Category: Players Abroad News

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Idris Kanu on target for Barnet
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Idris Kanu helps Barnet in win over Maidenhead United

Idris Kanu registered his fourth of the season as Barnet defeated Maidenhead United 3-2 at the Hive.

The Sierra Leone International was making his sixteen appearances and scored in the fourth minute. Kanu struck a superb finish into the top corner to give Barnet the lead.

But Kanu’s goal did not last long as the visitors scored through Jayden Mitchell-Lawson fired home to level the scoring in the 11th minute before Bradley Keetch gave the struggling visitors a surprise half-time lead.

Callum Stead headed the hosts level after 51 minutes before Gorman won it for the Bees in the 91st minute, with Maidenhead’s Sam Beckwith and two backroom staff being sent off in the chaotic scenes that followed.

Barnet’s winner came from substitute Dale Gorman, who scored a stoppage-time winner as the home side left it late to beat Maidenhead United.

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Issa Kallon's Shanghai Port made to wait for the CSL title
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Issa Kallon’s Shanghai Port made to wait for the CSL title

On Friday, Shanghai Port suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Beijing Guoan to miss an early chance of securing the 2023 Chinese Super League title.

Sierra Leone International Issa Kallon, who started on the bench, was subbed on in the 32nd minute to bookmark his 24th appearance for the Chinese side as he replace Lucas João.

Guoan’s Wang Gang opened the scoring for the visitors in the 24th minute as Zhang Linpeng’s foul in the area gave the visitors another chance in the 52nd minute.

Beijing striker Fabio Abreu scored from the penalty spot to double the lead. Wu Lei’s header gave Shanghai a consolation goal in the 89th minute.

With two matches left in the 2023 CSL, Shanghai Port is on top of the table with 59 points, with Shandong Taishan five points adrift in second place after they beat Changchun Yatai 3-0.

In Friday’s other CSL match, Wuhan Three Towns beat Dalian Pro 3-1. 

Shanghái Port to host Shandong Taishan on Sunday as they look to seal the title this campaign.

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Sutura Kakay nets in Sheffield Wednesday U18's draw
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sutura Kakay nets for Sheffield Wednesday U18

Sutura Kakay was among the goals as Sheffield Wednesday Under-18s played to a 3-3 draw at Middlewood Road against Crewe Alexandra.

The visitors snatched a last-gasp equaliser in a six-goal thriller in their Professional Development League.

The midfielder joined the Sheffield Wednesday academy side as one of the 11 new prodigies to the club on two-year scholarship deals.

The young midfielder Sutura Kakay scored the Owls’ third after the break through a super strike in the 58 minutes to put his side 3-2 up. 

From 25 yards, he unleashed a stunning effort off the post – a goal that looked to have earned three points for the hosts.

Devlan Moses scored the host opener after just two minutes before the visitors hit back with two goals to overturn the deficit.

Caiden Remy-Dee draws parity for Wednesday on the half-hour mark. After the recess, Kakay gave his side a 3-2 lead with a stunner before Crewe’s last-minute equaliser through Railwaymen’s 94th-minute goal to snatch a point.

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Osman Kakay reaches Queens Park Rangers Century
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Osman Kakay reaches Queens Park Rangers Century

Sierra Leone defender Osman Kakay has become the latest Queens Park Rangers player to make his 100th appearance for the club.

The defender started on the hence in their 4-0 defeat to Blackburn but was subbed on in the 74th minute to bookmark his century of appearances. 

It was a frustrating afternoon for the defender and his side as Blackburn Rovers ended a run of four straight Championship defeats to inflict more home misery on struggling Queens Park Rangers.

He has been at QPR since the age of eight, and the defender has progressed through the ranks as a first-team pivotal player.

The Sierra Leone international debuted his Hoops against Sunderland in the EFL Cup in September 2016 before enjoying a series of loan spells away from the club. 

In this campaign, he has made twelve appearances for the club under manager Gareth Ainsworth. 

International duty 

He skippered the Sierra Leone national team to a 1-1 draw against Benin on Saturday in Morocco as he made eighteen international appearances with the Leone Stars.

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Defender Osman Kakay has become the latest Queens Park Rangers player to make his 100th appearance for the club
Defender Osman Kakay has become the latest Queens Park Rangers player to make his 100th appearance for the club
Kallum Cesay features for Huddersfield in Central League Cup opener.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Kallum Cesay features in Huddersfield’s win in Cup opener

Huddersfield Town’s B Team featured Sierra Leone international Kallum Cesay on trial in their 5-1 win over Rotherham United in the Central League Cup opener.

Cesay, who is having a trial with Huddersfield Town after leaving Tottenham Hotspur in the summer, will hope he has impressed enough for a deal.

The former Tottenham youth defender did well in a 5-1 win for the Terriers, impressing in the first half in a midfield role before departing in the second half.

Young Terriers forward Hazeem Bakre recorded a hat-trick, a goal for Mustapha Olagunju and one for another trialist in Padrao. Tom Lees scored an own goal for Rotherham.

Town’s team (3-4-3)

Giosue Bellagambi; Tom Lees, Mustapha Olagunju (c), David Adewoju; Neo Eccleston, Kallum Cesay (Myles Bright, 69’), Tom Iorpenda, Luke Daley (Dylan Helliwell, 46’); Cian Philpott, Hazeem Bakre, Stephan Padrao (Omari Mrisho, 69’)

Unused substitute

Francis Hurl

Town goals

Stephan Padrao (33’), Hazeem Bakre (38’, 49’, 62’), Mustapha Olagunju (74’

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Cesay, a few weeks ago, tried with the SV Werder Bremen first team but was unsuccessful. 
Cesay, a few weeks ago, tried with the SV Werder Bremen first team but was unsuccessful. 
Meet HSV Hoek defender Augustine Loof, named to Sierra Leone squad
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Loof: the Ex-Dutch U20 defender called up by Sierra Leone

Augustine Loof, 27, who is a former Dutch U20 defender, has been named in Coach Amidu Karim’s first 25-man squad for friendlies in Morocco against Benin and Somalia.

The Dutch/Sierra Leonean who grew up in Koewacht and has been playing for Hoek since August. HSV Hoek competes in the  Derde Divisie, the fourth tier of Dutch football.

The former defender from Koewacht signed a contract with the Zeeland-Flemish third-division player until the end of the season.

Loof is a former youth player of JVOZ and professional football club PSV, who has been without a club since last season after an adventure in Malta. 

Professional debut

Loof made his professional debut as Jong PSV player in the Jupiler League on 3 October 2014 against Roda JC Kerkrade in a 1-1 draw. He played the full throttle of the game. He appeared in 115 matches in the Kitchen Champion Division at first Jong PSV and later FC Eindhoven. 

He then moved to Maltese Balzan FC, where he played between 2019 and 2022.

International 

Loof has featured for the Netherlands U17, 19 and 20 sides, making a total of fifteen appearances. 

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Augustine Loof has been playing for Hoek since September © Sjaak van der Salm
Augustine Loof has been playing for Hoek since September © Sjaak van der Salm
Sierra Leone call-up delights veteran defender Curtis Davies
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone call-up delights veteran defender Curtis Davies

Cheltenham defender Curtis Davies has expressed his delight at being called up to Sierra Leone for International friendlies matches in Morocco.

The veteran defender Davis, 38, was named in coach Amidu Karim’s 25-man squad for Benin and Somalia in readiness fir the World Cup 2026 qualifiers.

The former West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa defender took to Twitter to express his delight. “I’m delighted to formally announce that I will be joining the Sierra Leone national team for their upcoming friendlies.”

“I thought the opportunity to represent the country of my father’s birth had passed but I feel very proud and humbled to have received the call.”

It will be a proud moment for me to pull on the shirt of The Leone Stars and make my family in Sierra Leone proud, but most of all, my dad. He did everything in his power to give me the best chance to become a footballer, so I dedicate this all to him.”

Davies made his England under-21 debut on 28 February 2006 against Norway U21s before he was capped three times by the England under-21s from 2006 to 2007.

Davies was named in Fabio Capello’s first provisional England squad in January 2008 and initially expressed shock at the news of his call-up.

The former Derby man was also named in England’s squad to face Germany in November of that year but did not take the field.

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Head coach Amidu Karim names first 25-man squad for Friendlies against Benin and Somalia in Morocco
Head coach Amidu Karim names first 25-man squad for Friendlies against Benin and Somalia in Morocco
Semifinal defeat for Daroma's Tacoma Defiance
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Semi-final defeat for Daroma’s Tacoma Defiance

Frank Daroma’s Tacoma Defiance suffered Western Conference semifinal 1-0 defeat to Austin FC II on Sunday night at Starfire Stadium.

The Sierra Leone-born, who has been a pivotal player for Tacoma Defiance, played the full throttle of the match.

Valentin Noël’s game-winning goal was the decider in an intense affair at Starfire Stadium. Austin FC II advanced to meet Rapids 2 in the Western Conference Final.

Noël found the end of a David Rodriguez cross in the 82nd minute, directing his shot powerfully into the back of the net. Austin FC II took control after a Defiance red card in the 69th minute. Austin FC II goalkeeper Damian Las made three saves to preserve a clean sheet.

The result concludes the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro campaign for Defiance, who won the Pacific Division and finished second in the Western Conference during the regular season.

Signed on January 27, 2023, Daroma, 22, started 57 of 64 appearances for Las Vegas Lights FC over the 2021-2022 USL Championship campaigns before joining Tacoma Defiance.

“It’s been quite a journey,” said Defiance Assistant Coach Michael Morris In a pre-match interview. 

“We haven’t been beaten in the last seven games,” said Morris. “We’ve been really consistent with the chances we’re trying to create and finishing in those specific moments.”

Last season, they were beaten in the same stage of the MLS NEXTPro conference semifinals of launched. The team closed out last season in a 2-1 Western Conference Final loss against St. Louis CITY 2, preventing them from advancing to the Final.

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Augustine Williams name Man of the Match after defeat to Miami
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Augustine Williams named MOTM in defeat to Miami

A goal and Heineken Man of the Match honours for Sierra Leone striker Augustine Williams in their 2-1 defeat to Miami on Saturday.

The goal was Williams’ 14th of the year across all competitions as Charleston Battery were defeated in front of a sold-out crowd at Patriots Point. 

Augi Williams recorded the opener in the 7th minute, but a pair of goals in the second half for Miami proved to be the difference. 

The Battery get off to a flying start to the night to get the packed house on their feet. Augi Williams scored the opening tally in the 7th minute to put the Battery ahead 1-0. 

Tristan Trager forced the issue by driving down the left flank with a cross to Williams. Goalkeeper Jake McGuire saved Williams’ first effort, but the save went back to the striker, who sent it to the back of the net in his second attempt. 

Charleston will not turn focus to the regular season finale next Saturday against Birmingham Legion FC before kicking off their playoff run. 

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A goal and Heineken Man of the Match honors for Augi Williams
A goal and Heineken Man of the Match honors for Augi Williams
Striker Daniel Kanu makes Southern United debut
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Striker Daniel Kanu makes Southern United debut   

Charlton Athletic on loan striker Daniel Kanu made his Vanarama National League SOUTHEND United debut in their 2-0 win over Woking on Saturday.

Southend eased themselves up the National League table with a 2-0 win at Woking as Kanu substituted in the 57-minute for Jack Wood. As a result, they registered back-to-back wins in the process.

The prolific striker enjoyed a hugely successful 2021/22 season as a first-year scholar, scoring 31 goals before the end of January in all competitions for the U17s, U18s and U23s.

Kanu, 18, scored three goals for the Addicks this campaign. And he is excited to be teaming up with the Shrimpers.

Upon signing, he said: “I’m excited to join such a massive club with massive history.

“I was here on Tuesday night to watch the 2-0 win against Oxford City, and it was so good to see the atmosphere that the fans created and how well the team played.

“When I saw how hard the lads were working, it pulled me in. I had a couple of conversations with some coaches beforehand, and they told me Southend was the place to come to.

“I think I’ve made the right decision and I’m really excited to join a good project here.”

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