stanley Okumbi moved four places up to 74th from 78th they occupied last month.
Sierra Leone last qualified for continental showpiece 21 years since 1996 in South Africa, while the Harambee Stars are taking on a difficult project of qualifying for their first AFCON in 15 years, the last time they featured in the continental showpiece was in 2004.
Meanwhile, In Africa, Egypt top of the chart. Egypt and Senegal also rose in the ranking, to 20th and 27th respectively.
Egypt 20, Senegal 27, Cameroon 32, Nigeria 38, Congo DR 39, Tunisia 41, Burkina-Faso 41, Ghana 49th, and Algeria 53 made up the top ten.
There were no changes in the world top 10 positions as Brazil remained first, Argentina (2nd) Germany (3rd) Chile (4th) Colombia (5th) France (6th) Belgium (7th) Portugal (8th) Switzerland (9th) and Spain (10th).
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by FSL News | 30 May, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
With both countries preparing for the first leg encounter of the 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifiers, the Vice President of the Liberian Football Association (LFA), Musa Shannon has hinted that modalities are being put in place for a friendly encounter with Sierra Leone possibly at least few days before both teams play their respective matches on June 10th and 11th.
Sierra Leone’s Leone Stars are billed to play against the Harambee Stars of Kenya in Freetown during that weekend while the Lone Stars of Liberia will be flying to Harare, Zimbabwe to clash with the Warriors of Zimbabwe in their Group G opener.
Shannon made this disclosure during a radio interview with UN Radio in the Liberian capital, Monrovia on Monday.
Sierra Leone have not kicked a ball since they last failed to qualify for the AFCON 2017 in Gabon.
Leone Stars last encounter was against Les Éléphants of Ivory Coast in Abidjan and it ended in a 1-1 draw. The Lone Stars of Liberia, on the other hand, lost 1-0 to Leone Stars next month’s opponent Kenya November 15, 2016, at the Moi International Sports Centre in a friendly test.
Fans of both countries have questioned what they considered to be serious preparation gap for a huge tournament like this.
A friendly for both countries is, therefore, a welcomed idea though it also comes with fears that players run the risk of suffering from injuries they might not be able to recover from in time for the June 10th and 11th games.
Sierra Leone head coach John Keister, whose first task will start with a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Harambee Stars of Kenya in Freetown on 10 June will welcome the Liberia test.
Liberian on the other hand will use the Leone Stars tie as homework ahead of their away trip to Zimbabwe five days after on June 11 in Harare.
Meanwhile, Kenya have recently played Uganda to a 1-1 draw (March 23), defeated DRC 2-1 (March 26) and held Malawi to a goalless in April as part of their preparations for the qualifiers and the Football Kenya Federation are still in search of one more test match before facing Sierra Leone, after their June 4th friendly with Palancas Negras of Angola to be played in Machakos cancelled.
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by FSL News | 23 May, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone’s newly appointed Sierra Leone head coach John Keister has named his first squad since replacing Sellas Tetteh this month.
The former Margate FC midfielder will start his first spell as Leone Stars head coach with a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Harambee Stars of Kenya in Freetown on 10 June.
AFC Eskilstuna’s striker Mohamed Buya Turay, who continues to garner international acclaim received first Sierra Leone call-up in Keister’s 19-man foreign-based selection.
The pacy attacker was impressive last season in the Swedish second-tier with AFC scoring 10 goals in Superettan division and was the club’s top scorer helping them to promotion to the Swedish top-flight. He has scored three Allsvenskan goals this season in eight appearances.
The Manchester-born also included Richmond Kickers striker on loan from DC United Alhaji Kamara, BK Hacken top goal scorer in the photo with Buya Turay, Alhassan ‘Crespo’ Kamara on the list.
Miami FC anchorman and skipper Michael Lahoud, who was part of the Leone Stars campaign during the 2015 Afcon qualifiers are also recalled by Keister.
Lahoud made his Leone Stars debut in a 3-2 victory for Sierra Leone over Equatorial Guinea in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification in August 2013.
Kwame Quee, who in recent matches has been regular, also included for the first time as a foreign-based from Iceland top-tier side VÃkingur ÓlafsvÃk.
Sierra Leone Squad Below:
Keepers: Solomon Z. Morris- France- GK 2. Alhaji Dauda Kamara- Guinea- GK
Defenders: Mustapha Dumbuya- Partick Thistle Scotland), Hassan Milla Sesay- FC Lahti Finland), Captain -Umaru Bangura- FC Zurich Switzerland), David Simbo- Yeni Amasyaspor Turkey),
Midfielders: (Micheal Lahoud – Miami FC USA), (Mohamed M. Kamara- Kuwait SC Kuwait), (Alfred Z. Sankoh- Denizlispor K Turkey ), (Julius G. Wobay-Olimpija Ljubljana Slovenia), (John B. Kamara- FC Kaisar Kazakhstan), (Kalifa Jabbie- FC Sheriff Tiraspol Moldova), (George Davies- on loan Floridsorfer AC Austria), (Abdul Sesay JS Hercules Finland), (Kwame Quee- VÃkingur ÓlafsvÃk Iceland ).
Strikers: (Kei Kamara- New England Revolution USA), (Alhassan Kamara – BK Hacken Sweden), (Alhaji Kamara DC United USA on to Richard Kickers), (Mohamed Buya Turay- AFC Eskilstuna Sweden)
Head Coach John Keister:
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by FSL News | 18 May, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Former Sierra Leone international, John Keister, will face the press for the first time as the new head coach of Leone Stars replacing Ghanaian Sellas Tetteh.
He was heavily involved with Leone Stars under Sellas Tetteh. (Photo Credit Martin Wusha Conteh)
Keister, 46, will be officially unveiled by the Ministry of Sports and the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) eight months after Leone Stars narrowly eliminated by Ivory Coast in Bouake for a place in Gabon 2017.
Football Sierra Leone understands that the former Chester City and Shrewsbury Town midfielder will work with an all-local and former Sierra Leone internationals as technical staffs.
Margate FC former player/assistant manager will start his first spell as Leone Stars head coach with a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Harambee Stars in Freetown on 10 June.
Former Sierra Leone skippers Abu Bakarr Tostao Kamara and John Sama both captain the National team in the 1994 and 1996 Nations Cup in Tunisia and South Africa respectively are expected to be assisting Keister.
Although he was born in Manchester England, Keister started his career at Tigres in 1992 before moving to England in 1993.
Keister, capped 2 times for Sierra Leone has played for Walsall, Chester City, Shrewsbury Town, Stevenage Borough, Margate and Dover Athletic where he was captain before returning to previous club Margate on a free transfer in September 2009.
He played in two World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria and Morocco for Sierra Leone. Making him the first player from the club to receive international recognition whilst playing for them
Keister was player/assistant manager at the club but left in February 2011, and prior to this appointment has been the head coach of FC Johansen.
He guided FC Johansen to lift the 2016 Sierra Leone FA Cup. The club’s first major domestic trophy and was the assistant to Sellas Tetteh during the qualifiers for 2017 Nations Cup.
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by FSL News | 9 May, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Dear Madam Isha Johansen,
I am sure you must have seen the latest draws of the AFCON 2019 campaign and like me; you must be fervently saying a little prayer every morning. In fact, I can even imagine you utter these words; “Oh Lord, I pray that you will provide for our darling Leone Stars the strength, commitment, dedication and above all, the magic wand that would ensure them a place in the finals of the continent’s biggest showpiece.- Amen”
Well, while I believe in prayers, they alone cannot take us to the final. We need more than prayers. We have to fix our perennial problems and the FA will have to do more than prayers.
Since 1996 in South Africa, Leone Stars have not qualified for the Nations Cup. That was 21 years ago and before you and I started using Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. We have been absent in the continent’s masterpiece with a record of 11 times of trying. Yet, we do not seem to have learnt from our mistakes.
As a lover of Salone football and a soccer pundit, I eat, drink and sleep football. I talk to a lot of football pundits and enthusiasts as well. I am sure you do the same and from what I hear from them, our failure to reach the continent’s top competition could be down to the following; lack of proper planning leading to poor preparation in the build-up to qualification campaigns, the absence of a proper football structure and the football politics. Do they sound familiar?
The Leone Stars will kick start their 2019 AFCON campaign at home against the Harambee Stars next month. For me, for you and almost all of our soccer-loving populace, this should be a perfect home game to send a loud message in Group F.
Our first two opening matches against Kenya and Ethiopia are must-win games if we are to strengthen our grip in a group that Ghana’s Black Star fancies their chances as the strongest and one of the most consistent performers in recent years in African football.
With regards to our last Afcon campaign – I will give credit to the players and their Ghanaian coach, Sellas Tetteh; as we narrowly missed out on securing qualification to Gabon 2017 after drawing 1-1 with Ivory Coast in Bouake back in September 2016.
Madame FA President, as you have already seen the fixtures, I am tempted to ask- have you announced any preparation for the Leone Stars opener next month? Are we waiting for the usual last minute to apply the fire brigade approach? I note with keen interest that there are contradicting reports on Sellas Tetteh’s position and your FA led by you keeps saying he is still the man for the job.
There are three sides to a story. Have heard two sides to the stories? What is the third, I mean the truth to the story? Is he or is he not going to take the boys out to the pitch in time for the opener in Freetown next month? From what I heard, Tetteh is currently in charge of Ghana’s top-flight side, Liberty Professionals who are in a deep relegation fight in the league.
The 60-year-old Ghanaian Under-20 World Cup winner had said he would not run away from the Leone Stars coaching job but after the loss to Ivory Coast in September last year and with rumours of unpaid salary, there were indications that Tetteh was ready to move away from the team. He was fed up and was only willing to sign a long-term deal until all arrears have been paid, others have plainly put it.
Madam Johansen, while Leone Stars players are yet to kick a ball in readiness for the Harambee Stars next month, it would interest you to know that our opponents have recently played Uganda to a 1-1 draw (March 23), defeated DRC 2-1 (March 26) and held Malawi to a goalless in April as part of their preparations for the qualifiers and for a place in Cameroon, 2019. On our side, we have not done anything. You do not qualify to these competitions just like that. Preparation is the key and so far, we are clearly failing to prepare.
Following 2019 draws, Deputy Minister of Sports Al-Sankoh Conteh told this medium that government has assured Leone Stars of its full support in their quest to reach the African Nations Cup 2019 in Cameroon. He even said: “The government is willing to give all the necessary support to ensure we have a plan early and mobilize the most qualified and best of our players without any bias,” Well these were nice sentiments expressed by the Minister. However, we await these words to be backed by action and so far, we have not yet learnt how to plan early.
Madam President, tell any Sierra Leonean that Leone Stars will qualify this time for the Nation Cup and some will roll their eyes if not hiss. We are not a nation of pessimist but the reality is that because of inaction, people have lost hopes of once again seeing the green white and blue represented at the Nations Cup. Can you prove these doubters, including me wrong?
Sierra Leoneans have waited for too long and we are now desperately waiting to see our darling Leone Stars qualify for the Nations Cup and for a start; I am going to submit a list of players who, based on their present form and experience, have what it takes to be part of a Leone Stars build-up and the qualifiers.
Keeper: (Solomon Zombo Morris US Quevilly-Rouen France)
Defenders: (Captain Umaru Bangura FC Zürich), (David Simbo Yeni Amasyaspor Turkey), (Mustapha Dumbuya Partick Thistle Scotland), (Hassan Milla Sesay FC Lahti Finland), (Alie Sesay IK Frej Sweden), (Ishmael Koroma Nyköpings BIS Sweden)
Midfielders: (Mohamed Medo Kamara Kuwait SC), (Alfred Sankoh Denizlispor Turkey), (John Kamara FC Kaisar Kazakhstan), (Abdul Sesay JS Hercules Finland), (Khalifa Jabbie FC Sheriff Tiraspol Moldova), (Michael Lahoud Miami FC USA), (Rodney Strasser Gil Vicente F.C. Portugal).
Forwards: (Kei Kamara New, England Revolution MLS), Alhassan Kamara, BK Hacken Sweden), (Mohamed Buya Turay, AFC Eskilstuna Sweden), (Gibrilla Wobay NK Olimpija Ljubljana Slovenian)
With all said and done, is the FA and by extension, the government ready to put smiles on the faces of this soccer-loving nation once again?
I wait with baited breath but quickly, let me end by congratulating you on your recent appointment as Chair-lady of Women’s Football in Africa.
I hope you will represent our country to the very best of your abilities.
Good Luck!!!
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Sierra Leone | Highlights -Â