- Al Bangura
Infobox Football biography
playername = Al Bangura
fullname = Alhassan Bangura
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1988|1|24|df=y
cityofbirth =Freetown
countryofbirth =Sierra Leone
height = 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
position =Midfielder
currentclub = Watford
clubnumber = 20
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2005–
clubs = Watford
caps(goals) = 59 (1)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 15:14, 26 March 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate =Alhassan "Al" Bangura (born
24 January 1988 inFreetown ) is a Sierra Leonean international footballer. He ismidfielder and currently plays inEngland forFootball League Championship side Watford.Early life
Born in
Freetown ,Sierra Leone , Bangura fled the country upon the death of his father, a member of the Poro Secret Society. Tradition within the society stated that his son must join upon his death. Not wanting to, Bangura went toGuinea where he met a Frenchman, who took him to France and intended to make Bangura a maleprostitute . When the man took him toEngland , Bangura sought asylum. [cite news | date=2006-04-05 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/4880822.stm | title=Bangoura looks to football future | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=2007-12-11]Football career
Watford
Discovered by a Watford scout playing in a park, Bangura joined the Watford youth set-up, and made his debut against Stoke City on
30 April 2005 , coming on for the injuredGavin Mahon . Aged just 17, he was still a member of the club's academy. Bangura 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 as a substitute) 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.
Asylum case
In November 2007, Bangura appealed against deportation back to Sierra Leone, [cite news | date=
2007-11-16 | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/11/16/ufnwatford116.xml | title=Watford to fight Bangura deportation threat | work=The Daily Telegraph | accessdate=2007-12-11] but on11 December 2007 the appeal was rejected. [cite news | date=2007-12-11 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/watford/7111120.stm | title=Bangura loses deportation hearing | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=2007-12-11]Bangura has launched a further appeal against the decision, which has been backed by the world representative organisation for professional footballers,
FIFPro ,cite news | date=2007-12-12 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/watford/7140997.stm | title=Bangura backed by players' union | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=2007-12-13] Watford MPClaire Ward , Watford managerAidy Boothroyd , formerHome Secretary David Blunkett ,cite news | date=2007-12-15 | url=http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/premier-league/article3253132.ece | title=Elton John intervenes on Bangura's behalf | publisher=The Independent | accessdate=2008-01-04] and the club's honorary Life PresidentElton John . On15 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. [cite news | date=2007-12-15 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/watford/7146176.stm | title=Watford fans hold Bangura protest | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=2007-12-15]On
19 December 2007 , theHome 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. [cite news | date=2007-12-19 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/watford/7152228.stm | title=Bangura given hope by Home Office | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=2007-12-19]On
14 January 2008 , Bangura won his appeal for a work permit. [cite news | date=2008-01-14 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/watford/7179542.stm | title=Bangura wins appeal to stay in UK | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=2008-01-14]References
External links
*soccerbase|id=41186|name=Alhassan Bangura
* [http://www.watfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10400~33406,00.html Alhassan Bangura profile] at watfordfc.co.ukPersondata
NAME = Al Bangura
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH =24 January 1988
PLACE OF BIRTH =Freetown ,Sierra Leone
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =
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