Day: October 12, 2023

Curtis Davies and eight other foreign-based players have arrived at Leone Stars camp in Morocco for friendly matches against Benin and Somalia on the 14 and 17, respectively.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Curtis Davies banks on experience to boost Sierra Leone dream

Former West Bromwich and Derby centre-back Curtis Davies is optimistic his twenty-years professional football will help the Sierra Leone national team as he joins new International teammates.

Davies, 38, presently playing for League One side Cheltenham Town, has arrived at Leone Stars camp in Morocco for friendly matches against Benin and Somalia on the 14 and 17, respectively.

Acknowledging he is in the twilight of his career, however, his professional know-how can help nurture his new International teammates.

With over 500 professional matches for clubs like Birmingham, Aston Villa, West Brom, Hull and Derby, Davies told Football Sierra Leone that he banks on his professional ability to guide others.

“I hope my experience can help this time – I think being an older player, having played at the level I have played at, I would like to think the professionalism I bring and the standards I have adhered to in my whole career – will hopefully assist the group, But first, I need to know my teammates, as players, as people and from there – you can help people individually.

“For now, is all about me coming into this camp, getting to know people, the technical team, getting to know the way things are goning to be done so that hopfully, in the next camp for the World Cup qualifiers, I am better prepare Individually and people know me a bit more.”

  • On Receiving The Call-Up

 “When I got the call, it was an initial shock, if I am being honest. Because obviously, at my age, I thought the opportunity to play for Sierra Leone had gone. 

It was something that had always been at the back of my head. But, what it is, I never want to be the one to reach out. 

It could have been easy to try during the AFCON in Cameroon when there was success. Again, at the time, I did not want to jump at the success of others.

  •  Davies On His Sierra Leone Root 

“When I spoke to my dad after receiving the call – in his voice, I knew I had to do it, to come and play for the team – he was so proud.

My dad is the motivational factor in this. Obviously, when I was younger, I represented England at the U21 level. I then was in some four squads as I got older. 

I could have played for Ireland – it was never a question of playing for Ireland or Sierra Leone. That is why I never play for Ireland, either. 

Is a case of my dad has done everything in my life to give me the best opportunity to be a player, so I think at this stage of my career, to be able to do this is a blessing. 

I would like to dedicate my dad – he made this happen for all those years of running around to various football pitches. From County football, District football and them even for Premier League, my dad will go everywhere.”

Between 2006 and 2007, Davies earned three caps for England under-21s before he was drafted in Fabio Capello’s first England squad in January 2008. 

On Saturday, Sierra Leone kicks off their 2026 World Cup preparations with a friendly against Benin in Morocco at the Stade Bechir, Casablanca, before taking on Somalia on Tuesday at the Stade Berrechid.

The Leone Stars journey for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Mexico and Canada will begin in November 2023 against Ethiopia and African powerhouse Egypt. 

The others in Group A are Burkina-Faso Guinea-Bissau and Djibouti in the race to the 2026 World Cup.

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Curtis Davies first Leone Stars training session in Casablanca, Morocco
Curtis Davies first Leone Stars training session in Casablanca, Morocco
Caf 'A' licensed coach Victoria Conteh set for SFEF sport education program
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Caf A licenced coach Victoria embraces empowerment role  

CAF A Licence female trainer Victoria Conteh, the first woman to coach a top-tier men’s football club in Sierra Leone, is set to hit the road running – on a quest to educate the next generation of coaches across Sierra Leone.

Coach Conteh to join hands in the Sport For Empowerment Foundation Grassroots coaches and management training to be rolled out from the 14th of October 2023 across Sierra Leone for up to three weeks.

Over the years, she has been working with the SFEF foundation across Sierra Leone to promote grassroots education programs for young coaches in rural areas.

In May of 2022, she led their first-ever grassroots coaches management and education training program in Kono. In August of the same year, a follow-up training program was organized in Kono, with coaches from various areas across the country participating in the training.

This month, she will lead a group of expert coaches who will be travelling from Lungi, Bo, Kenema, Mattru Jong, Kono, Kamakwie, and Makeni to continue educating grassroots coaches with the theme Building Better Communities Through Education and Sport.

Conteh is the only female CAF Instructor in Sierra Leone and holds a CAF ‘A’ License. She has served as under 20 women’s team coach. 

She now serves as coordinator for the Sierra Leone national female team. Victoria Conteh was a member of the first Sierra Leone Women’s International in 1994.

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