Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Amadou Bakayoko nets fifth of the season in Dundee's defeat at Ibrox
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Amadou Bakayoko nets fifth of the season in Dundee’s defeat at Ibrox

Amadou Bakayoko scored Dundee’s opening goal to record his fifth of the season as they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday.

The Sierra Leone International was at the right place to tap in a leaking ball, but Rangers came from behind to beat Dundee 3-1 and move five points behind Celtic, despite Jose Cifuentes’ first-half red card after a VAR check.

In sixteen appearances, Bakayoko scored his fifth of the season since joining the Scottish side on loan from Forest Green, but the home side fought back to score three goals before halftime. 

Cyriel Dessers equalised, and a few minutes later, Tavernier put Rangers ahead from the penalty spot following a VAR review. 

Abdallah Sima made it three before Jose Cifuentes was red-carded after another VAR review on the stroke of halftime. 

After the recess, Dundee improved as they enjoyed the large majority of possession, but Rangers held onto their lead.

The defeats meant Dundee sat seventh after round fifteen of the Scottish Premier League. 

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, Players Abroad News and Scottish Premiership News.

Sierra Leone International Mustapha Bundu started his second match for Plymouth Argyle as they suffered a 4-0 thrashing to Championship leaders Leicester City.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Leicester City thrash Mustapha Bundu’s Plymouth Argyle

Sierra Leone International Mustapha Bundu started his second match for Plymouth Argyle as they suffered a 4-0 thrashing to Championship leaders Leicester City. 

Bundu, 26, who bookmarked his eleventh appearance since joining the club, was substituted in the 57th minute. 

The host started brightly after a spot-kick scored by Stephy Mavididi set the Foxes on their way to maintaining their lead in the standings.

Patson Daka, who marked his first start of the season for Leicester City, scored the second goal as the Championship leaders thrashed Plymouth Argyle.

Stephy Mavididi scored his brace from another penalty call in the 52nd minute before Wilfred Ndidi completed their win three minutes later. 

Three goals were scored in six second-half minutes, Daka, Mavididi and Wilfred Ndidi 49, 52 and 55 minutes, respectively, as the Foxes ensured they remained one point clear at the summit in style.

Miller and Bundu were replaced by Ryan Hardie and Brendan Galloway.  Argyle mustered some attacking impetus but was too late for any consolation.

However, Azaz stretched the Leicester defence as Jan Vestergaard snuffed out the danger with a well-timed challenge.

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A great eye-opener to football: Kei Kamara after his USA B License
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

A great eye-opener to football: Kei Kamara after his US B License

The former Sierra Leone International striker Kei Kamara could not hide his joy after earning his first coaching B-Licence from the United States Soccer Federation.

The 39-year-old striker, who’s third all-time in the MLS scoring chart (144 goals), speaking to Football Sierra Leone, discussed his six months of coaching learning experience. He confirmed the news when he posted his certificate on social media on Friday. 

Kamara, who joined Chicago in a trade from CF Montréal as he secured his 10th MLS club, acknowledged the ‘eye-opening side of football offfield’.

 “The whole experience was a great eye-opening about football,” Kei Kamara lamented. When you play, you see the game differently. When you start to coach, obviously, perspective changes.”

“I loved the prpocess of building trainings, knowing the reason why we going into trainings day by day is challenging yourself as a coach.”

Being a coach, you never want to be comfortable. So, there is some part of being a player that also comes toward that. It depends on how you have worked as a player and as an athlete – you challenge yourself, which drives you when you become a coach. 

“It feels like school all over again. After completing this badge, I now know I have more experience coaching than I thought I did because of my experience playing professional football. Because I thought i knew a lot more because of the years I played. But, no, after six months of course work, I have learned a lot more than I played for all those years.”

This license is designed for coaches looking to lead U13 or higher level teams in a competitive environment with a more intermediate to advanced skill set. Any coach with their B license will be able to apply and evaluate player development within the game and optimize the learning environment for their team. Among other requirements, coaches will be required to run three training sessions per week and perform thorough video analysis throughout the process.

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, Players Abroad News and Kei Kamara News. 

East End Lions record first League win on Wednesday
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

East End Lions record first win of the season

One of Sierra Leone’s most decorated clubs, East End Lions, secured their first win on Wednesday after five matches, breaking a streak of four consecutive draws.

As a result, they moved up to eight as the victory added three crucial points to their tally of 7 points from 5 matches.

At the Trade Centre playing field, in the 28th minute, Sulaiman Kargbo opened the scoring before Ibrahim Bangura levelled for the visitors just before the break.

After the recess, the homes showed composure and determined to secure their first win with two more goals from Alie Conteh and Kandeh Turay.

Elsewhere, Mighty Blackpool faced a setback, losing to Ports Authority 2-1 at the Attouga Mini stadium. 

The defeat marked Mighty Blackpool’s second consecutive defeat following their 2-0 defeat to Lamboi FC in Lungi over the weekend.

Despite the defeats, they maintain a standing of 9 points from 5 matches.

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Sierra Leone Premier League Week Five Matches, Results and Table
Sierra Leone Premier League Week Five Matches, Results and Table
Fofin Turay all smiles as his Groningen side wrap up preparaation for Telstar
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Fofin Turay trains ahead of Groningen, Telstar Eerste tie

The 19-year-old Sierra Leone native Fofin Turay trained with the first team in their final preparation as In-form Groningen set to face SC Telstar in match day eighten of the Dutch Eerste Divisie on Friday at Euroborg.

After 17 matches, Groningen stood in ninth place on 25 points. They won their last Eerste Divisie match 2-1 at home against VVV, extending their unbeaten streak to five.

Groningen won the last encounter between the teams, triumphing 3-0 in their match against Telstar.

Telstar drew 0-0 against Utrecht II at Sportcomplex Zoudenbalch in their last encounter, leaving them in 18th place on 14 points.

In the final third, Kevin van Veen has been a key player for Groningen this season. The striker is the side’s leading scorer with five goals.

Telstar’s Zakaria Eddahchouri, who has scored on nine occasions, including three match-opening goals, is tied for fourth in the league’s scoring charts in 2023/2024.

On home soil this season, Groningen has secured 15 points (W4 D3 L2) from a possible 27 on offer in nine Eerste Divisie contests. 

Telstar will seek to address a poor run of results on the road this season with two draws, six losses, and just one win in league-away contests.

In their last six league matches, Groningen have won three, drawn two and lost one. Telstar, meanwhile, has won two, drawn one and lost three in their last six.

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, Players Abroad News, and Dutch Eerste Divisie.