Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sullay Kaikai's Cambridge suffer a defeat to Conteh's Bristol Rovers
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sullay Kaikai’s Cambridge suffer defeat to Conteh’s Rovers 

Chris Martin scored the only goal of the match for Bristol Rovers against Cambridge United at the Memorial Stadium on Tuesday evening, securing a 1-0 victory in the 87th minute.

The goal was set up by Luke Thomas, who provided the cross that Martin converted. This was Rovers’ first home win in five games.

Sierra Leone internationals Sullay Kaikai in Photo and Kamil Conteh both featured in the game. Kaikai started for Cambridge while Conteh came on as a substitute for Rovers in the 50th minute. 

Chris Martin had a chance to score earlier in the match when he was awarded a penalty in the 33rd minute. However, his poorly placed shot was stopped by Cambridge goalkeeper Will Mannion.

Cambridge had several opportunities to score, particularly from set pieces. Paul Digby and Macauley Bonne both headed corners over the crossbar in the first half, while Mamadou Jobe’s header hit the woodwork in the 60th minute. 

In the last minute of stoppage time, Luca Hoole cleared a shot from Liam Bennett off the line to preserve Rovers’ win.

That goal made up for Martin’s earlier gilt-edged miss – the 35-year-old former Norwich and Derby forward was unable to convert a 33nd-minute penalty.

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Portsmouth secured promotion to the Championship after coming from behind to beat Barnsley 3-2.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Abu Kamara’s Portsmouth seal title and Championship promotion

Portsmouth secured promotion to the Championship after coming from behind to beat Barnsley 3-2. 

Conor Shaughnessy scored the winning goal in the 89th minute, securing their return to the Championship for the first time since 2012.

Sierra Leonean striker Abu Kamara, who was on loan from Norwich City, played a vital role in the team’s success, recording ten goals and 11 assists throughout the season.

Barnsley’s Devante Cole opened the scoring in the sixth minute, but Portsmouth responded quickly, with Kusini Yengi equalizing three minutes later. 

John McAtee put Barnsley back in front in the 59th minute, but two late goals from Colby Bishop and Conor Shaughnessy sealed the win for Portsmouth.

This victory marks Portsmouth’s return to the Championship after nine years. The team only needed a point to secure promotion, but the win also earned them the League One title. 

The Fratton Park crowd went wild as the home fans celebrated on the pitch at the final whistle.

Kamara’s background 

The versatile forward joined Portsmouth (Pompey) on a season-long loan deal from Norwich in July 2023. 

He joined the Canaries when he was 10 years old and progressed through their academy, eventually signing his first professional deal in January 2021. 

A couple of years later, he replaced Teemu Pukki in the 70th minute of a Championship defeat to Sheffield United, making his senior debut. 

Kamara went on to make three appearances for the Canaries at the end of the 2022/23 campaign, featuring in matches against Rotherham and Blackpool as well.

Abu Kamara's Portsmouth seal title and Championship promotion
Abu Kamara's Portsmouth seal title and Championship promotion
Jasmine Hamid ready for BK Häcken's adventure in Sweden
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Jasmine Hamid ready for BK Häcken’s adventure in Sweden 

BK Häcken has confirmed the signing of Jasmine Hamid, a 23-year-old outfielder from Towson University in the USA. 

Yesterday, the offensive female star was cleared to pen her first professional contract on the deadline day.

Hamid is a talented player who is known for her one-on-one skills, courage on the field, and excellent finishing abilities. 

She is excited to join the team and start working towards winning matches and scoring goals. 

Christian Lundström, the team’s manager, looks forward to seeing what Hamid can bring to the team. 

Hamid was cleared to play on deadline day and has been welcomed warmly by the rest of the team., says Christian Lundström.

“All the players and managers have very well received me and I am very keen to start the work, play and win matches and score a lot of goals,” she told the clubs’ website.

Hamid is the younger sister of Bill Hamid. She previously played on the varsity team of Bishop Ireton for four years and received two WCAC Player of the Week awards.

In 2022, she started and played in 16 games, despite battling an injury late in the season.

She scored six goals and provided six assists, making a total of 18 points. Three of her six goals came as game-winners.

Defender Antonio Rudiger to help create jobs in Sierra Leone
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Defender Antonio Rudiger to help create jobs in Sierra Leone

During an interview with Real Madrid, Antonio Rudiger, a Sierra Leonean-German defender, shared his aspirations. 

He dreams of creating several job opportunities in Sierra Leone, which is his mother’s homeland. He plans to achieve this goal in the next ten years.

The Antonio Rudiger Foundation – which supports underprivileged individuals – has been engaged in philanthropic work in the West African nation. 

Rudiger’s foundation aims to improve education, infrastructure, inclusivity in sports, and literacy in a country with a population of 8 million.

The ex-Chelsea player donated over USD 100,000 to fund free quality education and used his World Cup earnings to sponsor life-changing surgeries for physically challenged children in 2022.

Rudiger's foundation aims to improve education, infrastructure, inclusivity in sports, and literacy in a country with a population of 8 million.
Rudiger's foundation aims to improve education, infrastructure, inclusivity in sports, and literacy in a country with a population of 8 million.
Kamil Conteh's Rovers were brilliant against Cheltenham Town
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Kamil Conteh’s Rovers were brilliant against Cheltenham Town

Bristol Rovers broke their seven-match scoring drought in style with a comfortable 3-1 win against relegation-threatened Cheltenham. 

Sierra Leone International Kamil Conteh, who joined the club in January on a three-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee, was named on the bench but was introduced for his fourteen appearances for the club.

Scott Sinclair opened the scoring in the 12th-minute first half, followed by Brandon Aguilera and Elkan Baggott in the 56th and 77th minutes, respectively.

Liam Sercombe scored a stoppage-time consolation goal for Cheltenham.

Rovers skipper Antony Evan had a chance to increase the lead with a first-half penalty, but Cheltenham goalkeeper Luke Southwood saved it with a diving effort to his left. 

Cheltenham offered very little in the game as their survival chances took a significant blow.

Cheltenham made two changes at half-time but could not find a way back into the game. 

In the 56th minute, Thomas found substitute Aguilera, who scored a goal, followed by the third goal from Baggott in the 77th minute. 

Cheltenham scored a goal in the 94th minute, but it was too late.

Abu Kamara on target in Portsmouth & Bolton's 1-all draw
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Abu Kamara on target in Portsmouth & Bolton’s 1-all draw 

Sierra Leone native Abu Kamara recorded his tenth of the season as Portsmouth and Bolton shared English League One spoils 1-1 at the Toughsheet Stadium in a tense match that prevented the Blues from celebrating their promotion.

Portsmouth needed a win to secure the League One title and promotion to the Championship, and they started well after Abu Kamara scored within the first seven minutes of the game.

However, Bolton responded with Aaron Collins scoring a header to equalize in the first half.

In the second half, both teams had opportunities to score a winner, but neither could convert, meaning that Bolton fell four points behind Derby and their automatic promotion hopes are now out of their hands.

Pompey’s next action will be against Barnsley on Tuesday night at Fratton Park.

by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Alex Bangura returns to Middlesbrough squad for Ipswich

On Saturday, Alex Bangura, an international player from Sierra Leone, was listed on the bench for Middlesbrough’s away game against Ipswich Town in week 43 of the English Championship. 

Bangura, 24, who has been out of action since January due to an injury he sustained while playing against Chelsea in January – made his debut for Boro in their 2-1 loss against Blackburn Rovers at Edwood Park in September 2023. 

The team’s manager, Michael Carrick, expressed his satisfaction with the performance of Alex and a few other players, including Hackney, Van den Berg, Fry, McNair, and Coburn.

Boro has only four games left in the season, and their chances of making it to the playoffs are slim. 

However, they are still in contention for a playoff spot, with Norwich City just six points ahead of them in sixth place. 

Therefore, it is beneficial to have a large pool of players to choose from, especially players as significant as Hackney and Van den Berg.

Sierra Leone's Mustapha Bundu nets winner for Plymouth Argyle
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone’s Mustapha Bundu nets winner for Plymouth Argyle

Mustapha Bundu from Sierra Leone scored the only goal of the game, helping Plymouth Argyle to a 1-0 win over Championship leaders Leicester City. 

The win dealt a blow to Leicester’s hopes of automatic promotion and gave Plymouth a huge boost in their fight for survival.

Leicester is currently on top of the Championship table, level on points with Ipswich Town. 

Although Leicester dominated the first 20 minutes, it was Argyle who took the lead thanks to an excellent counter-attack finished off with a calm right-footed strike by Bundu.

Leicester’s Patson Daka had two fantastic chances in the second half to level the score, but the hosts held on doggedly to frustrate the Foxes and deny them any goals.

Argyle keeper Michael Cooper made a great save to deny substitute Jamie Vardy a goal in the 87th minute, as Leicester failed to turn their late pressure into a goal.

Leicester suffered another away defeat, remaining on top of the table with 88 points, level with Leeds and one point ahead of Ipswich. 

Plymouth Argyle won their third game under temporary leadership and moved up to 16th place, securing five points clear of the relegation zone.

Emmanuel Smart snatches a late equaliser for Real Republicans
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Emmanuel Smart snatches a late equaliser for Real Republicans

Real Republicans left it late to snatch a 1-1 draw against Wusum Stars at the Sierra Leone Football Association’s newly renovated playing turf on Thursday. (Photo Credit Lamin Tarawalie)

Wusum Stars, also known as the Northern Rock team, based in Makeni, took the lead through Saymah Kamara in the 47th minute. However, they were unable to hold onto their advantage as substitute Emmanuel Smart scored a last-gasp leveller in the 90th minute for Freetown-based club Real Republicans.

As a result, both teams had to settle for a point each in match-day 21 of the Sierra Leone top-tier men’s football league. 

Wusum Stars will be particularly disappointed with the result as they seemed to be on the verge of securing a win and will now sit in the 8th position.

In other news, Diamond Stars started strongly in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone, scoring a goal in the seventh minute through Momoh Conteh. 

The visitors fought back to draw level after Joseph Kallon scored Khoilifa’s equalising goal five minutes before the first-half break, ending the match in a 1-1 draw.

Real Republicans were a highly accomplished football club in Sierra Leone. They won the Premier League in 1981, 1983, and 1984 – they also clinched the Sierra Leone FA Cup in 1986. 

So far, they’re two points adrift of the relegation zone after playing twenty-one matches this campaign. 

READ NEWS, SEE FIXTURES, RESULTS AND TABLE OF THE SIERRA LEONE PREMIER LEAGUE HERE 

Six arrested over Kaizer Chiefs' Luke Fleurs killing
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Six arrested over Kaizer Chiefs’ Luke Fleurs killing

Six suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder of South African soccer player Luke Fleurs, who was shot and killed during a carjacking at a petrol station in Johannesburg last week.

Fleurs, who was 24 years old and had previously played for SuperSport United, passed away on April 3rd, 2024. He had also represented South Africa at the Tokyo Olympics.

The police have stated that the suspects were apprehended in Soweto on Wednesday morning, and they believe that they are part of a syndicate responsible for car hijackings in Gauteng province.

The authorities are still actively searching for additional suspects. The officers recovered the footballer’s car, which had been stripped, on Monday. 

Mr Fleurs, a football player for Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa, was fatally shot in an attack while waiting at a petrol station. The suspects have been arrested and will appear in court soon.

The South African football community is mourning the loss of Luke Fleurs, a promising talent who was fatally shot during a car hijacking in Johannesburg, leaving the nation in shock and grief.