March 24, 2016 By Sahr Morris Jr.
Former Chelsea youngster, Aziz Deen-Conteh, has hailed his “dream debut” for the Sierra Lone national team Leone Stars in Tuesday’s international friendly stalemate with the Flames of Malawi, in Freetown.
Sierra Leone came from behind to draw with Malawi 1-1 in the country’s first game on home soil since they hosted Seychelles in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in July 2014, and Deen-Conteh featured for 82 minutes in the clash.
The 23-year-old, who was making his first competitive start for the national team, was emotionally delighted to finally be given the opportunity to pull on the Sierra Leone colours.
“It was a very good feeling,” Deen-Conteh told Concord Sports, unable to hold-off tears. “Firstly I’m really happy to have played my first game and I really feel comfortable in this team. It was a great and good experience for me because I have waited so long for this.”
The former Chelsea youth player, who now plays for Zaria Bălți in Moldova, was first called up by Sierra Leone in 2013 for Leone Stars’ 2014 World Cup qualifier against Tunisia in Tunis, which the former lost 2-1.
He flew to Tunis, trained with the team but didn’t feature in the match after it was discovered that his Sierra Leonean passport had expired. few months later he was again called-up but again did not feature because of the failure of the Sierra Leone FA administration to secure clearance from the world football governing body, FIFA.
He was not invited again until now after he criticised the SLFA for their organisational skills. Deen-Conteh was born in Sierra Leone but raised in London and has represented England at youth level, appearing for England at both under 16 and 19 levels.
He was a member of the Chelsea 2012-2013 Uefa Champions League squad but didn’t make any appearance for the senior team at any competition.