Sierra Leone national team skipper Umaru ‘Zangalay’ Bangura, on Wednesday at State House in Freetown, received his Presidential Gold Medal Award as Member of the Order of the Rokel (MOR) from His Excellency of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr Ernest Bai Koroma.

The FC Zurich defender, alongside the Chairman of Central One Football Association (COFA), Sama Sesay, veteran sports journalist Zuhair Kudsy and Sierra Leone’s beach volleyball director, Coach Sorie Kamara, were all nominated for the Presidential Award, but the combative defender was unable to pick-up his due to club assignment in Switzerland.

For the Leone Stars skipper, there was no way better to have received such an award from the country’s president just days after he watched the national team secure a 2-1 win over Kenya at the Siaka Steven Stadium in Freetown.

Bangura, who scored Sierra Leone’s second goal as Leone Stars bagged all three points in their opening clash of the 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifiers, said; “It was an absolute a good feeling for me, especially so when the memories of Saturday’s match is still fresh in our minds.”

In August 2016, Bangura signed a three-year contract with the Swiss second-tier side FC Zürich. He has been a pivotal figure in FC Zurich’s automatic promotion to the Swiss top flight.

Bangura scored his first and only league goal in Zurich’s 5-0 thumping of Wohlen at the Niedermatten Stadium on Sunday, 2 October 2016.

By Sahr Morris Jr. Follow the Writer @morrisjr88