By Millicent Senava Mannah
Sierra Leone Football Association in collaboration with Africell Sierra Leone has on the 10th November 2021 unveiled four Technical Support Team Members who are charged with the responsibility of helping the Head Coach, John Keister, in adequately preparing the darling Leone Stars vis-à-vis the upcoming African Nation’s Cup Competition scheduled to take place in Cameroun early in 2022. The four selected members of the Technical Team were veteran players of the team and they include, Kemokai Kallon, Lamin Conteh alias Junior Tumbu, Lamin Bangura and Julius Woobay.
The unveiling took place at the Head Office of Africell in Wilberforce, Freetown.
He continued by informing that Captain Umaru ‘Zingallay’ Bangura, Rodney Strasser and George Kweku Davies are being recalled by him.
The Head Coach further stated that Idriss Kanu, who plays for Championship side Peterborough United, was called up for the second time and he is hoping to make his international debut.
He informed that Steve Caulker, Issa Kallon and Sahr Morsey are still waiting for FIFA clearance to be eligible to play for Sierra Leone.
Africell Head of Events and Sponsorship, Abdul Aziz Kamara, stated that the decision made by Africell to support SLFA is a call to duty underscoring that it is something they owe to the country further maintaining that it is an opportunity presenting itself for the SLFA to go beyond what they have achieved in history adding that it is from that perspective Africell comes in.
He stated that they have enjoyed working with the SLFA as their official sponsor furthering that they also see it from a fan perspective that it is their duty to cheer up the players for them to go to Cameroon and make the nation proud.
He commended the Head Coach, John Keister, for his hard work and especially for making sure that the team is well-prepared for victory, adding that they will continue to ensure that they render their support and collaborate with the team whenever there is a need for them to come in.
SLFA Secretary General, Christopher Kamara, said that as a federation, since their qualification for the AFCON 2021 they have done their utmost best to ensure that the preparation of the team is topnotch.
He maintained that the appointment of the four as a technical support team is to support the Head Coach in preparing the team, furthering that the veterans will bring in their experiences they had gathered in yester years.
Chris added that the team would be playing a friendly match with a team in Istanbul, Turkey, further revealing how Government has fully funded their trip to Turkey for the match.
Leone Stars Head Coach, John Keister, informed newsmen that it is normal in football to have a technical team stating that him alone cannot do everything and that every single one of them has a role to play.
He mentioned that the friendly match is a part of their preparation in terms of identifying players, mentioning that 24 players will be going to Turkey.
Keister stated that after they return from Turkey they will have to register 40 players and out of the 40 they will chose the best 20 that will play at AFCON.
On his part, the Corporate Affairs Manager of SLFA, Benson Bawoh disclosed that the national football team will depart for the Lungi International Airport for Istanbul Turkey immediately after the Press Briefing, which was on the 10th November, 2021.
According to him, the delegation is made up of home based players, technical staff and officials from the SLFA and NSA.
He revealed how Leone Stars will engage Comoros in a friendly encounter on the 13th November in Turkey, with a possibility for another unconfirmed friendly outing against another African country.
The highpoint of the Press Briefing was the question and answer session.
