Al Bangura
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| Al Bangura | ||
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| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alhassan Bangura | |
| Date of birth | 24 January 1988 | |
| Place of birth | Freetown, Sierra Leone | |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | |
| Playing position | Midfielder | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | Watford | |
| Number | 20 | |
| Senior clubs1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 2005– | Watford | 59 (1) |
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1 Senior club appearances and goals |
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Alhassan "Al" Bangura (born 24 January 1988) is a Sierra Leonean midfielder who currently plays for Watford F.C. in the Football League Championship in England.
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[edit] Early life
Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, he fled the country upon the death of his father. His father was a member of the Poro Secret Society, and tradition stated that his son must join upon his death. Not wanting to, he went to Guinea where he met a Frenchman, who took him to France and intended to make Bangura a male prostitute. When the man took him to England, he sought asylum.[1]
[edit] Football career
[edit] Watford
Discovered by a Watford scout playing in a park, he joined the Watford youth set-up, and made his debut against Stoke City whilst still a member of the Academy on 30 April 2005 aged just 17, coming on for the injured Gavin Mahon. He started the following game against West Ham United on the final day of the 2004–05 season. In the 2005–06 season he was a regular in the Watford side, making 37 appearances (24 from the bench) in all competitions, scoring one goal and winning the club's Young Player of the Season award.
Bangura's hard work in the 2005–06 Championship season and getting the club promoted was rewarded with a contract extension taking him through to the end of the 2008–09 season as a Watford player.
[edit] Asylum case
In November 2007, Bangura appealed against deportation back to Sierra Leone,[2] but on 11 December 2007 the appeal was rejected.[3]
Bangura has launched a further appeal against the decision, which has been backed by the world representative organisation for professional footballers, FIFPro,[4] Watford MP Claire Ward,[4] Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd,[4] former Home Secretary David Blunkett,[5] and the club's honorary Life President Elton John.[5] A petition has also been set up.[6] On 15 December 2007, a protest in favour of Bangura was made by over 18,000 home and away fans at half time of a match between Watford and Plymouth Argyle.[7]
On 19 December 2007, the Home Office announced that Bangura would be allowed to remain in England while he applies for a work permit, a process that will take place in parallel with his appeal against deportation back to Sierra Leone.[8]
On 14 January 2008, Bangura won his appeal for a work permit.[9]
[edit] References
- ^ "Bangoura looks to football future", BBC Sport, 2006-04-05. Retrieved on 2007-12-11.
- ^ "Watford to fight Bangura deportation threat", The Daily Telegraph, 2007-11-16. Retrieved on 2007-12-11.
- ^ "Bangura loses deportation hearing", BBC Sport, 2007-12-11. Retrieved on 2007-12-11.
- ^ a b c "Bangura backed by players' union", BBC Sport, 2007-12-12. Retrieved on 2007-12-13.
- ^ a b "Elton John intervenes on Bangura's behalf", The Independent, 2007-12-15. Retrieved on 2008-01-04.
- ^ "Bangura petition", thepetitionsite.com, 2007-12-13. Retrieved on 2007-12-13.
- ^ "Watford fans hold Bangura protest", BBC Sport, 2007-12-15. Retrieved on 2007-12-15.
- ^ "Bangura given hope by Home Office", BBC Sport, 2007-12-19. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
- ^ "Bangura wins appeal to stay in UK", BBC Sport, 2008-01-14. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
[edit] External links
- Alhassan Bangura profile at watfordfc.co.uk
- Alhassan Bangura profile at premierleague.com
- Alhassan Bangura career stats at Soccerbase
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