| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sheriff Awilo Suma | ||
| Date of birth | October 12, 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Freetown, Sierra Leone | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||
| Playing position | Left winger | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Ravan Baku | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2002–2005 | Kallon FC | 0 | (0) |
| 2005–2006 | Åtvidabergs FF | 49 | (7) |
| 2007–2008 | GAIS | 14 | (0) |
| 2008 | → Haugesund (loan) | 11 | (1) |
| 2009 | Ermis Aradippou | 14 | (2) |
| 2010 | Kocaelispor | 5 | (1) |
| 2010–2011 | Jönköpings Södra | 23 | (2) |
| 2011– | Ravan Baku | 8 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2006– | Sierra Leone | 8 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 October 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Sheriff Suma (born October 12, 1986 in Freetown, Sierra Leone) 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.
Sheriff Suma was born and raised in Freetown to Susu 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.