-LEONE STARS HEAD COACH
By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
The head coach of the senior national team, John Edward Keister has disclosed in a press conference that the Leone Stars senior national team is going to the two FIFA sanction international friendlies is about the identification of the players and it is not only about winning but it about identifying players for the upcoming AFCON qualifiers in March 2023.
Leone Stars Senior National team has of yesterday departed the shores of Freetown ahead of the two FIFA matches against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa and the Leopard of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The two International friendlies are set to play in Johannesburg and Morocco on 24th and 27th September 022 as both nations are preparing for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Before the team’s departure, the Sierra Leone Football Association held a Press Conference to update Journalists.
John Edward Keister the head coach of the national team said the two Friendlies matches are important for the team’s growth and preparation by looking at different players again and getting the right personnel for the all-important matches ahead of the qualifiers.
“The two friendlies are about the identification of players and again it is not always about winning, winning, and winning matches, which means the team will get a new crop of players to qualify the nation for the next AFCON in 2023.
He further that this is the third time he is going with the same group of players for the International friendlies, the last time he went with the same players in Turkey was when the team was preparing for the Nation’s Cup match against Guinea Bissau.
He thanks the Football federation and the Government for organizing and financing these friendly matches as they are important for the team’s growth going forward.
John Keister confirms the list of players that will be missing and the key among them is Issa Kallon due to the Covid-19 situation in China and the travel restrictions he will not honor the invitation.
Sulially Kai-Kai is injured. Mustapha Bundu going through a new settlement in his new club and can’t make it, whilst the twin brothers Alhassan and Alusine Koroma will miss the friendlies but will be available for the qualifiers.
He explained that the new players will be allowed to display their skills as the potential for the national team, among them is Rodney Michael Junior who plays his professional football in the American top-flight league.
Mohamed Benson Bawoh the deputy secretary general also buttresses the idea of both friendlies and reveals that some players for both South Africa and DR Congo have started preparation ahead of the matches.
He confirmed that some Leone Stars players such as Osman Kai Kay, Kemel Conteh, Osman Conteh Jothan Morsay have all arrived at the camp, and all necessary arrangements that have to do with the team have been fixed and a total of the 47-man delegation will have to be part of the trip to South Africa and Morocco and that Government has given all support for the team going to those friendlies.
Sierra Leone National team has a poor record against the leopard of Dr. Congo as this will mark the third meeting between the two nations and the Leone Stars are yet to win against them; the last they met was in the Africa Cup of Nations as they lost by three goals to one (3-1), while the Leone Stars have a better record against the Bafana, Bafana of South Africa as this friendly will mark fifth meeting as the Leone Stars are yet to lose to them in all international matches.
