Sheriff Suma

Sheriff Awilo Suma (born October 12, 1986 in Freetown, Sierra Leone) is a Sierra Leonean international footballer, who currently plays for Adviderbergs FF in the Swedish league and for Sierra Leone national football team. He was a member of Sierra Leone U-17 team in Finland. Suma made his senior international deput for Sierrra Leone against Mali in a 2008 African Nations Cup qualifying match in Freetown.

Suma blistering pace and dribbling ability while in possesion of the ball with his dangerous lef-foot, often leave defenders marking shadows. He is expected to join French giant AS Monaco in 2007 January transfer window, after a successfull try-out.

Like many African footballers, Awilo, as he is commonly called in Sierra Leone grew up playing football on the streets in his neighborhood, in the Sierra Leonean capital Freetown. As he grew older, his dream was to play for the Leone Stars, Sierra Leone national soccer team; and then moved to one of Europe biggest clubs.

In 2002, Suma was in Gambia, where he had the chance to meet Mohamed Kallon, Sierra Leone most successful footballer. Kallon asked him if he would to play for Kallon F.C. in the Sierra Leone League. Suma went back to Freetown and sign for Kallon F.C. In his first season in the Sierra Leonean Premier League, Suma was the second top goal-scorer, despite playing as a winger.

After playing in the qualifying rounds, Suma was omitted from the final squad for the African U-17 Championship in Swaziland, sometheing he describes as the worst moment of his life.

Sierra Leone eventually did well in the competition in Swaziland where they came in second, behind Cameroon and qualified for the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Finland.

Luckily for suma, he was called back into the squad for for the U-17 world championship in Finland. After the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Finland 12 of the 23 players failed to return back to Sierra Leone and some later applied for political asylum. Among those who decided to return back home was Suma. Shortly After the U-17 world championship, talent scout Chernor Musa Jalloh helped Suma moved to Swedish side Atviderberg on a two year contract from Kallon F.C..