sports

By Bakary Ceesay

Following a conducted tour of facilities being built ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Doha, His Excellency, President Adama Barrow expressed his admiration for Qatar’s state of preparedness for the forthcoming global sporting event.

President Barrow, who was impressed with the tour, said his experience was inspiring and shall be a learning curve for him and the government in the effort to successfully organize the Organization of Islamic Conference Summit in The Gambia the same year.

“It is a coincidence that Qatar and The Gambia are both small countries yet would be hosting two global events in 2022’’,

President Barrow said at the end of the tour that took place on the sidelines of the State visit.  ‘’Key in the hosting of such events is the development of the road infrastructure to ease travel as well as the venues with modern facilities to host world-class events”.

Earlier, President Barrow visited a new ultra-modern underground train station and an exhibition centre, all of which have been built in preparation of the World Cup.  His Excellency, Mr. Abdulla bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, Minister of Municipality and Environment, who is in charge of these infrastructural developments, accompanied President Barrow on this tour of the facilities.

The Minister also led the president on a ride onboard one of the new trains at the Al Qassar Rail Station that are designed to ease travel around the city and make the different stadiums accessible.

President Barrow also stopped at the complex of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy,  the body responsible for organizing the hosting of the World Cup. Nasser Al Khater, Chief Executive Officer, Qatar FIFA 2022 was at hand to brief the President about the history of football in Qatar, the country’s bidding experience for the World Cup, and the designs of the different stadiums being built in preparation for the 2022 games in Qatar.

By Ishmael Sallieu Koroma

Kei Ansu Kamara

The Executive Committee of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has in a statement said it has recalled Sierra Leone’s International Striker, Kei Ansu Kamara for the game between Leones Stars and Lone Stars of Liberia for the Qatar 2022 World Cup Preliminary qualifiers.

‘’The Executive Committee would like to inform the public that Kei Ansu Kamara has been recalled to the National Senior Team ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Preliminary Qualifiers against Liberia’’

The Colorado Rapids Star was initially dropped by the FA from the squad ahead of the match in Liberia due to his comment on his social media page about football in the country.

‘’The Sierra Leone Football Association wishes to inform to the public that a decision has been taken to drop Sierra Leone International Striker Kei Ansu Kamara from the National Senior Team Leones Stars effective today 21^st August 2019. Kei Kamara’s official invitation to join the Leone Stars squad for the Liberia vs. Sierra Leone World Cup qualifiers in September has been revoked with immediate effect,’’ SLFA said in a statement last week.

According to the FA, the decision has been taken after Kamara’s apology on radio and social media over the weekend following his suspension by the FA for breach of professional conduct.

Kamara and other foreign based players are expected to be in Sierra Leone on or before the 29 of August 2019.

The team will travel to Liberia for the first leg of the preliminaries on the 4^th September 2019 and later host the Lone Star for the return leg at the Siaka Steven Stadium on the 8^th September 2019.
Kamara is part of nineteen (19) foreign based plyers invited by the FA to play the Sierra Leone and Liberia encounter.

By Ishmael Sallieu Koroma

Musa Noah Kamara

Sierra Leone’s Football Association (SLFA) has in press statement on Saturday 24^th August confirmed the termination of Musa Noah Kamara contractual agreement with Swedish club Trelleborgs FF.

According to the statement from the SLFA, the President and Executive of Sierra Leone Football Association would like to inform the public that Swedish Club Trelleborgs FF and Musa Noah Kamara aka ‘’Musa Tombo’’ have agreed on the termination of the contractual agreement in August 2019

An official correspondence dated 22^nd August 2019, sent to the SLFA President by Trelleborgs’ Manager Peter Swärdh stated, “I would like to emphasize that we are grateful for your clear position in this matter… you had the ability to act quickly to give clarity on Musa’s behaviour and decisions.” Swärdh went on to say that “we understand the background you described for Musa and how it may have affected his thoughts.”

The release further stated that, despite Madam Johansen’s intervention and efforts to try to turn the situation around the club’s response was that, “we do not believe that it is possible for Musa to win back the trust of the board, the management, and players in view of what has

happened.”

‘’The SLFA President would like to communicate that Musa’s situation whilst very

disappointing, has given both Trelleborgs FF and the SLFA a clearer understanding of

the need to be involved the welfare and adaptation of young players heading off to

countries with vast different cultures in the future. She hopes that the FA can adapt

and apply the same strategy with all future international clubs’’SLFA said.

However, the FA president has pledged to mentor, and support Musa Tombo Kamara

throughout his current confidence building, reintegration and training program in the

fervent hope that he will be ready to embark on another international signing in the not

too distant future.

‘’The SLFA Executive is using this platform and opportunity to humbly request that the

public and social media subscribers embrace humanity as we try to give this young and highly talented football player a chance to focus and grow from his mistakes. Let us put the past behind us and look into the future of Leone stars qualifying into world cup and the African Nations Cup Qualifier’’

Musa Kamara, retuned home last week after it emerged on social media that he was coming home as he couldn’t cope with the cold weather in Sweden. Kamara finished as the top goal scorer in the 2019 Sierra Leone Premier League with 15 goals to help East End Lions emerge as champions.

By Samuel Ouma | @journalist_27

Aigle Noir Makamba FC

Burundi’s side Aigle Noir Makamba FC is already in the country ahead of their crunch match against the eighteen times Kenyan champions Gor Mahia on Sunday, August 25 at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

The team landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Wednesday afternoon and they will from today hold practice sessions up to Saturday as they aim at picking a crucial win against Gor or a draw of any score in the second leg of 2019 Caf Champions League preliminary. The first leg played in Bujumbura, Burundi more than a week ago ended in a barren draw.

Gor Mahia was lucky not to have conceded away despite fielding a depleted squad. Gor alias Kogalo availed 15 players instead of 18. Injuries, suspension and late registration were responsible for the thin squad. The Kenya’s side has home advantage and retur availability of a number of players apart from some of the new signings such as Ghanian striker Francis Afriyie, Ivorian Gislein Yikpe and Kenyan midfielder Clinton Miheso.

The Kenya Premier Champions has no option but to pip their opponent to proceed to next round. The winner between the two will face either USM Alger of Algeria or AS SONIDEP from Niger. USM Alger won the first leg away in Niger.

By Ishmael Sallieu Koroma

Sellas Tetteh

 The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has officially unveiled the newly appointed Head Coach of the National Senior Team (Leone Stars) Mr. Sellas Tetteh and his backroom staff in a press conference held at the SLFA Secretariat, Kingtom in Freetown a press statement on Tuesday has said.

Mr. Sellas Tetteh was appointed as head coach of the country team last Tuesday 13^th August after the Executive Committee of the FA after a thorough interview.

According to the press statement, the historic event took place in the presence of the Director of Sports Mr. Kenneth Brima who was there representing the Sports Ministry, including the President of the SLFA Madam Isha Johansen and the Executive Committee, a representative from the Ghanaian Embassy and a host of other big dignitaries.

‘’When he was making his keynote address, the Director of Sports Mr. Kenneth Brima expressed extreme satisfaction over the appointment of Coach Sellas Tetteh, stating that with the credentials and experience of our new coach, Sierra Leone has already qualified to both major tournaments,’’the Director of Sport said,  adding that the Government of Sierra Leone will give it’s fullest support towards the Head Coach and the country’s football generally to ensure Leone Stars’ qualification to both the 2021 African Cup of Nations in Cameroon and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The FA President thanked the Director of Sports and the Government of Sierra Leone for the tireless and collaborative effort they have shown so far towards the growth and development of the country’s most cherished sports.

In his statement after being unveiled, the newly appointed Head Coach Mr. Sellas Tetteh Teivi thanked the Football Association and the Government of Sierra Leone for giving him the opportunity to serve as Head of Leone Stars technical team. The Ghanaian born high profiled coach expressed great delight to have local based backroom staff whom he referred to as his “colleagues and teammates” in a great mission of qualifying the Nation to the two major tournaments.

The U20 World Cup winner went on to state that with unity, togetherness and most importantly support from the people of Sierra Leone, Leone Stars is sure to make it through the qualifiers

‘’Mr. Tetteh Teivi and his backroom staff later on in the day today officially assumed office and commenced training at the football academy,’’ the release ended.

It could be recalled the appointment of the former Under 20 world Cup Winner was rejected by the Sierra Lone Sports Ministry just hours the FA had announced his appointment to the top job which received mixed reactions on social media.

Many sports loving fans are looking forward to seeing the Ghanaian born to qualify their  country for the African Nations Cup preliminary stage.

• The Trophy Tour, presented by Etihad Airways, visits vibrant football city Lagos as part of its global Trophy Tour
• City legend Micah Richards will accompany the trophies for a series of exciting fan events
• After a record-breaking 2018/19 season, City becomes the first soccer club to take the men’s and women’s trophies on a global tour at the same time
• City will be hosting a match day screening as City take on Brighton on Saturday 31 August

Lagos, Nigeria: Manchester City is bringing its silverware to Lagos, Nigeria to celebrate with fans as part of their global trophy tour, presented by Etihad Airways on 31 August. Supported by regional partners Marathonbet and Star Beer, the Trophy Tour is a part of a global club celebration after making football history by becoming the first English football club to lift six trophies across both its men’s and women’s teams in the same season.

Club legend, Micah Richards, who played centre-back for Manchester City from 2005 – 2014, making 246 appearances, will accompany the trophies in Lagos for a series of exciting fan activities.  

On Saturday 31 August, City will also be hosting a CityLive! match day viewing party and welcoming hundreds of fans as their eagerly watch the team take on Brighton at the Etihad Stadium.

One of the highlights of the Trophy Tour is an immersive fan experience that is modelled to look like the home dressing room at the Etihad Stadium, giving fans who would never get to visit Manchester the chance to experience the excitement of a City matchday.

As well as the opportunity to take photos with the six trophies, fans will be able to create their very own walk out video to experience what it’s like to be a Manchester City player.

City Legend Richards, shared his excitement on bringing the trophies to Nigeria: “Nigeria is known as a very vibrant football country so Lagos was the perfect location for the Trophy Tour.

“The intensity and passion of the City fans in Nigeria always blows me away so I can’t wait to meet them and hear about their favourite City moments from over the years.”

Nuria Tarre, Chief Marketing Officer at City Football Group, commented: “We’re excited to have the men’s and women’s trophies on tour at the same time. This is a football first and we can’t wait to celebrate our historic success with fans in the Nigeria. The tour will bring an authentic City experience to Lagos, allowing those fans who would never get to travel to Manchester the chance to experience the club they love closer than ever and right in their hometowns.”

The tour is visiting a number of destinations worldwide including Thailand, China and India. Fans can keep up to date at www.mancity.com/trophytour and via the Club’s Cityzens platform.

Champions

• Manchester City embark on the Trophy Tour following a record-breaking season
• Following back to back Premier League titles, the Blues claimed a further five trophies in the same season; FA Cup, Community Shield, Carabao Cup, Women’s FA Cup and FA WSL Continental Cup

Trophy Tour

• Manchester City is taking six trophies on a global Trophy Tour, presented by Etihad Airways. Throughout the tour, the trophies will visit a number of destinations around the world. Across each destination, Manchester City will be hosting fan events as well as visiting some of their global community projects
• Manchester City will become the first Club to showcase the men’s and women’s trophies on tour at the same time
• View the Trophy Tour video here: https://youtu.be/ZnDBE_UKd1g

Micah Richards

• Played as centre-back for Manchester City from 2005 – 2014
• Made 246 appearances, scoring nine goals
• Won three trophies during his time at City, including the FA Cup in 2011 which ended a 35-year trophy drought
• Part of the Premier League-winning squad in 2012 after the team won the last game of the season versus QPR to secure the title

About Manchester City Football Club

Manchester City FC is an English Premier League club initially founded in 1880 as St Mark’s West Gorton. It officially became Manchester City FC in 1894 and has since then gone onto win the European Cup Winners’ Cup, six League Championship titles, including four Premier League titles (2012, 2014, 2018, 2019), and six FA Cups. Manchester City FC is one of seven clubs comprising the City Football Group and counts New York City FC and Melbourne City FC among its sister clubs.

Under manager Pep Guardiola, one of the most highly decorated managers in world football, the Club plays its domestic and UEFA Champions League home fixtures at the Etihad Stadium, a spectacular 55,000 seat arena that City have called home since 2003. Today, the Stadium sits on the wider Etihad Campus, which also encompasses the City Football Academy, a state-of-the-art performance training and youth development facility located in the heart of East Manchester. Featuring a 7,000 capacity Academy Stadium, the City Football Academy is also where Manchester City Women’s Football Club and the Elite Development Squad train on a daily basis and play their competitive home games.

By Bakary Ceesay

 A squad of 21 athletes and officials has  fly Gambia’s flag high at this year’s 12th edition of the African Games to be held in Morocco from August 16-31.

The team will have representation in 5 out of 26 sporting disciplines being contested at the games.

As per the norm at the African Games, Team Gambia’s biggest contingent will come from athletics with a total of 9 athletes. Other disciplines that will form part of the team are: beach volleyball, swimming, judo and basketball 3×3.

Formerly known as All Africa games, the African Games is an important multi-sport event and the premier pinnacle of continental games held every four years – one year before the Olympic Games.

Team Gambia comprises of Olympians Adama Jammeh and Gina Bass on the tracks, beach volleyball continental cup finalist Abie Kujabie/Fatoumatta Ceesay and Qatar prince cup winners Sainey Jawo/Mbye Babou Jarra, World Championship contestant Abdourahman Ceesay and his partner for Judo and experienced swimmers and basketball 3×3 superstars.

By Bakary Ceesay

Coach Tom Saintfiet has had his contract with the Gambia extended for two more years.

Gambia National team Scorpions Head Coach Tom Saintfiet has made public a list of 41 players in a provisional selection for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers encounter against Angola.

The squad contains many familiar names that have been part of recent positive results, including the recent double 1-0 wins over African powerhouses Guinea and Morocco. There are also spaces for some young and upcoming players who have been identified for selection, including Momodou Bojang, the Brikama United star striker who impressed with his two-goal haul against Raja Casablanca in the first leg of their CAF Champions League encounter.

“This is a provisional list as per FIFA regulations, however, there is still time for more names to be added. Nonetheless, I am very satisfied with this pool of players which is a combination of experienced heads and young, hungry players eager to make their mark,” Saintfiet explained.

“We understand as coaches that most of the discussion will be about who is not here, but we prefer to focus on the players we have here. This selection is not against anyone but an endorsement of the work most of these players have put in so far. However, we don’t want to take it easy now and we know that we must work harder even though we have enjoyed some fantastic results recently. We want to progress to the group stages and we feel that the players selected here will give us the best possible chance to achieve that.”

The first leg is scheduled to take place at the Independence Stadium on Friday 6th September at 5pm with the return in Angola on Tuesday 10th September. The winners over the two legs will progress to the group stage where each group winner will advance to the final round of playoffs to seal a place at the FIFA World Cup 2022 to be held in Qatar.

Invitations will be sent out next week before a final 23-man selection will be finalised and announced at a scheduled press conference on Thursday 29th August.

By Ishmael Sallieu Koroma

Sellas Tetteh Teivi

The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has today announced the appointment of Ghanaian born Sellas Tetteh Teivi as Head Coach of the national team a press statement from the association said on Tuesday.

According to the association, the appointment of Sellas Tetteh Teivi as the head coach came after a thorough interview process done by the Sierra Leone Football Association Head Coach Recruitment Committee adding that based on scores earned by the various candidates, the Ghanaian born scored high.

‘’The Executive Committee of the Football Association wishes to announce to the general public and the football family the appointment of Mr. Sellas Tetteh Teivi as the Head Coach of the National Senior Team (Leone Stars),’’the release said.

The release further stated that the newly appointed coach is expected to assume office and take up his duties within the next 48 hours adding that it is the responsibility of Mr. Tetteh, as Head Coach to appoint his backroom coaching staff.

Sellas Tetteh Teivi is one of five foreign coaches, Stevanovic Goran, a Serbian, Raoul Savoy-Swiss -Spanish, Tahseen Jabbary- Dutch and Peter Butler – English that were shortlisted for the job.

The Ghanaian born replaces John Keister, former Sierra Leone International  who was appointed as head coach of the country team in May 2017 but failed to qualify for Leones Stars for the 2019 Africa Nations Cup.

However, following the announcement of the foreign coach, people took to social media with some expressing happiness whilst others lambasting the FA in the country for not recruiting locally based coach.

By Samuel Ouma |@journalist_27

Harambee Stars

Kenya’s men national soccer team Harambee Stars have performed dismally in the latest ranking by the world football governing body FIFA.

Results released by FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Thursday saw Kenya drop two places in the world. Stars are in position 107 in the 211-nation rankings from 105 in the last standing announced in June.

The drop is believed to have been caused by lackluster display in this year’s African Cup of Nation in Egypt. Sebastian Migne’s charges were eliminated at group stage after losing to both Algeria and Senegal by margins of 2-0 and 3-0 respectively. They managed a single narrow win of 3-2 against neighbours Tanzania who were appearing to the tourney since 1980.

Uganda has emerged as the best team in FIFA ranking in Eastern Africa at position 80, followed by Kenya and then Sudan at 129.

Senegal leads in Africa, Tunisia and Nigeria come second and third, the current African Champion Algeria is in fourth position and Morocco closes the best five teams in Africa.

Globally, Belgium has retained the top spot, Copa America winner Brazil is second, 2018 the world cup winner France has dropped to position three, England and Uruguay are fourth and fifth respectively.

The news comes at a time when the team is preparing for African Nations Championship (Chan) and 2021 AFCON qualifiers. Kenya will travel to Dar es Salaam on Sunday, July 28 to take on Tanzania before hosting them in Nairobi in chan 2020 qualifier on August 4.

On November 11, 2019, Stars will battle African football giant Egypt in Cairo in the 33^rd AFCON qualifier and host Togo on November 19. The East African country was pitted against Egypt, Togo and Comoros Island in Group G in the draw done last week by CAF.

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

Photo credit should read GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images

The 2019 edition of the Africa cup of Nations has been won by the Desert Foxes of Algeria, a second crown in their history. Algeria defeated the Teranga lions of Senegal by a goal to nil thanks to a second minute strike from Baghdad Bounedjah, in the final of the AFCON played at the Cairo International stadium July 19, 2019.

Chances in the game were few and far between an ill-tempered affair as Algeria withstood almost constant pressure and also saw a Senegal penalty awarded overturned by the Video Assistant Referee, VAR.

Algeria’s only victory until now in the competition was back in 1990. Some 29 years to this day. Before reaching the final, the team defeated Nigeria 2-1 after outsmarting Ivory Coast in the quarter finals.

For Senegal, the wait is still on for their maiden title. The team can however take solace to having reached the final but just fell short of clinching it. Congratulations have been extended to their coach Aliou Cisse for having guided the team to such a level.

Algeria succeeds Cameroon as the best team in Africa with Cameroon eliminated in the round of 16. Their next challenge will be that of defending the trophy during the AFCON 2021 that will be hosted by Cameron.

For star forward Riyad Mahrez, this victory in the AFCON goes to add to his numerous titles won for his club side Manchester City in England. The player has so far won five titles to close the football season.

Algeria and Senegal’s meeting in the final created a huge milestone for local coaches. Two local coaches were competition for the Holy Grail of African football, with one joining the prestigious list of African coaches to have won the competition.

After 32 editions of the competition, it was only the fifth time two African coaches have met at the AFCON finals. Just four times before the final was an All African affair. In 1962 hosts Ethiopia coached by legend Yidnekatchew Tessema won their first (and only to date) AFCON title, defeating Egypt 4-2 in the final. The Pharaohs were then coached by the duet of Mohamed El Guindy and Hanafy Bastan.

Ghana won the 1965 edition, beating hosts Tunisia 3-2. The Black Stars coach Charles Gyamfi had his second successive AFCON glory then, defeating Tunisian counterpart Mokhtar Ben Nacef. Another Ghanaian, Fred Ousam-Duodu led the Black stars to the 1978 title at home, defeating Uganda led by local legend Pete Okee 2-0 in the final.

And in 1998, Egyptian Mahmoud El Gohary became the first man to win AFCON as a player (1959) and coach. He guided the Pharaohs to their fourth title in Burkina Faso, defeating South Africa, coached by local icon Jomo Sono 2-0 in the final.

Overall, 11 local coaches had won 15 AFCON titles in the previous 31 editions. Ghana’s Gyamfi and Egypt’s Hassan Shehata had each won record three titles, Nigerian Stephen Keshi won it in 2013. Djamel Belmadi now joins the illustrious Africans to have won the award.

By Bakary Ceesay

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) at its Executive Committee meeting held in Cairo on Wednesday 17th July, 2019 has unanimously decided to change the dates of the Qualifiers of the Africa Cup of Nations 2021.

The new dates according to CAF, will be in phases as the Preliminary rounds will be in two legs between the 7th and 15th October, 2019.

CAF further stated that Day One and Two will be from the 11th to 19th November, 2019 while August 31st to 8th September, 2020 will be for Day three and Four. Day Five will be from 5th to 13th November, 2020 while penultimate day Six will be between the 9th and 17th November, 2020.

The Gambia amongst other countries will this year begin their campaign with a preliminary round on a double legged tie in October where the winner in each pair will join in the series for a spot at the 2021 edition in Cameroon.

The Gambia is on the verge of resuming the campaign after its Technical training camp in Morocco where the Scorpions went wild in two friendly internationals against Guinea’s Syli Nationale before capping off with another win against hosts Morocco in June.

The Gambia is currently ranked 161 on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World ranking released in June moving up two places from 163 making a total of 1002.