Two Bai Bureh Warriors players who played key roles in the Sierra Leone Premier League’s strongest defensive unit have earned national recognition after being overlooked for major individual league awards.

Goalkeeper Amara Kamara and defender Capio Bangura have been called up by Leone Stars head coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa for an upcoming national team camp, following an impressive domestic campaign with Bai Bureh Warriors.

Kamara featured in all 34 league matches, conceding just 20 goals and recording 19 clean sheets—the highest total in the league, according to team statistics.

Bangura, meanwhile, made 33 appearances and was part of a defensive unit that conceded only 20 goals throughout the season. The defender also contributed to 18 clean sheets during the campaign.

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Despite their impressive defensive statistics, neither player received major individual recognition at the end of the season. Kamara was not named Goalkeeper of the Season or included in the league’s Team of the Season, while Bangura was also left out of the Defender of the Season honours and the Team of the Season. Neither player received a Player of the Month award during the campaign.

The omissions have raised questions within Bai Bureh Warriors, with club officials pointing to the players’ statistics as evidence of their contributions to the team’s success.

“The numbers speak for themselves,” a club spokesperson said. “To lead the league in clean sheets and still be overlooked for every individual award is difficult to explain.”

Bai Bureh Warriors finished the season with the league’s best defensive record, with the club attributing much of that success to the performances of Kamara and Bangura.

Gomes Da Rosa, who took charge of Leone Stars earlier this year, has identified defensive solidity as one of his priorities. The decision to include both players in the national team camp provides them with an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at international level.

While national team officials have confirmed the call-ups, it remains unclear whether either player will feature in the upcoming fixture.

For Kamara and Bangura, however, the national team invitation offers an opportunity to turn a season of overlooked performances into recognition on the international stage.

“Sometimes recognition comes late,” the club spokesperson said. “But when the spotlight finally arrives, champions must be ready.”