Month: December 2023

Steven Caulker eyes Sierra Leone job after obtaining Uefa license
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Steven Caulker eyes Sierra Leone job after obtaining Uefa license

Sierra Leone defender and ex-England International Steven Caulker has secured his Uefa B coaching Badge with the English FA.

The former Liverpool and Tottenham defender, who was a pivotal player for Sierra Leone during the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon, says he will pursue Uefa A next year.

The one-time England defender, who is presently transforming his playing career to coaching, has admitted coaching is the way forward.

“In terms of my aspiration, my ambition is to be a manager. Maybe, one day, to be a Sierra Leone manager. I would love that. I would love the oppurtunity too bring in young Sierra Leaoneans in to play attractive style of football,” Caulker told Football Sierra Leone.

“Next year, I will start my Uefa A – this is something I am working towards. Right now, I kind of going into the transition from playing into management role.”

On his present playing career

“The option in January is a player-manager role. I want to solicit playing football, maybe, for another year or two. I feel my passion is in coaching – player-manager. I’m finding the right path, the right setup and the right ambition.”

The UEFA B Licence is to help coaches understand the demands of the game and how to meet the needs of players as they build a deeper understanding of their various roles and responsibilities within the team.

This course has replaced The FA Level 3 in Coaching Football.

Caulker joined EFL Championship side Wigan Athletic in January on a contract until the end of the season.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, the writer Alie Bittar, On Twitter @bittar32, Players Abroad News. 

SLFA successfully concludes two two-day CAF Club License
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

SLFA successfully concludes CAF Club License training

Top club administrators in the country took part as the Sierra Leone Football Association, SLFA, in collaboration with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), successfully concluded a two-day (11 & 12) training workshop for Club Licensing Officers.

On Tuesday, the SLFA said the Training-of-Trainers workshop benefited over 50 male and female Premier League club administrators at the Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel in Freetown.

The club licensing idea was introduced to navigate the recently launched Club Licensing Online Platform to ease the system of club licensing and stadium inspection across the continent. 

Addressing the trainees, Emmanuel Newton Dasoberi, on behalf of his colleague CAF instructors Hamza Sorouri and Francis Essah Adu, commended the participants for their commitment and passion shown towards the training.

Adu furthered that he and his colleagues were impressed with how fast the participants grasped the concept, “You made the job easy for us,” he noted. 

In his closing remarks, Vice President Harold Nat-Johnson thanked the CAF instructors for their diligent work in successfully introducing the online platform to local men and women Club Licensing Officers. 

He encouraged all participants to stage workshops at their club levels to ensure the knowledge gained filtered down to other football administrators. 

Mr Nat-Johnson seized the opportunity to update the gathering about the rapid progress in the ongoing construction of five artificial turf pitches across the country, including Port Loko Town Field, Bo Coronation Field, Sierra Leone Football Association Academy, and Approved School Playing Field in Freetown. He noted confidently that “By June 2024 all SLFA sanctioned competitions will play on standard pitches across the country.”

Acting General Secretary Mohamed Benson Bawoh, in a brief statement, noted that the training is timely as global football is fast going digital and Sierra Leone has to stay up to speed. He further urged the participants to embrace the platform and always visit it as ‘practice makes perfect.’

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Alpha Conteh happy with Lokomotiv Plovdiv's run of form
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Alpha Conteh happy with Lokomotiv Plovdiv’s run of form

Sierra Leone International Alpha Conteh has admitted he is pleased with his present playing time and run of form in the Bulgarian efbet League.

The attacking midfielder scored his fourth goal of the season in Lokomotiv Plovdiv’s 3-0 hammering of Pirin Blagoevgrad on Monday.

After a goalless first 45 minutes, Conteh’s goal came in the 51st minute when he received a cross from the right to score with an acrobatic beautiful opener.

Lokomotiv Plovdiv went on to score two more goals from D. Babacar and G. Minchev in the 53rd and 63rd, respectively, as they registered their eleventh win of the campaign.

“I am happy – I am grateful for my performances so far. I want to keep the focus on helping the team as much as possible,” Conteh to Football Sierra Leone.  He added, “I was happy to be named Man of the Match in a tough game against Pirin Blagoevgrad.”

Monday’s victory is their fiRst after they suffered a three-straight defeat in all competitions.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, the writer Alie Bittar, On Twitter @bittar32, Players Abroad News and Bulgarian League News. 

Lokomotiv Plovdiv hammered Pirin Blagoevgrad 3-0 in the Bulgarian League on Monday.
Lokomotiv Plovdiv hammered Pirin Blagoevgrad 3-0 in the Bulgarian League on Monday.
Victor Osimhen named Africa Player of the Year Award
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Victor Osimhen named Africa’s Player of the Year

Napoli and Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has been named as the CAF Men’s Player of the Year for 2023.

Osimhen scored 26 Serie A goals and was crowned the Italian Footballers’ Association Player of the Year for his Napoli performances last season.

The Nigerian International fought off competition from Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi to the title on Monday night. 

He becomes the first Nigerian player to win the award since Arsenal’s Nwankwo Kanu in 1999 and is also the first active Serie A player to be crowned Africa’s Player of the Year since Samuel Eto’o when he was at Inter in 2010. 

Meanwhile, Nigerian Asisat Oshoala extended her record sixth CAF African Women’s Player of the Year Award.

  • Full List of Award Winners:

Player of the Year (Men): Victor Osimhen (Nigeria, Napoli)

Player of the Year (Women): Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria, Barcelona)

Interclub Player of the Year (Men): Percy Tau (South Africa, Al Ahly)

Interclub Player of the Year (Women): Fatima Tagnaout (Morocco, AS FAR)

Coach of the Year (Men): Walid Regragui (Morocco)

Coach of the Year (Women): Desiree Ellis (South Africa)

Goalkeeper of the Year (Men): Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Al Hilal)

Goalkeeper of the Year (Women): Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria, Paris FC)

Young Player of the Year (Men): Lamine Camara (Senegal, Metz)

Young Player of the Year (Women): Nesryne El Chad (Morocco, Lille)

National Team of the Year (Men): Morocco

National Team of the Year (Women): Nigeria

Club of the Year (Men): Al Ahly (Egypt)

Club of the Year (Women): Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, African News and CAF 2023 Awards.

Nigeria’s Oshoala and Osimhen win African footballer of the year awards
Nigeria’s Oshoala and Osimhen win African footballer of the year awards
Amadou Bakayoko nets fifth of the season in Dundee's defeat at Ibrox
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Amadou Bakayoko nets fifth of the season in Dundee’s defeat at Ibrox

Amadou Bakayoko scored Dundee’s opening goal to record his fifth of the season as they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday.

The Sierra Leone International was at the right place to tap in a leaking ball, but Rangers came from behind to beat Dundee 3-1 and move five points behind Celtic, despite Jose Cifuentes’ first-half red card after a VAR check.

In sixteen appearances, Bakayoko scored his fifth of the season since joining the Scottish side on loan from Forest Green, but the home side fought back to score three goals before halftime. 

Cyriel Dessers equalised, and a few minutes later, Tavernier put Rangers ahead from the penalty spot following a VAR review. 

Abdallah Sima made it three before Jose Cifuentes was red-carded after another VAR review on the stroke of halftime. 

After the recess, Dundee improved as they enjoyed the large majority of possession, but Rangers held onto their lead.

The defeats meant Dundee sat seventh after round fifteen of the Scottish Premier League. 

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, Players Abroad News and Scottish Premiership News.

Sierra Leone International Mustapha Bundu started his second match for Plymouth Argyle as they suffered a 4-0 thrashing to Championship leaders Leicester City.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Leicester City thrash Mustapha Bundu’s Plymouth Argyle

Sierra Leone International Mustapha Bundu started his second match for Plymouth Argyle as they suffered a 4-0 thrashing to Championship leaders Leicester City. 

Bundu, 26, who bookmarked his eleventh appearance since joining the club, was substituted in the 57th minute. 

The host started brightly after a spot-kick scored by Stephy Mavididi set the Foxes on their way to maintaining their lead in the standings.

Patson Daka, who marked his first start of the season for Leicester City, scored the second goal as the Championship leaders thrashed Plymouth Argyle.

Stephy Mavididi scored his brace from another penalty call in the 52nd minute before Wilfred Ndidi completed their win three minutes later. 

Three goals were scored in six second-half minutes, Daka, Mavididi and Wilfred Ndidi 49, 52 and 55 minutes, respectively, as the Foxes ensured they remained one point clear at the summit in style.

Miller and Bundu were replaced by Ryan Hardie and Brendan Galloway.  Argyle mustered some attacking impetus but was too late for any consolation.

However, Azaz stretched the Leicester defence as Jan Vestergaard snuffed out the danger with a well-timed challenge.

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, Players Abroad News and English Championship News. 

A great eye-opener to football: Kei Kamara after his USA B License
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

A great eye-opener to football: Kei Kamara after his US B License

The former Sierra Leone International striker Kei Kamara could not hide his joy after earning his first coaching B-Licence from the United States Soccer Federation.

The 39-year-old striker, who’s third all-time in the MLS scoring chart (144 goals), speaking to Football Sierra Leone, discussed his six months of coaching learning experience. He confirmed the news when he posted his certificate on social media on Friday. 

Kamara, who joined Chicago in a trade from CF Montréal as he secured his 10th MLS club, acknowledged the ‘eye-opening side of football offfield’.

 “The whole experience was a great eye-opening about football,” Kei Kamara lamented. When you play, you see the game differently. When you start to coach, obviously, perspective changes.”

“I loved the prpocess of building trainings, knowing the reason why we going into trainings day by day is challenging yourself as a coach.”

Being a coach, you never want to be comfortable. So, there is some part of being a player that also comes toward that. It depends on how you have worked as a player and as an athlete – you challenge yourself, which drives you when you become a coach. 

“It feels like school all over again. After completing this badge, I now know I have more experience coaching than I thought I did because of my experience playing professional football. Because I thought i knew a lot more because of the years I played. But, no, after six months of course work, I have learned a lot more than I played for all those years.”

This license is designed for coaches looking to lead U13 or higher level teams in a competitive environment with a more intermediate to advanced skill set. Any coach with their B license will be able to apply and evaluate player development within the game and optimize the learning environment for their team. Among other requirements, coaches will be required to run three training sessions per week and perform thorough video analysis throughout the process.

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, Players Abroad News and Kei Kamara News. 

East End Lions record first League win on Wednesday
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

East End Lions record first win of the season

One of Sierra Leone’s most decorated clubs, East End Lions, secured their first win on Wednesday after five matches, breaking a streak of four consecutive draws.

As a result, they moved up to eight as the victory added three crucial points to their tally of 7 points from 5 matches.

At the Trade Centre playing field, in the 28th minute, Sulaiman Kargbo opened the scoring before Ibrahim Bangura levelled for the visitors just before the break.

After the recess, the homes showed composure and determined to secure their first win with two more goals from Alie Conteh and Kandeh Turay.

Elsewhere, Mighty Blackpool faced a setback, losing to Ports Authority 2-1 at the Attouga Mini stadium. 

The defeat marked Mighty Blackpool’s second consecutive defeat following their 2-0 defeat to Lamboi FC in Lungi over the weekend.

Despite the defeats, they maintain a standing of 9 points from 5 matches.

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Sierra Leone Premier League Week Five Matches, Results and Table
Sierra Leone Premier League Week Five Matches, Results and Table
Fofin Turay all smiles as his Groningen side wrap up preparaation for Telstar
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Fofin Turay trains ahead of Groningen, Telstar Eerste tie

The 19-year-old Sierra Leone native Fofin Turay trained with the first team in their final preparation as In-form Groningen set to face SC Telstar in match day eighten of the Dutch Eerste Divisie on Friday at Euroborg.

After 17 matches, Groningen stood in ninth place on 25 points. They won their last Eerste Divisie match 2-1 at home against VVV, extending their unbeaten streak to five.

Groningen won the last encounter between the teams, triumphing 3-0 in their match against Telstar.

Telstar drew 0-0 against Utrecht II at Sportcomplex Zoudenbalch in their last encounter, leaving them in 18th place on 14 points.

In the final third, Kevin van Veen has been a key player for Groningen this season. The striker is the side’s leading scorer with five goals.

Telstar’s Zakaria Eddahchouri, who has scored on nine occasions, including three match-opening goals, is tied for fourth in the league’s scoring charts in 2023/2024.

On home soil this season, Groningen has secured 15 points (W4 D3 L2) from a possible 27 on offer in nine Eerste Divisie contests. 

Telstar will seek to address a poor run of results on the road this season with two draws, six losses, and just one win in league-away contests.

In their last six league matches, Groningen have won three, drawn two and lost one. Telstar, meanwhile, has won two, drawn one and lost three in their last six.

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, Players Abroad News, and Dutch Eerste Divisie. 

by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Osimhen, Salah, Hakimi named in final three for CAF Award

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah, and Moroccan International Achraf Hakimi are the final three for the CAF 2023 Player of the Year Award. The current holder is Senegal’s Sadio Mane.

The Confederation of African Football has unveiled the final three players for the CAF Men’s Player of the Year Award.

After he scored 26 Serie A goals, Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has been crowned the Italian Footballers’ Association Player of the Year for his Napoli performances last season.

He was presented with the award on Monday night after helping his side win their first league title in 33 years.

Osimhen scored 26 Serie A goals in 2022-23, breaking former World Best George Weah’s record as the highest-scoring African in the Italian top flight in the process.

Mohamed Salah leads the way for top Premier League African goal scorer with 149 goals, 243 matches and 65 assists since joining Liverpool in 2017.

He won the African Award back to back in 2017 and 2018 and was runners-up in 2019 and 2022 behind former team mates Sado Mane. 

Achraf Hakimi made headlines after he was named to Morocco’s 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

His winning penalty with a panenka-style shot in a shoot-out against Spain in the round of 16 helped secure a place for his country in the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Yassine Bounou is one of the finalists for the Best Goalkeeper category, alongside Cameroon’s Andre Onana and Egypt’s Mohamed El Shenawy.

On Monday, 11 December 2023, the award ceremony will be held at the Palais des Congrès, Movenpick, Marrakech, Morocco, 19H00 local time (18H00 GMT).

The ultimate winner of each category is decided following votes from a panel consisting of the CAF Technical Committee, media professionals from Member Associations, Head Coaches and captains of Member Associations and clubs involved in the group stages of the Interclub competitions.

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, African News and CAF 2023 Awards.