Sierra Leonean born World’s football governing body, FIFA licensed agent Mustapha Turay has highlighted several reasons for the lack of movement of Sierra Leonean players in the international transfer scene.
Concerns have been raised by several football loving fans of not seeing Sierra Leonean players making big moves across Europe or signing for European topflight league teams unlike players from other Africa nations.
In an exclusive interview with Songhai Sports Network, the United Kingdom based agent, ‘Mus’- as he is fondly called said amongst other reasons the lack of exposure and a poor national league system are some of the factors responsible.
Concerns have been raised by several football loving fans of not seeing Sierra Leonean players making big moves across Europe or signing for European topflight league teams unlike players from other Africa nations.
In an exclusive interview with Songhai Sports Network, the United Kingdom based agent, ‘Mus’- as he is fondly called said amongst other reasons the lack of exposure and a poor national league system are some of the factors responsible.
“We can fill up a whole newsletter if we want to look at the problems of why our Sierra Leonean players are not making the headlines in the transfer market like the Nigerians, Ghanaians and others,”
“However some of the bigger problems are the poor FIFA ranking- our players cannot play in the premier league if we are way down there. The likes of Kei Kamara and Medo Kamara had the chance to play in England during the time when our ranking was amongst the top 50 nation,” Turay said.
Other problems he highlighted are that the national team’s continuous failure to qualify for the African Cup of Nations, the poor or inefficient national football league in the country and the lack of a football academy in the country- which could be used to train the players from a tender age on.
The UK based agent further stated: “As an agent we cannot market players easily if they are not playing in the continents big matches like the Nations Cup, CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup. Also there is only the Bellamy Academy and Mohamed Kallon who are doing a great job in training young boys with the fundamental footballing skills and training,”
Turay an agent for Sierra Leonean players like Mustapha Bangura, Mohamed Medo Kamara and Alie Sesay to name but few has been an agent for over five years and has market several players into championship, premier league and League One clubs in England.
“However some of the bigger problems are the poor FIFA ranking- our players cannot play in the premier league if we are way down there. The likes of Kei Kamara and Medo Kamara had the chance to play in England during the time when our ranking was amongst the top 50 nation,” Turay said.
Other problems he highlighted are that the national team’s continuous failure to qualify for the African Cup of Nations, the poor or inefficient national football league in the country and the lack of a football academy in the country- which could be used to train the players from a tender age on.
The UK based agent further stated: “As an agent we cannot market players easily if they are not playing in the continents big matches like the Nations Cup, CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup. Also there is only the Bellamy Academy and Mohamed Kallon who are doing a great job in training young boys with the fundamental footballing skills and training,”
Turay an agent for Sierra Leonean players like Mustapha Bangura, Mohamed Medo Kamara and Alie Sesay to name but few has been an agent for over five years and has market several players into championship, premier league and League One clubs in England.
By: Sahr Morris Jr.
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