Leone Stars Squad Profiles

Sierra Leone Football.com profile of players called up by  Leone Stars coach Johnny McKinstry to play against Equatorial Guinea at the National Stadium, Freetown on Saturday 7th September 2013.

Leone Stars line-up against Tunisia in Freetown  June 2013

Sheriff Suma, Kei Kamara, Umaru ‘Zingalay’ Bangura, Mohamed ‘Poborsky’ Bangura, Ibrahim Tarawally, John Kamara

Alhassan ‘Crespo’ Kamara, Mustapha Dumbuya, George ‘Kweku’ Davies, Mohamed ‘Medo’ Kamara, Ibrahim ‘Obrey’ Kargbo

solomonzombomorrisSolomon Zombo Morris (FC Rouen, France)

Position: Goal Keeper

DOB: 16.06.90

Place of Birth: Freetown

Age: 23

Height: 1.80 m (5’10.5″)

Caps: 2

Solomon Zombo Morris plays as a goalkeeper for French club FC Rouen in the Championnat National. He was called up for the first time in Sierra Leone’s 2013 African Cup of Nations qualification match against Tunisia.

mustaphadumbuya5Mustapha Dumbuya (Notts County, England)

 

Position: Defence

DOB: 07.08.87

Place of Birth: Sierra Leone

Age: 26

Height: 1.70 m (5’7″)

Caps: 3

Mustapha Sima Michael Dumbuya is a professional Sierra Leonean footballer who plays as a defender for League One side Notts County.Dumbuya started his career in the English non-league circuit.Dumbuya joined Doncaster Rovers in August 2009 from Isthmian League club Potters Bar Town.On 2 July 2013 Dumbaya agreed a two-year contract contract with Notts County.Dumbuya was called up to the Sierra Leone squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against São Tomé and Príncipe, however a mix up with tickets meant it was too late for him to join up with the squad. Dumbuya said; “Obviously I’m a bit gutted to miss out but the next qualifier is in June and I hope to be called up again then.” He was called up again in August 2012 for the qualifier against Tunisia.On 14 October, he finally made his debut for Leone Stars, in the second tie against Tunisia.

 

johnkamara555John Kamara (Apollon Smirnis, Greece)

 

 

Position: Midfield

DOB: 12.05.88

Place of Birth: Freetown

Age: 25

Caps: 2

John Bankolé Kamara is a Sierra Leonean footballer who plays for Greek club Apollon Smyrni, as a midfielder. Born in Freetown, Kamara has played in Lebanon and Greece for Tadamon Sour and Apollon Smyrni. He is one of the key players in the team helping the side to gain promotion to the Greek top tier league in season 2012/2013. Kamara made his international debut against Tunisia in June 2013.

 

ibrahimkargbo555Ibrahim ‘Obrey’ Kargbo (RDWM Molenbeek, Belgium)

 

Position: Centre Back/ Defensive Midfielder

DOB: 10.04.82

Place of Birth: Freetown

Height: 1.75 m (5’8.5″)

Age: 31

Caps: 34

Ibrahim Kargbo  is a Sierra Leonean international football player, who plays for RDWM Molenbeek, Belgium. Former teams are Old Edwardians F.C.Feyenoord RotterdamRWD MolenbeekSporting CharleroiMalatyasporFC Brussels andWillem II. During his time at Willem II he was a key player. He played more than 100 matches for the Dutch side and then moved to FC Baku when his contract had expired. Kargbo is first choice defender for the Sierra Leone national football team and is also the Leone Stars  captain.

georgekwekudavis5George ‘Kweku’ Davies (FC Johansen, Sierra Leone)

 

Position: Midfield

DOB: 16.11.96

Place of Birth: Freetown

Age: 17

George Kweku Davies got recognition of his talents by being part of the FC Johansen team that won the Swiss U16 Cup in 2011 by defeating Liverpool FCs’ U16 team in the final. George was joint highest scorer in the competition with 7 goals from 5 games. That brought him to the attention of Manchester City scouts who got him training at their affiliated academy in Ghana, Right to Dream, and a stint at Manchester City in England. â€œDavies is very good striker who is very technical, fast on the ball and can score goals.

I brought him to FC Johansen because I knew he was a potential star, Coach Keister told sierraleonefootball.com  He made his debut for Leone Stars A team against Tunisia in June 2013 and was impressive. He was rated as the best player in the Leone Stars home team that represented Sierra Leone at the WAFU Cup in Ghana in November 2013 scoring a goal in a 2-2 draw with Benin.  

 

2010-08-13 Fotboll Allsvenskan AIK

Mohamed ‘Poborsky’ Bangura (Istanbul BB, Turkey)

Position: Forward

DOB: 27.07.89

Place of Birth: Kambia

Height: 1.80 m (5’10.5″)

Age: 24

Caps: 14

Mohamed Bangura (born 27 July 1989) is a professional footballer from Sierra Leone who currently plays as a striker for Allsvenskan club Elfsborg, on loan from Scottish Premiership club Celtic and the Sierra Leone national football team. Bangura started his youth career at FC Kallon where he became an important player for the team. In the beginning of 2010 he earned his first international cap in a 1–0 loss to Senegal in Dakar. He represented FC Kallon at the World Youth Tournament Viareggio Cup 2010 and scored a goal against Napoli SC where FC Kallon lost by 2–3, he also took part in a match against Chivas Guadalarja of Mexico. In the final game he scored a brace against AC Parma but FC Kallon lost 2-3.

On 19 March 2010, Swedish third tier side IFK Värnamo (coached by the former Sweden midfielder Jonas Thern) announced they had signed Bangura on loan for the forthcoming season. At the SmÃ¥land club Bangura made an immediate impact; when half of the season was played, Bangura had scored 12 goals in 13 league games, turning Värnamo into one of the division’s top sides. Experts professed the club had signed a gem and that it would only be a matter of time before Bangura would be swooped by top clubs.On 19 July 2010, AIK announced that they had signed Bangura on a 3,5 year contract tying him to the club until the end of 2013. In 2011 season, Bangura formed a striking partnership with new signing Teteh Bangura and together, they formed a line of attack in number of games. Then, on 17 April 2011, Bangura scored twice in a match with a 2-2 draw against Elfsborg and when they meet again on 31 July 2011, the match proved to be a last partnership with both Bangura’s, as they moved to  new clubs. On 30 August 2011, Bangura signed a four-year deal with Celtic for a fee of around £2.2million. He is the first Sierra Leonean to play for Celtic. He was recommended to Celtic by former striker and fan favourite Henrik Larsson. Bangura made his Celtic debut for Celtic on 10 September. At the beginning of January 2013, Bangura joined Swedish 2012 champions Elfsborg on a 1-year loan from Celtic, in a new venture for the club’s forthcoming Champions League qualification campaign. The estimated cost for Bangura’s loan is to be £1 million. At Elfsborg, Bangura started to improve his goalscoring form, not unlike his time at AIK, including a brace in a 6-0 win over Brommapojkarna on 23 May 2013. Bangura made his international debut on 5 September 2010, in a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Egypt which ended in a 1–1 draw. Bangura returned to his parent club Celtic but was released on January 31st 2014 andhas now been signed up by second tier Turkish side Istanbul BB.

 

johntrye2John Trye (Northern Virginia Royals, USA)

 

 

Position: Goal Keeper

DOB: 16.03.85

Place of Birth: Freetown

Age: 28

Height: 1.90 m (6’2″)

Caps: 1

John Trye plays as a goal keeper for Northern Virginia Royals. His only cap so far was in a friendly against Nigeria. When asked whether he intended playing for the national team: John replied, “I’m always ready to play for my country if given the chance,” he added “Every player wants to put on his national colours.”

umarubangura55555Umaru ‘Zingalay’ Bangura (Dinamo Minsk, Belarus)

Position: Defender

DOB: 07.10.87

Place of Birth: Freetown

Age: 25

Height: 1.83 m (6’0″)

Caps: 19

Previous clubs: Mighty Blackpool, Watford, Honefoss, FK Haugesund.

Umaru Bangura, Age 26, a central defender who has just moved to a Belarusian Premier League club Dinamo Minsk from Norwegian top flight league side FK Haugesund. He had a good spell with Haugesund. Bangura has been a regular starting player for Leone Stars since he made his international debut against Mali in 2006 in a 2008 African Cup Of Nations Qualifying match and has been impressive throughout. Bangura was voted the sierraleonefootball.com Player of the Year for 2013.

 

sam bangura5Sam Bangura (Unattached)

 

 

Position: Defender

DOB: 23.01.95

Place of Birth: Freetown

Age: 18

Caps: 1

Sam Bangura plays as a full-back and can play on either side but is more at home on the right, where he attacks from deep. He joined Chelsea FC as an under 13 having moved from Sierra Leone. He played  youth team games as a schoolboy in 2010/11. He was called up to play for the Leone Stars in May 2013.

 

rodneystrasser55Rodney Strasser (Reggina, Italy)

 

 

Position: Defensive Midfielder

DOB: 30.03.90

Place of Birth: Freetown

Height: 1.78 m (5’10”)

Age: 23

Caps: 8

Rodney Strasser is a Sierra Leonean professional footballer who plays as midfielder for Italian Serie B club Reggina. Born in Freetown, Strasser began his career at local club FC Kallon, before moving to Italy to join Milan in 2007. During his time in Milan’s youth system, he was a member of the under-20 side, who won the 2009–10 Coppa Italia Primavera. He made his first-team debut on 21 December 2008, in a 5–1 win against Udinese, coming on as a substitute for Kakha Kaladze in the 82nd minute. Strasser made his international debut for the Sierra Leonean national team on 5 September 2010, in a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification game against Egypt.

 

abellbaggie56Abdulai Bell Baggie (Tranmere Rovers, England)

Position: Winger

DOB: 22.04.92

Place of Birth: Sierra Leone

Height: 1.68 m (5’6″)

Age: 21

Caps: 2

Abdulai Hindolo Bell-Baggie  is a Sierra Leonean professional football winger who plays for League One club Tranmere Rovers. Born in Sierra Leone, Bell-Baggie represented both the England under-16 and England under-17 national teams before winning a cap for Sierra Leone in 2013. A former Reading player, he has played on loan for Rotherham UnitedPort Vale, and Crawley Town and was briefly contracted to Yeovil Town and Hayes & Yeading United. He joined Salisbury City in January 2012, before switching to Tranmere Rovers seven months later.Bell-Baggie turned out for England at both under-16 and under-17 levels. He lifted the Victory Shield in 2007 with the under-16s, Bell-Baggie starting in the 2–0 win over Wales and the 2–1 win against Scotland. In August 2008 he made two appearances for the under-17s, in a 2–1 defeat by Portugal and a 2–0 win over Italy.Bell-Baggie made ​​his senior debut with Sierra Leone in a 1–0 defeat to Cape Verde at the Estádio da Várzea in a World Cup qualifier on 15 June 2013. Rotherham United manager Ronnie Moore considered him to be an “impact player”. He went on to say “he’s got electric pace. He’s brave and strong and has got a lot of goals for the Reserves and kids. He’s two footed and can play on the left wing and gets into little pockets. He turns and twists and, even at his young age, he knows the game.

ibrahimbangura55555Ibrahim ‘Teteh’ Bangura (Beitar Jerusalem, Israel)

 

Position: Striker

DOB: 27.12.89

Place of Birth: Freetown

Height: 1.83 m (6’0″)

Age: 24

Caps: 9

Ibrahim “Teteh” Bangura is a Sierra Leonean international footballer. He currently plays for Beitar Jerusalem on loan from Bursaspor. Bangura began his career in his native Sierra Leone, playing with F.C. Kallon. He was the leading goal scorer in the Sierra Leone National Premier League and Sierra Leone FA Cup for the 2006–07 season, and participated in European trials A.C. Milan and Swedish club BK Häcken, but was not offered a contract by either team. On August 31 2013 Bangura entered for the 1st time into a game vs. Maccabi Petah Tiqwa, as a substitute, and helped the club to win it’s first win in 20132014 season. Bangura was called up to the Sierra Leone national team for a World Cup qualifier with Equatorial Guinea on 6 September 2008.

 

michaellahoud5Michael Lahoud (Philadephia Union, USA)

 

 

Position: Midfield

DOB: 15.09.86

Place of Birth: Freetown

Height: 1.73 m (5’8″)

Age: 26

Caps: 1

Michael Lahoud is a Sierra Leonean-born American soccer player who currently plays for the Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer.Lahoud was drafted in the first round (9th overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by Chivas USA. He made his professional debut on 21 March 2009, in Chivas’s first game of the 2009 MLS season against Colorado Rapids. He played in 16 games (nine starts) with one goal and one assist. His first MLS goal was on Oct. 25, 2009 vs Houston in the 59th minute. Scored his first goal as a profession in the SuperLiga match on June 20, 2009 against Tigres UANL On September 14, 2010 Chivas USA beat CD Guadalajara and won the ChivaClásico Trophy following a penalty kick shootout after both sides ended scoreless in regulation time. Michael Lahoud buried the final penalty to give the American Red-and-Whites a 4-2 victory.

He was awarded the MVP Trophy.On May 17, 2012, Lahoud was traded to the Philadelphia Union in exchange for Danny Califf. Michael Lahoud was previously called to the national team by former coach Lars Olof Mattson after he declared his intention to play for his country of birth. He has been selected again by current coach John McKinstry. Michael Lahoud gained his first cap in Leone Stars victory against Equatorial Guinea in the final Group B Brazil World Cup 2014 qualification match in September 2013.

 

sheriffsuma55555Sheriff Suma (Unattached)

 

 

Position: Left wing

DOB: 12.10.86

Place of Birth: Freetown

Age: 26

Height: 1.83 m (6′ 0″)

Caps: 28

Previous clubs: Kallon FC,Alvidabergs FF,GAIS,Haugesund,Ernis Arradipou,Kocaelispor,Jonkopings Sodra,Ravan Baku.

Sheriff Suma  nickname Awilo, is a Sierra Leonean international footballer who most recently played as a winger for Ravan Baku and for the Sierra Leone national football team. He was a member of Sierra Leone U-17 team at the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Finland. Suma made his senior international debut for Sierra Leone on September 3, 2006 in a 2008 African Nations Cup qualifying match against Mali in Freetown.

 

gibrilsankoh5Gibril ‘Barel’ Sankoh (Henan Jiane, China)

 

 

Position: Centre half

DOB: 15.05.83

Place of Birth: Freetown

Age: 30

Height: 1.86 m (6’1″)

Caps: 3

Previous clubs: Stormvogels Telstar,Groningen,FC Augsburg.

Gibril Sankoh is a centre half who currently plays for Chinese club Henan Jianye.Sankoh was born in Sierra Leone but grew up in the Netherlands. On 8 September 2012, at the age of 29, he made his debut for the Leone Stars in a qualification match against Tunisia for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

 

hassansesay5Hassan ‘Milla’ Sesay (MYPA, Finland)

 

 

Position: Midfield

DOB: 22.10.87

Place of Birth: Freetown

Age: 25

Height: 1.74 m (5′ 8.5″)

Caps: 0

Hassan Milla Sesay is a Sierra Leonean international footballer, currently playing as an attacking midfielder for MYPA in Veikkausliiga.He also plays for the Sierra Leone national football team. Sesay was a member of Sierra Leone U-17 team at the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Finland.

 

mustaphabangura5555Mustapha ‘Hadji’ Bangura (AEK Larnaca, Cyprus)

 

Position: Attacking Midfielder/Striker

DOB: 24.10.89

Place of Birth: Freetown

Height: 1.78 m (5’10”)

Age: 23

Caps: 14

Mustapha Bangura  nickname Hadji, is a Sierra Leonean International footballer. He is a Striker or attacking midfielder for AEK Larnaca in the Cypriot First Division, the highest football league in Cyprus and for the Sierra Leone national football team. He made his senior international debut for Sierra Leone on 6 September 2006 in a 2008 African Nations Cup qualifier against Mali in Freetown.

 

mohamedmedokamara5555Mohamed ‘Medo’ Kamara (Bolton Wanderers, England)

 

Position: Defensive Midfielder

DOB: 16.11.87

Place of Birth: Bo

Height: 1.74 m (5’8.5″)

Age: 26

Caps: 11

Mohamed Kamara  widely known as Medo, is a Sierra Leonean footballer who plays for Bolton Wanderersand the Sierra Leonean national team. He also holds Finnish citizenship. His football career took a great step forward after signing with top-division club Kallon in 2002. Internationally, Medo played for the Sierra Leonean under-17 team that finished runner-up of the 2003 African U-17 Championship in Swaziland. He was also a member of the same team at the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Finland. After the FIFA youth tournament, Medo escaped, with a group of his teammates, from their accommodation and applied for asylum. After he got asylum, Medo was ineligible to play professional football until his 18th birthday.

In his first year with HJK, Medo played in every league match and was voted for the club MVP of the season.On 31 August 2010, a day after his last match for HJK, Medo signed a three-year contract with Serbian side Partizan.On 31 January 2013, Medo signed for English Championship club Bolton Wanderers on a three-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee, subject to international clearance.His debut came on 23 February as he came on as a substitute in Bolton’s 4–1 win versus Hull City.

His first goal for the club came on 30 March against Charlton Athletic as he scored Bolton’s second in a 2–3 defeat. Medo announced his availability for the Sierra Leonean national team and was subsequently called up to face Niger on 27 March 2011.Finally, Medo debuted for his homeland in that match playing the full 90 minutes.

kei kamara556Kei Kamara (Middlesbrough FC, England)

 

 

Position: Forward

DOB: 01.09.84

Place of Birth: Kenema

Height: 1.91 m (6’3″)

Age: 29

Caps: 16

Kamara was born and raised in Kenema, Sierra Leone’s third largest city. At age 19, Kamara and his family migrated to the United States through a refugee program, and settled with relatives in Hawthorne, California, near Los Angeles. Kamara played for Kallon F.C. in his native Sierra Leone from 2001-2003, before he migrated to the USA. Kamara played college soccer at California State University Dominguez Hills, where, in his sophomore season, he was named third-team All-American. Kamara also spent two seasons with Orange County Blue Star in the USL Premier Development League. On 15 September 2009, Kamara was traded to Sporting Kansas City for Abe Thompson and allocation money. Kamara had several productive seasons with Kansas City which saw him become one of the most imposing wingers in the league.

Kamara was a transfer target of Norwich City of the English Premier League during the winter 2013 transfer window following an unsuccessful trial at Stoke Cityearlier in the off-season. It was announced on 30 January 2013 that Kamara was signed on loan by Norwich for the remainder of the 2012–13 Premier League season. On 4 May 2013 Norwich City confirmed the loan deal had ended and he would be returning to Sporting Kansas City immediately. On 2 September 2013 it was confirmed that Kamara had signed for Middlesbrough F.C. of the Football League Championship for a fee of £800,000. Kamara was voted website sierraleonefootball.com’s Player of the Year for 2012. Kamara was also crowned the Sports Writers Association of Sierra Leone (SWASAL) footballer of the year 2013.

alhassankamara55Alhassan ‘Crespo’ Kamara (Orebro SK, Sweden)

 

Position: Forward

DOB: 13.01.93

Place of Birth: Freetown

Height: 1.80 m (5’10.5″)

Age: 20

Caps: 3

Alhassan A. Kamara sometimes referred to by just his nickname Crespo, is a Sierra Leonean footballer <spanbsp;n mce_style=”font-family: “Arial”,”sans-serif”;color:black” style=”font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; “>who plays for AIK. Kamara started his career with FC Kallon and joined on 29 July 2011 on loan to Division 1 Norra side Bodens BK. He scored five goals in his five months on loan in 10 games for Boden. The striker signed on 5 October 2011 an contract with AIK.During the first half of the 2012-season he made 11 appearances for AIK. After the summer he was loaned out toÖrebro SK, where he made four goal in eight appearances. On 24 January 2013 it was announced that he once again was to be loaned out to Örebro SK, for the rest of 2013.On 2 June 2012 he made his senior international debut for Sierra Leone in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification game against Cape Verde.. He signed for Orebro SK player on a permanent basis in December 2013.

 

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