Michael Laoud retires from football

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson – (AR-WILSON)

Former Sierra Leone and San Antonio FC Midfielder Michael Laoud has on Thursday, July 9, 2020 announced his retirement after playing professional football for 11 years.

Michael 33, while announcing his retirement in America, thanked his family, fans and supporters for being part of his football journey.

“Play for Sierra Leone was a dream come true for me, I’m very proud to have played with a number of team mates at the same made friends and represented you all well internationally,” said Lahoud.

“It’s always bitter-sweet to close a major chapter in everyone’s life but I’m excited for what I have. I will continue to be involved in the beautiful game of football and sports to give back what was given to me and more to the next generation of footballers,” he added.

Lahoud started playing football in Sierra Leone at a very tender age but had to leave the country when he was six years old due to the civil war and settled in Washington DC in the United States of America with his family where he continued his soccer career with his childhood American friend and classmate Jack Wolfes.

Four years after bagging the Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year award, he has a stint with Demon Deacons, progressed to Carolina Dynamo in 2008 and a year later joined MLS side Chivas USA where he graduated from amateur football after netting twice for the club in 46 starts from 64 match appearances.

Michael made his first senior international debut with the National Team of Sierra Leone at the age of 27 and was part of the squad that defeated Equatorial Guinea 3-2 in a FIFA World Cup Qualifier and also played a vital role in the 1-0 win at home in Freetown over Switzerland in 2014.

Regarded as one of the most compassionate and famous Major League Soccer Player from Sierra Leone, he has won several League titles and multiple awards for his outstanding contribution in and off the pitch.

In 2010 he became the first ever recipient of both the MLS and NASL Humanitarian of the Year Awards for giving back to the lives of other people at the same time was a co-recipient of the 2015 FIFPro Merit Award.

The former San Antonio FC midfielder charitable work have benefited many lives in Sierra Leone, mostly children among learners that have acquired education at his Education for All Primary School built by in collaboration with his friend Kai Ansu Kamara in 2015.

In May 2016, the former Philadelphia Midfielder signed a record transfer deal of €270,000 to Miami where he had a flourishing spell as a Captain, later moved from NY Cosmos and won the USL regular season championship with Cincinnati in the 2017/2018 season, the clubs first ever major trophy before finishing his football career at San Antonio FC.

It is believed that Michael’s tough Thursday decision to retire from football will mark a new beginning for the former Miami Captain who is tipped to becoming a football coach joining the likes of former Leone Stars Captain, Monaco and Inter Milan forward Mohamed Kallon and Chelsea-England midfielder Frank Lampard.

The news follows the retirement of Colarado Rapids Striker and Former Assistant team captain of Leone Stars, Kai Ansu Kamara from national team duty last year.

Senegal, first African team to beat England, but not first to score three goals

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson Claim: Soccer World HQ, in a Facebook post , claimed that Senegal is the first African team to beat England and the first to score three goals against them. Verdict: Partly True! Senegal is the first African team to beat England, but not the first to score three goals against them. Full Text The England senior men’s national football team, nicknamed the “Three Lions,” played their first match against Scotland in 1872. That match ended goalless but marked the beginning of an intense soccer rivalry between both nations, dubbed the “Auld Enemy.” Since 1872-2025, the England national team has achieved its 1000-game milestone in November 2019 when they played Montenegro at the Wembley Stadium. England's all-time head-to-head record shows that they’ve played a whopping 1072 matches against 100 countries, won 615 games, drew 255, and lost 200. Senegal, on the other hand, is one of Africa’s most famous football nations, nicknamed the “Lions of Teranga.” In 2002, ...

Makeni Medical Mission Brings Hope and Healing to Bombali District

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson Residents of the Asker Amputee Camp in Makeni City, including various war victims, are rejoicing over the inauguration of the Makeni Medical Mission health facility, established by philanthropist, author, and pastor Mr. Bambay Sawaneh, alongside his partners in the United States. This newly launched medical facility, comprising 11 treatment rooms, was developed with the support of Southeastern Medical International (SMI) and the Concord Christian Church. Their mission is to deliver compassionate healthcare and a range of medical services to the people of Bombali District and surrounding areas, with a particular focus on war victims and vulnerable families living in the Asker Amputee Camp at Robureh. At the official opening ceremony in Makeni city, a team of 10 medical missionaries from Southeastern Medical International, including Sheila Yates, a seasoned medical missionary with two decades of experience in the US, provided free medical care to 100 individuals,...

Sierra Leone, Two other Nations disqualified from AFCON 2024 U17 Qualifiers

By: Abdulrahman Barrie The U17 football teams from Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Guinea Bissau have been disqualified from the 2024 U17 African Cup of Nations competition in Senegal after failing the mandatory MRI test scans. These scans, which determine the age of the players, revealed discrepancies that led to their removal from the tournament. The disqualification follows changes to Article 27.4 of the U17 Africa Cup of Nations regulations, which have tightened the criteria and enforcement of age verification measures. The updated rules stipulate that if a team has more than four players deemed ineligible after the MRI eligibility test, the entire team will be disqualified. The MRI tests, used to enforce age restrictions in youth competitions, are crucial for ensuring fairness. Unfortunately, the teams from these three nations did not meet the age criteria, resulting in their disqualification. This decision has come as a significant disappointment for the young players and their fans, w...

AWE Media Sierra Leone

Search This Blog