Category: Players Abroad News

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Winger David Kalokoh is in line to start against Jong PSV
by FSL News

Winger David Kalokoh in line to start against Jong PSV

Sierra Leone-born David Kalokoh is expected to be in the starting line-up when Jong PSV hosts Jong Ajax at PSV Campus De Herdgang on Monday, August 12, 2024, at 18:00 UTC in the first round of the Eerste Divisie.

Last season, both teams faced difficulties, with Jong Ajax finishing fifteenth on 40 points but with a better goal difference compared to the PSV youth team.

The current head-to-head records for the teams stand at Jong PSV’s seven wins, Jong Ajax’s eight wins, and seven draws. Kalokoh scored three goals in thirty-one appearances last season, and the young winger aims to improve this statistic in the upcoming games.

The 19-year-old signed a contract extension that will keep him at the club from September 1, 2023, until June 30, 2027. His previous contract was set to expire in 2024. David Kalokoh was born on April 21, 2005, in Kono, Sierra Leone, and he transferred from VVV-Venlo’s youth academy to Ajax’s youth academy in 2018.

On April 28 of this year, Kalokoh made his professional football debut during the Ajax U23 match against his former club VVV-Venlo, which ended with a score of 0-1. So far, he has played nine matches for Ajax U23, scoring one goal.

Sheffield Wednesday thrash Mustapha Bundu's Plymouth Argyle in opener
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sheffield Wednesday thrash Mustapha Bundu’s Argyle in opener

Sierra Leone International Mustapha Bundu started under new head coach Wayne Rooney in the English Championship. However, Plymouth Argyle, led by Wayne Rooney, had a tough start, losing 4-0 to Sheffield Wednesday in his first game in charge at Hillsborough.

Last season, it took Sheffield Wednesday 14 games to win, but they managed to do it in their first game of the 2024/25 season, largely thanks to Jamal Lowe. Bundu, who played as a second striker, was substituted in the 57th minute and replaced by Bali Mumba.

Lowe scored in the first half and was also involved in forcing an own goal from Brendan Galloway in the second half at Hillsborough. Josh Windass and Michael Smith added a late third and fourth goal to seal a great day for Sheffield Wednesday. Rooney’s Argyle team struggled, especially in the first half.

Sheffield Wednesday’s two best players played a significant role in the move that led to the opening goal in the 35th minute.

Barry Bannan’s pass and Svante Ingelsson’s excellent cross found Lowe in the middle, who made no mistake with the finish. In the 52nd minute, Sheffield Wednesday extended their lead to 2-0 thanks to a calamitous own goal from Galloway.

Lowe’s header struck Galloway in the face and flew into the net, an unfortunate own goal.

In the 83rd minute, a third goal was scored by Windass after a pass from Anthony Musaba, who set him up for a decisive strike. Finally, with the last kick of the game, substitute Smith scored the fourth goal, firing in from close range at the second attempt.

Augustus Kargbo nets to help Cesena advance to Coppa Italia round of 16
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Augustus Kargbo nets to help Cesena advance in Coppa Italia

Cesena advanced to the 16th round of the Coppa Italia after winning against a Serie A team away from home. They will now face Pisa or Frosinone.

Sierra Leone International scored for Cesena again, helping them progress in the Italian Serie B Coppa Italia. Hellas Verona’s first official match of the season ended in a defeat against Cesena in the round of 32 of the Italian Cup.

In the first half, Romagnoli took the lead with a goal in the 44th minute by Kargbo, who converted a right-footed shot from Bastoni’s assist.

At the start of the second half, the Bianconeri scored again through Shpendi, assisted by Kargbo. In the 75th minute, Tengstedt scored for Hellas Verona, making the final score 1-2.

In the next round, Cesena will play against the winner of the Frosinone-Pisa match, scheduled for Monday at 18:00.

Turkish side Ankara Keciorengucu unveil Steven Caulker
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Steven Caulker makes debut in Keçiörengücü’s opening draw

Sierra Leone captain Steven Caulker played his first game for his Turkish team Keçiörengücü on Friday in the season’s opener, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Keçiörengücü, who played away against Sakaryaspor in the first week of the Trendyol 1st League 2024-2025 season, left the field with a 1-1 draw.

New acquisition Caulker played the full throttle of the game – his first 90-minute of action since February.

Striker Aliou Traore scored the visitor’s opener, but his goal was cancelled in the 56th minute through Emre Demir’s leveller.

In July 2024, Caulker returned to Turkey after signing a one-year deal with TFF First League club Keçiörengücü, with the option of a further one-year extension.

Keciorengucu’s next league action is against Bandirmaspor on Saturday, August 17, in front of the home fans.

Fornah's Derby suffer opening Championship defeat at Ewood Park
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Fornah’s Derby suffer opening Championship defeat at Ewood Park

Blackburn Rovers secured a strong 4-2 victory over Derby County, with goals from Sammie Szmodics, Andreas Weimann, and Yuki Ohashi.

A first-half strike from Blackburn attacker Tyrhys Dolan was equalized by Curtis Nelson’s header in the second half, followed by rapid goals from Andi Weimann and Sammie Szmodics, giving the hosts a two-goal advantage.

Weimann, playing against his former club, scored with his second touch after coming on as a substitute, and Szmodics continued his scoring form from last season when he was the division’s top scorer.

Japanese forward Ohashi added a fourth goal, and Kane Wilson scored a consolation goal for Derby.

Sierra Leone’s Tyrese Fornah was an 86-minute substitute replacing David Ozoh Derby’s new signing.

Post-match reaction – Blackburn boss John Eustace told BBC Radio Lancashire:

“We’ve had seven weeks of work in pre-season and there’s been good things and also bad things that we’ve had to put right.

“It’s only the start – there’s so much hard work ahead of us, but it was pleasing to see that performance today.

“I thought every player that was on that pitch was outstanding. But there’s a lot more hard work ahead.”

Derby boss Paul Warne told BBC Radio Derby:

At 1-1, I honestly thought we would go on and win the match. We got punished for our mistakes, and it’s a quick lesson for us. You can’t go away from home and concede four goals and expect to come away with anything.

I was pleased with large parts of our play, but not with the final score. In the second half, we gave it our all, scored a goal, and I believed we could win. We were on top, and I made the mistake of probably not making my substitutions quickly enough. I think the turning point was when they made changes and brought on fresh legs – outstanding fresh legs.legs.”

Derby will face Chesterfield at Pride Park Stadium in Round One of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday at 7:45 pm.

Bristol Rovers midfielder Kamil Conteh back in Sierra Leone squad
by FSL News

Kamil Conteh’s Bristol Rovers wrap up preseason with defeat

On Saturday, Bristol Rovers faced a 2-0 defeat against Cardiff City in their final pre-season match ahead of the new English League One campaign.

Sierra Leone’s Kamil Conteh entered the game in the 65th minute at the Memorial Stadium. The goals for Cardiff came from Aaron Ramsey in the 28th minute and Joe Ralls in the second half.

Despite some opportunities for Rovers, they could not find the back of the net, and Cardiff’s early goals secured their victory.

Kamil Conteh and Bristol Rovers will commence their 2024/25 Sky Bet League One campaign with a match against Northampton Town on Saturday, 10th August.

Bristol Rovers 0-2 Cardiff City

Pre-season fixture, The Memorial Stadium, Saturday, 3 August, 2024

Bristol Rovers: Griffiths, Senior (Hunt 64), Moore, Wilson, Mola, Bilongo, Conteh (Lindsay 64), Ward (Garrett 64), Hutchinson (McCormick 64), Sinclair (Shaw 74), Omochere (Thomas 64)

Subs not used: Hall, Taylor, Forbes.

Cardiff City: Horvath, Siopis, Goutas, Ralls, Ramsey, O’Dowda, Chambers, Willock, Meite, Tanner, Ng

Subs: Alnwick, Dennis, Gbadehan, Hanga, Bagan, King, Colwill, Conte, Davies, Giles, Ashford

Goals: Ramsey 28, Ralls 56,

Attendance: 3251 (1,446 away)

Augustus Kargbo nets in Cesena's Coppa Italia triumph
by FSL News

Augustus Kargbo nets in Cesena’s Coppa Italia triumph

Sierra Leone International Augustus Kargbo scored for Cesena in their 3-1 victory over Padova in the preliminary round of the Coppa Italia.

Kargbo’s Cesena team has progressed to round 32 and will face Hellas Verona in the first round at the “Bentegodi” Stadium in Verona.

Cesena took the lead after 10 minutes with Kargbo’s goal. Cristian Shpendi scored five minutes before the end of regular time, and Francesconi completed the win.

In other matches, Carrarese defeated Catania 2-1 and then challenged Cagliari, while Mantova secured a 2-1 victory away against Torres. Additionally, Avellino won 3-1 against Juve Stabia.

The first round of matches will take place from Friday, August 9, to Monday, August 12. These are all one-off matches, which will be settled after 90 minutes or through a penalty shoot-out.

Coppa Italia First Round fixtures

Friday, Aug 9

Sassuolo-Cittadella

Udinese-Avellino

Genoa-Reggiana

Monza-Sud Tirol

Saturday, Aug 10

Cremonese-Bari

Verona-Cesena

Empoli-Catania

Napoli-Modena

Sunday, Aug 11

Brescia-Venezia

Parma-Palermo

Sampdoria-Como

Torino-Cosenza

Monday, Aug 12

Frosinone-Pisa

Lecce-Mantova

Salernitana–Spezia

Cagliari-Carrarese

Tyrese Fornah's Derby wrap up preseason with Valladolid win
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Tyrese Fornah’s Derby wrap up preseason with Valladolid win

On Saturday, Tyrese Fornah’s Derby County ended their pre-season with a 2-1 victory against Real Valladolid at Pride Park Stadium

The Sierra Leone International played a part in their win over the Spanish side on Saturday. Fornah, 24, was introduced in the 65th minute as the Rams held on to their win.

David Ozoh and Kane Wilson scored two quick goals in the second half to cancel Raul Moro’s first-half strike for the visitors.

Valladolid took the lead after 36 minutes when Raul Moro’s shot deflected low and beyond Vickers’ reach.

The second half began with four changes for the Rams as Barkhuizen, Eiran Cashin, Callum Elder and Ryan Nyambe were substituted with Dajaune Brown, Sonny Bradley, Craig Forsyth, and Wilson.

The match provided important playing time for Derby ahead of the start of the Sky Bet Championship against Blackburn on Friday, 9th August at 8 pm.

The Team

Derby County: Vickers (GK), Nyambe (Wilson 46), Nelson, Cashin (Bradley 46), Elder (Forsyth 46), Ozoh (Washington 74), Goudmijn (Yates 65), Osborn (Thompson 65), Barkhuizen (Brown 46), Jackson (Fornah 65), Mendez-Laing (Collins 65).

On The Bench: Luthra (GK), Adams.

Norwich City’s Abu Kamara in Southampton radar
by FSL News

Norwich City’s Abu Kamara in Southampton radar

Southampton wants to sign Norwich City’s Abu Kamara as a winger this summer. According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, officially, the club is getting ready to show their interest in the 20-year-old player.

Both Saints’ manager Russell Martin and assistant Matt Gill are familiar with Kamara from their previous work at Carrow Road. However, Norwich is hesitant to let go of Kamara and plans to include him in Johannes Hoff Thorup’s first-team squad for the Championship this season.

Kamara, an England U20 international, has been consistently present in City’s pre-season matches and is highly regarded by Thorup. He aims to incorporate more young talent into the squad.

Kamara, the child of Sierra Leonean parents, is under contract with Norwich until 2025, with an option to extend for another year. In addition to Southampton, Jupiler sides and Belgian side Anderlecht have also shown interest in him.

Birmingham City, Hull City, and Sierra Leone defender Curtis Davies has announced his retirement from football.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Former Villa, Leicester City and Sierra Leone defender retires

Birmingham City, Hull City, and Sierra Leone defender Curtis Davies has announced his retirement from football.

Davies, 39, who began his career at Wimbledon, made 686 first-team career appearances, including three for England U21, and has finally hung up his boots.

In October 2023, at age 38, Davies was called up to the Sierra Leone national team squad for their friendly matches against Benin and Somalia.

On 5 June 2024, Davies scored his first Sierra Leone international goal in a 2–1 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification win against Djibouti.

“The day has finally come… After much deliberation over the last few months, I have decided to retire from football. Growing up as a kid, I simply wanted to be a footballer.

So, to have been able to play and score at Wembley, play in the Premier League, and represent both England U21 and Sierra Leone during my 23 years truly was a dream come true.

There have been plenty of ups and maybe even more downs, but all combined it made my journey a very special one.” Davies announced his retirement on Twitter.

In 2005, Davies joined West Bromwich Albion, where he made 35 starts and scored two goals in his first season with Albion, which ended with the club being relegated to the Championship.

In July 2006, he signed a new four-year contract and was appointed captain permanently, having captained the team on several occasions during the previous season to become the club’s second-youngest captain of all time.

Davies had spells at Aston Villa, Leicester City, Hull City, and Cheltenham Town.