Commentary
By Assaf Rassin Kamara, Atlanta, Georgia.
Everybody at Montreat College was extremely excited when their men’s soccer team won it’s final game against Union to take number one seed in the conference tournament.
Shaka Bangura, a Sierra Leonean native, has been named Appalachian Athletics Conference (AAC) player of the year.
Shaka scored 11 goals and two assists during the regular season play. He also received other awards including the First team All Regional, All American Honorable Mention and the Kyle Rote, Jr. Best Offensive player award.
Shaka plays along side two of his fellow Sierra Leoneans, Adnan Bangura and Abdul Bangura (no relations). Both Adnan and Abdul are very good midfield players and the understanding between them makes Montreat College the most dangerous offensive team of the League.
The three Sierra Leone born players were also named to the AAC All Conference Team.
I spoke with the three young players and they expressed how much they want to represent the green, white and blue stripes of our beloved Sierra Leone. They further said that it would be a dream come true for them to put on the Sierra Leone national team jersey.
Coach Combs, the Montreat College Men’s Soccer team coach said that he made the best decision to sign the three Sierra Leoneans into his team. He further said they they’re champions and athletes with character. He also said that Shaka Bangura can break any defense with his speed and skills. “ He(Shaka) is just a goal scoring machine and he can score goals when you really need goals and that what makes him special”, he said.
It’s about time for Sierra Leone to start looking for their talents in the diaspora.
Shaka Bangura, Adnan Bangura and Abdul Bangura deserve an invitation from the Sierra Leaon Football Association (SLFA) so that they can prove themselves to the national team coach.
They are capable of representing Sierra Leone just as the likes of Mohamed Kallon and others. All I’m saying is they need a chance so that others like them that are in college in the diaspora will come out to prove themselves too.
Photo: Shaka Bangura in action.
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