Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Steven Caulker pens player and coach deal with Stjarnan in Iceland
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Steven Caulker pens player and coach deal with Stjarnan in Iceland

Former Sierra Leone international Steven Caulker has signed a deal as both a player and assistant coach with Icelandic top-tier club Stjarnan FC.

“We are proud and honoured to announce that Steven Caulker has joined Stjarnan, taking on a dual role as player-assistant coach for the men’s first team,” the Iceland top-tier side noted.

Steven Caulker has had a successful career in football. He has played over 150 matches in the English Premier League for teams like Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, QPR, and Southampton.

He has also played for the England national team and later led Sierra Leone as captain in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Recently, Steven continued his career in Turkey, playing for Alanyaspor, Fenerbahçe, and Fatih Karagümrük, where he was an important player and a leader.

Most recently, he made 33 appearances for Ankara Keçiörengücü SK in the Turkish First League.

“We warmly welcome Steven Caulker to Stjarnan and believe our community will make him feel at home in Garðabær.”

Wydad Athletic suffered a three-straight defeat in the FIFA Club World Cup
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Wydad Athletic suffer third straight defeat in FIFA Club World Cup

On Thursday in Washington, D.C., a first-half goal by Cassius Mailula was negated by second-half goals from Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba and Kaku, allowing Al Ain to defeat Wydad AC 2-1.

Both teams took to the pitch with a sense of determination, playing not just for points but for pride, having already been eliminated from contention for the round of 16 in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

Both Manchester City and Juventus, two storied clubs in European football, had already secured the top two spots in Group G, rendering this match a contest for respect rather than advancement.

The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as fans filled the stands, eager to see their teams deliver a strong performance despite the stakes being low. Each player on the field understood the significance of this match, not only for their clubs’ legacies but for their own professional reputations.

Nonetheless, both clubs aimed to exit the tournament on a positive note, and it was the UAE side that left the pitch with their heads held high after completing the comeback.

Sierra Leone's Tyrese Fornah pens permanent Northampton Town
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone’s Tyrese Fornah pens permanent Northampton Town deal

Northampton Town has signed Tyrese Fornah, a former midfielder for Nottingham Forest and Derby County, on a three-year contract.

The 25-year-old player, who is 6 feet 1 inch tall and was born in London, started his career at the academies of Reading and Brighton & Hove Albion. He made his professional debut for Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup match against Chelsea in 2020.

Fornah spent time on loan with Portuguese side Casa Oia and then joined Plymouth Argyle on a season-long loan in October 2020, making 39 appearances.

He went on to have loan spells at Shrewsbury Town, where he played 19 games, and Reading, where he played 35 games. In 2023, he transferred to Derby County for an undisclosed fee. Fornah made 23 appearances in the 2023/24 season, helping the Rams win promotion from League One. He then spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Salford City, where he played 43 times.

Manager Kevin Nolan said, “We have followed Tyrese for a long time and wanted to bring him in. We did a lot of research and believe he will work well with Dean Campbell. He can play as a defensive midfielder or advance further up the pitch. He has great skills for carrying the ball and moving the team forward.”

Nolan added, “We discussed how we can help him improve, especially in scoring goals, and he was open to that. We are happy with this signing. Tyrese is at a good age with a strong background, and I believe fans will enjoy watching him play for Northampton Town. He had a lot of interest this summer, so it’s great that we’ve secured him for Sixfields.”

Attacker Mustapha Bundu set to join Bundesliga 2 side
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Attacker Mustapha Bundu set to join Bundesliga 2 side

Mustapha Bundu has officially turned down Argyle’s proposal for a new contract and is set to join a club in the 2. Bundesliga, as confirmed by the English side.

Although they did not confirm the name of the club, it is certain Bundu’s next action will be in the German second tier.

The Sierra Leone forward made a notable entrance to Argyle on Deadline Day during the summer transfer window of 2023. Throughout his tenure with the Pilgrims, Bundu made a significant impact, appearing in 70 matches and netting 14 goals.

One of his standout performances came in April 2024, when he scored a crucial winner against Leicester City, a goal that played an instrumental role in ensuring Argyle’s survival in the league that season.

Forward Augustine Williams scores as the Pittsburgh Riverhounds triumph over the Rowdies
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Forward Augustine Williams scores as Pittsburgh Riverhounds triumph over the Rowdies

Sierra Leone international Augustine Williams scored his second goal of the season as the Pittsburgh Riverhounds secured a 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rowdies at the hot and humid Highmark Stadium on Sunday.

The scoring began with an own goal by former Hounds defender Thomas Vancaeyezeele, followed shortly by Augi Williams, who headed in a goal to put the Hounds (5-6-2) two goals ahead.

Manuel Arteaga managed to pull one back for the Rowdies (2-9-2) just five minutes before halftime, but the Hounds held on to secure their second straight home win.

The Hounds started aggressively, with Luke Biasi and Robbie Mertz testing Rowdies keeper Ethan Bandré. They took the lead in the 15th minute due to an own goal from Vancaeyezeele and added a second five minutes later with a header from Williams.

Arteaga’s goal for the Rowdies followed a clever setup, but Hounds goalie Eric Dick’s key save against Blake Bodily kept the Hounds ahead. Jackson Walti nearly extended the lead late, but his shot was deflected.

Luke Biasi, the Modelo Man of the Match, assisted on Williams’ goal and contributed defensively.

Up next, the Hounds will host Westchester SC in the USL Jägermeister Cup at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 28, marking the first meeting between the two teams.

ES Tunis beat LAFC to keep Club World Cup hopes alive
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Tunisian club ES Tunis eliminated from FIFA Club World Cup

Tunisian team ES Tunis lost 3-0 to English club Chelsea in their last Group D match of the Club World Cup at Lincoln Financial Field early Wednesday morning.

A stellar Tosin Adarabioyo performance confirmed their Round of 16 spot as defender Tosin Adarabioyo scored the first goal with a header, followed by Liam Delap’s first goal for Chelsea, and Tyrique George added a late goal to help Chelsea win in Philadelphia and move on to the knockout stage of the Club World Cup.

Chelsea controlled the game and created many chances. They broke the deadlock just before halftime when Tosin Adarabioyo headed a free-kick from Enzo Fernandez into the net. Liam Delap then scored, finishing calmly despite pressure from two ES Tunis defenders.

The team continued to play well in the second half, not allowing any chances for the opposition. Coach Enzo Maresca also gave debuts to Mamadou Sarr and Andrey Santos.

As in the first half, Chelsea waited until stoppage time to score again. Tyrique George hit a powerful low shot that Bechir Ben Said could not stop, rounding off a strong performance by Chelsea.

https://twitter.com/DAZNFootball/status/1937752748335989030

Mighty Blackpool fans excited as Rodney Michael makes a U-turn
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mighty Blackpool fans excited as Rodney Michael makes U-turn

With confidence of A free hand in his capacity as club’s Chairman, mighty Blackpool supporters and community elders have strongly demonstrated their support for Chairman Rodney Michael, thereby persuading him to take up his role once more.

In April of this year, the football administrator stepped down from his position based on principle. However, in recent weeks, Blackpool’s inner circle and their passionate fans have expressed their gratitude to the chairman and have rallied for him to return to lead the club.

This sentiment was conveyed during several meetings held with other Executive Committee members in Michael’s absence.

Following several successful meetings, Mr. Michael has agreed to resume his position as chairman knowing that he will have the required support and protection to run the Executive Committee effectively.

At the historic training grounds in Kingtom, where the elders, fans, a varied collection of Executive Committee members, and the chairman will gather to speak with the players, the formal reintroduction of the chairman will take place.

This development raises a spark of hope for the giants of Sierra Leone football, especially as they find themselves fighting against relegation.

Serhou Guirassy goal helps Borussia Dortmund beat Mamelodi Sundowns
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Serhou Guirassy goal helps Borussia Dortmund beat Mamelodi Sundowns

Borussia Dortmund achieved their first victory on the second matchday of Group F, with the Guinean international striker Guirassy playing a key role in their FIFA Club World Cup second game. 

In Cincinnati, BVB triumphed over South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns with a final score of 4-3, setting their sights on advancing to the round of 16 in the FIFA Club World Cup.

Mamelodi Sundowns proved to be a formidable opponent, particularly in the first half hour of the match. They took the lead in the 11th minute with a goal from Ribeiro.

However, Nmecha capitalised on a significant error by goalkeeper Williams to equalise at 1-1 in the 16th minute. Guirassy then put BVB ahead by scoring in the 34th minute, followed by new signing Bellingham, who, in his first start, extended the lead to 3-1 just before halftime in the 45+1 minute. The game attracted 14,000 spectators, with around 8,000 of them being BVB fans.

The stadium erupted again in the 60th minute when Mudau accidentally deflected a Svensson cross into his own net, making the score 4-1 for BVB.

Despite the setback, the South African team refused to back down. Rayners scored to make it 4-2 just two minutes later, and in the 90th minute, Mothiba further reduced the deficit to 4-3, intensifying the match’s excitement.

Sundowns faced a defeat but still have a chance to reach the quarter-finals. However, they need to improve their defensive performance to stay in contention.

Dortmund edge South Africa's Sundowns in seven-goal thriller
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Dortmund edge South Africa’s Sundowns in seven-goal thriller

In an exciting match that ended with a close 4-3 loss, Mamelodi Sundowns battled hard, but Borussia Dortmund came from behind to defeat the South African side in their first win at the Club World Cup.

Fresh off their victory against Ulsan HD, Sundowns startled the Bundesliga squad by scoring first in only 11 minutes. Lucas Ribeiro gently slid the ball beyond Gregor Kobel and skillfully navigated defenders.

Dortmund quickly recovered, equalising five minutes later. Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams made a mistake by mispassing to Felix Nmecha, who easily scored into an empty net.

The equaliser boosted Dortmund’s confidence and exposed Sundowns’ weaknesses in playing from the back. Dortmund pressured Sundowns’ right side, and on 34 minutes, Julian Brandt delivered a cross that Serhou Guirassy headed in to make it 2-1.

Things got worse for Sundowns just before halftime. Jobe Bellingham, making his debut, scored with a volley after collecting Williams’ punched clearance, giving Dortmund a 3-1 lead.

Sundowns came back with more energy in the second half. Tebogo Mokoena nearly scored from a free-kick, hitting the side-netting. But Sundowns fell further behind when Khuliso Mudau accidentally headed Daniel Svensson’s cross into his net.

Instead of giving up, Sundowns fought back. Just three minutes later, Mokoena hit the post from a set-piece, and Iqraam Rayners quickly scored from the rebound, marking his second goal in the competition.

Substitute Lebo Mothiba scored for Dortmund in the 90th minute from a cross by Jayden Adams, helping them secure their first points of the campaign.

In the group stage, all four teams remain in contention after Fluminense’s draw with Ulsan. Sundowns need to beat Fluminense to improve their chances of advancing, while Dortmund faces winless Ulsan.

African supporters still have hope for the quarter-finals, but Sundowns must enhance their defence to minimise mistakes.

ES Tunis beat LAFC to keep Club World Cup hopes alive
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

ES Tunis beat LAFC to keep Club World Cup hopes alive

LAFC’s journey in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup came to an end on Friday, as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Tunisian side ES Tunis at Nashville SC’s GEODIS Park. The turning point of the match came in the second half, where a late penalty save played a crucial role in the outcome.

After suffering a defeat in their opening match against the Brazilian team Flamengo, ES Tunis bounced back with a win over the MLS side on Friday, reigniting their chances in the tournament.

In the first half, LAFC had two goals disallowed within the opening 30 minutes, as both Olivier Giroud and David Martínez found the back of the net but were ruled offside.

ES Tunis had their close call when Youcef Belaïli was brought down in the box, initially earning a penalty. However, after a review by Video Assistant Referee (VAR), referee Espen Eskås changed the decision, issuing a yellow card to Belaïli for simulation instead.

Belaïli later turned the tide for the Tunisians, scoring midway through the second half with a well-placed finish from the edge of the box.

As the match approached its climax, LAFC earned a lifeline in the form of a penalty kick deep into stoppage time when Marlon was knocked over in the area. However, goalkeeper Bechir Ben Saïd stood tall and denied Denis Bouanga’s attempt, securing ES Tunis their first win of the tournament.