Insight Into Walsall FC Sierra Leone (Part 2)

Today we look at how the club were formed and progress so far – an interesting read!





They are a Sierra Leonean Club based in Smart Farm, Western Area of Freetown, Sierra Leone that is currently a non-division League side.

This team was founded on the 1st July 2011 as “We The Best Football Team,” of the Smart Farm Community, where it first started as a 5-a-side team playing locally based community league cup competitions and street football

The Saddlers have not yet won any major League trophy but have enjoyed a promising start in its first ever major competition in which the team reached the semi-final stage of the Wilberforce Community Development League Cup Competition in December 2011. The team only lost one out of its outstanding five games played in that competition. Three weeks later, Walsall FC Sierra Leone were beaten by Keister`s FC Johansen at the Sierra Leone Football Association Academy, Kingtom. After a review of the team`s, success on and off the field, the team then appointed Solomon M. Mansaray, as the first ever Coach in January 2012.

The Saddlers moved into the Young Sportsmen`s Club playing field in mid November 2011, having previously played at nearby Smart Farm 5-a-side field. The Saddlers lost their first ever game 3-2 against Boston FC, with Ibrahim Balla Kamara scoring the first ever goal for the saddlers in that match and the second was scored by Sheriff Yansaneh.

The team play in a red and white kit and the club crest features a swift. The club`s nickname reflects Walsall status as a traditional centre for saddle manufacturers in England. The club has rivalry with neighboring Western Freetown soccer teams, such as Boston FC, Armani FC, Young Sportsmen`s Club FC, and Signal Hill FC. Although these teams are often concerned with their rivalry against each other, Walsall`s main rival is the Qua-Smart FC, a team that is sharing the same community as their based with Walsall.

In the wake of the Saddlers success both on and off the field, the team continues to spread the Saddlers word in Sierra Leone, as its played a friendly match against local rivals Y.S.C FC, in which Walsall registered a resounding 7-4 victory with striker Sheriff Yansaneh scoring four first half goals for the Saddlers in a thrilling encounter and Francis Kamara with a second half hat-trick. The Saddlers also played series of friendly matches, first against 2nd division side Giant FC in which the Saddlers won 3-0 before defeating heavyweight Sheffield United 2-1 in the other friendly fixture, and two consecutive draws against 2nd division side Sir Albert FC and non-division side Brazil FC respectively.

Walsall FC SL participated in the preliminary stage of the 2012 Airtel Rising Stars U-17 Tournament. However, this was the first major competition the team had ever participated in since its establishment in Sierra Leone, after registering two wins out of two. But that winning streak came to an end in the 3rd round of qualification with a 2-0 defeat by Sheffield United.

The Saddlers entered this year`s 2012 Central One Football Association (COFA) Non-division league, for the first time but did not endure a positive start to the campaign after a 2-0 defeat by Pizzo FC, and lost the final round of matches to a well organized Planus FC side.

Just after the debacle of the Central One Football Association League (COFA), The Team entered this year`s 2012 Edition of The Wilberforce Community League Cup Competition. The Saddlers got back to winning ways with a comprehensive 5-0 thrashing of El-LaLi FC in the opening game, followed by a 3-3 draw with Navo FC. On the 17th August 2012, The Saddlers recorded the highest ever victory in a competitive match with an impressive 6-0 thumping of Skeleton FC which saw midfielder Mohamed Lamin Kamara, bagging a hat-trick and secured The Saddlers qualification into the next round. The Saddlers unfortunately lost the final group game 2-1 against Central FC.

On the 1st September, 2012, The Saddlers recorded a comfortable 3-0 victory in the quarter-finals over a well established Pekito FC side, with midfielder Musa Keita Khemolai scoring twice (converting a 22 yard free kick and also from the penalty spot) before defender Ibrahim Moses Massaquoi scored another goal, making sure Walsall took all three points and progressed into the semi-finals.

On the 8th of September 2012 Walsall got to the first ever Cup Final in the club`s history, with a hard fought 2-1 victory over Lumley Road FC with goals from defender Ibrahim Moses Massaquoi and attacking midfielder Alex Brima Bockarie. Walsall`s goalkeeper John Lamboi was the man that saved the day as he produced an outstanding performance to keep The Saddlers in the match.

On the 15th September 2012, The Saddlers played the Grand Final of
The Wilberforce Community League Cup Competition.
The match ended goalless and went into a penalty shootout where The Saddlers lost 3-2 to the Central FC. However, the team emerged as the Runners-up with both the best player was (Ibrahim Moses Massaquoi) and the highest goals scorer (Alex Brima Bockarie) respectively.

Everyone at Vital Walsall wishes Walsall FC Sierra Leone all the best for this season and we shall monitor their progress every step of the way