Sheriff Suma
Encyclopedia
Sheriff Suma nickname Awilo, is a Sierra Leonean international footballer of Guinean descent. He is a winger for Ravan Baku
and for the Sierra Leone national football team
. He was a member of Sierra Leone U-17 team at the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship
in Finland
. Suma made his senior international debut for Sierra Leone on September 3, 2006 in a 2008 African Nations Cup qualifying match against Mali
in Freetown
. Since his debut with the national team, he has become regular starter for the Leone Stars.
parents. Suma's blistering pace and dribbling ability while in possession of the ball with his dangerous left-foot, often leave defenders marking shadows.
Like many African footballers, Suma grew up playing street football
in his neighborhood, in the Sierra Leonean capital Freetown. As he grew older, his dream was to play for the Leone Stars, the Sierra Leone national soccer team; and then move to one of Europe biggest clubs.
Suma fled his country's civil war
and moved to The Gambia
in 1997. In 2001, the young Suma was discorvered by Sierra Leonean football agent Chernor Musa Jalloh while playing in a local football league in Banjul
. Jalloh introduced Suma to Mohamed Kallon
, Sierra Leone
's most successful footballer. Kallon asked him if he would like to play for Kallon F.C.
in the Sierra Leone National Premier League
. Suma returned to Freetown
for the first time in almost 5 years and sign for Kallon F.C. In his first season in the Sierra Leonean Premier League, Suma was the second top goal-scorer behind East End Lions
striker Sidique Mansaray
.
After playing in the qualifying rounds, Suma was omitted from the final squad for the 2003 African U-17 Championship in Swaziland
, something he describes as the worst moment of his life. In the championship, Sierra Leone placed second, behind Cameroon, thereby qualifying for the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship
in Finland
.
Fortunately for Suma, he was called back to the squad for the U-17 world championship in Finland. While the team failed to advance past the group stage of the tournament, the coach commended Suma for his energy and flair with the ball. Following this event, 12 of the 23 players failed to return to Sierra Leone and some later applied for political asylum. Among those who did return home was Suma.
Shortly After the U-17 world championship, talent scout Chernor Musa Jalloh helped Suma moved to the Swedish team Atviderberg on a two year contract from Kallon F.C.. In December 006, Suma was traded to GAIS
, one of Sweden's oldest teams.
Suma was loaned to FK Haugesund in the summer of 2008 for the rest of the season.
Ravan Baku
Ravan Baku FC is an Azerbaijani football club, based in Baku, that plays in the Azerbaijan Premier League.-History:The club was founded in 2009. In May 2011, team secured their promotion to Azerbaijan Premier League after clinching second place in Azerbaijan First Division.- Stadium :Dalga Arena...
and for the Sierra Leone national football team
Sierra Leone national football team
The Sierra Leone national football team, nicknamed the Leone Stars, is the national team of Sierra Leone and is controlled by the Sierra Leone Football Association...
. He was a member of Sierra Leone U-17 team at the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship
2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship
The FIFA U-17 World Championship 2003 was held in the cities of Helsinki, Tampere, Lahti, and Turku in Finland between 13 August and 30 August 2003...
in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. Suma made his senior international debut for Sierra Leone on September 3, 2006 in a 2008 African Nations Cup qualifying match against Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
in Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
. Since his debut with the national team, he has become regular starter for the Leone Stars.
Biography
Sheriff Suma was born and raised in Freetown to SusuSusu people
The Soso are a major Mande ethnic group living primarily in Guinea. Smaller communities are also located in the neighboring countries of Sierra Leone, Senegal and Mali. The Susu are descendants of the thirteenth century Mali Empire...
parents. Suma's blistering pace and dribbling ability while in possession of the ball with his dangerous left-foot, often leave defenders marking shadows.
Like many African footballers, Suma grew up playing street football
Street football
The term street football encompasses a number of informal varieties of association football. These informal games do not necessarily utilise the requirements of a formal game of football, such as a large field, field markings, goal apparatus and corner flags, eleven players per team , or match...
in his neighborhood, in the Sierra Leonean capital Freetown. As he grew older, his dream was to play for the Leone Stars, the Sierra Leone national soccer team; and then move to one of Europe biggest clubs.
Suma fled his country's civil war
Sierra Leone Civil War
The Sierra Leone Civil War began on 23 March 1991 when the Revolutionary United Front , with support from the special forces of Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia , intervened in Sierra Leone in an attempt to overthrow the Joseph Momoh government...
and moved to The Gambia
The Gambia
The Republic of The Gambia, commonly referred to as The Gambia, or Gambia , is a country in West Africa. Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean in the west....
in 1997. In 2001, the young Suma was discorvered by Sierra Leonean football agent Chernor Musa Jalloh while playing in a local football league in Banjul
Banjul
-Transport:Ferries sail from Banjul to Barra. The city is served by the Banjul International Airport. Banjul is on the Trans–West African Coastal Highway connecting it to Dakar and Bissau, and will eventually provide a paved highway link to 11 other nations of ECOWAS.Banjul International Airport...
. Jalloh introduced Suma to Mohamed Kallon
Mohamed Kallon
Mohamed Kallon is a Sierra Leonean international footballer and considered the most famous footballer from Sierra Leone. He is currently playing for I-League club Viva Kerala FC-Personal life:...
, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
's most successful footballer. Kallon asked him if he would like to play for Kallon F.C.
Kallon F.C.
Kallon Football Club commonly known as F.C. Kallon, formerly Sierra Fisheries, is a Sierra Leonean football club based in Freetown. The club is one of the top clubs in the Sierra Leone National Premier League and play their home games at the National Stadium in Freetown.-History:The club is named...
in the Sierra Leone National Premier League
Sierra Leone National Premier League
Sierra Leone National Premier League is the top football league in Sierra Leone. It was founded in 1967. The league is sponsored by the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, one of the major Sierra Leonean banks. East End Lions and Mighty Blackpool are the two biggest and most successful clubs. The...
. Suma returned to Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
for the first time in almost 5 years and sign for Kallon F.C. In his first season in the Sierra Leonean Premier League, Suma was the second top goal-scorer behind East End Lions
East End Lions
East End Lions is a Sierra Leonean professional football club based in the capital Freetown. They play in the Sierra Leone National Premier League, the top football league in Sierra Leone. they are one of the two biggest and most successful football clubs in Sierra Leonean football history;East...
striker Sidique Mansaray
Sidique Mansaray
Sidique Mansaray is a Sierra Leonean footballer, who currently plays as a striker for East End Lions in Sierra Leone National Premier League. He is also a regular member of the Leone Stars, Sierra Leone national football team...
.
After playing in the qualifying rounds, Suma was omitted from the final squad for the 2003 African U-17 Championship in Swaziland
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
, something he describes as the worst moment of his life. In the championship, Sierra Leone placed second, behind Cameroon, thereby qualifying for the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship
2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship
The FIFA U-17 World Championship 2003 was held in the cities of Helsinki, Tampere, Lahti, and Turku in Finland between 13 August and 30 August 2003...
in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
.
Fortunately for Suma, he was called back to the squad for the U-17 world championship in Finland. While the team failed to advance past the group stage of the tournament, the coach commended Suma for his energy and flair with the ball. Following this event, 12 of the 23 players failed to return to Sierra Leone and some later applied for political asylum. Among those who did return home was Suma.
Shortly After the U-17 world championship, talent scout Chernor Musa Jalloh helped Suma moved to the Swedish team Atviderberg on a two year contract from Kallon F.C.. In December 006, Suma was traded to GAIS
GAIS
Göteborgs Atlet- och Idrottssällskap is a Swedish football club based in Gothenburg, currently playing in Allsvenskan. The club is commonly referred to simply as GAIS, while its fans also refers to the club as grönsvart or the mackerels because of the traditional shirt colours...
, one of Sweden's oldest teams.
Suma was loaned to FK Haugesund in the summer of 2008 for the rest of the season.