Leone Stars Swedish coach impressed with large turn out of players

Leone Stars Swedish coach Lars Olof Mattsson has said that he’s impressed with the large turn out of overseas players in Niamey for Leone Stars 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifying match against Niger in Niamey at 15:00GMT on Sunday.  (Photo caption: Leone Stars players trainning in Niamey for Niger clash (Photo credit: Kemoh Sesay)

The coach made this statement after 15 of the 19 foreign based players invited by him arrived in Niamey on Wednesday to join three other foreign-based players Mohamed Bangura, Ibrahim Bangura and Ibrahim Koroma plus two unattached players Mohamed Kallon and Mohamed Kabia.

“I’m impressed and delighted with the turn out of players and I’ll start effectively training immediately,” said Coach Matttsson adding that I’ll select my team based on the performance of the players in training.”

The Minister of Youth, Employment and Sports Paul Kamara said: “This is a revolution in Sierra Leone football considering the fact that the players are committed and determined to give out their best.”

They came in a large number this time round without giving us a headache.”

All the 15 players jetted into Niamey airport at around 6pm local time (7:00 GMT) on the same flight from Casablanca and the five other players arrived in Nigerian capital city three days earlier

Among them are the Partisan Belgrade midfielder Mohamed ‘Medo’ Kamara who will be making his debut. There are two other new faces Khalifa Jabbie and goalkeeper Patrick Bantamoi.

The players have already had their first training session under Coach Mattsson on Wednesday afternoon.

15 players that arrived in Niamey on Wednesday as follows:

Christian Caulker (Vasteras FK, Sweden)

John Tyre (USA)

Patrick Bantamoi (Telstar, Netherlands)

Ibrahim Kargbo (FK Baku, Azerbaijan)

Sheriff Suma (Jonkoping Sodra, Sweden)

Kewullay Conteh (Piacenza, Italy)

Umaru Bangura (FK Haguesund, Norway)

Khalifa Jabbie (Fredrikstad BK, Norway)

Samuel Barlay (FK Mughan, Azerbaijan)

Mohamed ‘Medo’ Kamara (Partisan Belgrade, Serbia)

Rodney Strasser (AC Milan, Italy)

Gibrilla Woobay (FK Khazar Lankaran, Azerbaijan)

Mustapha Bangura (Apollon Limassol, Cyprus)

Sam Obi Metzger Jr. (FC Haka, Finland)

Kei Kamara (Kansas City, USA)

Those that arrived in Niamey on Monday

Mohamed Bangura (AIK Solna, Sweden)

Ibrahim Bangura (AIK Solna, Sweden)

Ibrahim Koroma (Trelleborgs FF, Sweden)

Mohamed Kallon (Unattached)

Mohamed Kabia (Unattached)

Credit: SWASAL,  Sponsors: Mercury International

By Kemoh Sesay in Niamey

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