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Meet Burkina Faso’s ‘legendary’ striker, Aristide Bancé, who has played for 24 clubs in 14 countries

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Retired Burkina Faso striker, Aristide Bancé, was more of a journeyman footballer in his playing days and ended up playing for 24 different clubs in 14 countries and leagues across Europe and beyond.

The 38-year-old Bancé has become a legend in the game in his country and has become a reference point on how to be a roller coaster in one’s career.

Bancé started his youth career in 2000 with Stade d’Abidjan in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, his birth place. While there, he managed to score eight goals from 33 appearances for the club.

In 2001, he signed for Athlétic Adjamé where he appeared 30 times and scored five goals before joining RFC Daoukro in 2022. There he also scored eight goals in 20 appearances for the club.

In 2003, Bancé signed for Santos Burkina and represented the club 16 times and managed to find the back of the net nine times.

From 2003–2006 Bancé became a Lokeren player where he made 77 with 27 goals. He then turned out for Metalurh from 2006-2008.

In 2007, he joined Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine and made 12 appearances with two goals before moving to Germinal Beerschot in Germany on loan in 2008, playing nine times with no goal to show.

He was then shipped to Kickers Offenbach on loan where he played 10 matches and scored four goals.

He also starred for Metalurh Donets, also in Ukraine, before turning out for German club Mainz 05 in 2010, where he made 62 appearances and scored 24 goals.In his first season at Mainz, helping the team gain promotion to the Bundesliga with 14 league goals.

Bancé illustrious career by country:

Germany (Mainz 05, Augsburg, Fortuna Düsseldorf, Kickers Offenbach)

Belgium (Lokeren, Beerschot AC)

Ukraine (Metalurh Donetsk, Shakhtar Donetsk),

Turkey (Samsunspor)

UAE (Al-Ahli)

Qatar (Umm Salal)

Finland (HJK Helsinki)

Kazakhstan (FC Irtysh Pavlodar)

Egypt (Al-Masry)

South Africa (Chippa United)

Cote d’Ivoire (ASEC Mimosas, Stade d’Abidjan, Athlétic Adjamé, RFC Daoukro, Williamsvills)

Latvia (Riga FC)

Guinea (Horoya AC)

Burkina Faso (Santos Burkina, US des Forces Armées).

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Ghanaian winger Fatawu out for season with ACL injury

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Ghana and Leicester City winger, Abdul Fatawu, has been ruled out of the rest of the EPL season after suffering an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury during Ghana’s 1-1 draw with Angola in a 2025 AFCON match during the international break.

Leicester coach, Steve Cooper, who announced the news on Thursday, said the 20-year-old enterprising player suffered a “serious” knee injury which will see him out for the rest of the season.

“It’s not good, it’s a serious injury,” Cooper said ahead of his side’s home tie against Chelsea on Saturday.

“He’s had an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury that is going to rule him out for the rest of the season. It’s a real blow, first and foremost for him, being a young player and having an injury as serious as what an ACL is.

“Albeit, it can be quite common in sport and in particular football, but it’s still a serious injury. For it to happen at a young age is a blow for him and a blow for us as well.

“He’s obviously a big talent and a young player, as exciting as he can be at his age, with lots to learn.

“It’s only a pause and we will make sure, as difficult as it is at the moment for him, that he comes back being a stronger player and person, which with the mentality and character that he has, I think will be the case,” the gaffer said.

Fatawu has been a key player for the Foxes, helping them gain promotion last season and has played 11 times for them in the league during the present campaign, scoring two goals.

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SA football legend Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe passes away

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South African football legend, Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe, has passed away at the age of 71 after a long battle with illness.

According to South African media, Moripe lit up the country’s football fields in the 1970s and became a rallying point for football in the country, especially in the apartheid era.

“Moripe, who mesmerised opponents and spectators alike during an injury ravaged career, spent his last years confined to a wheelchair after suffering a stroke, and died at his home on Tuesday at the age of 71,” one media report said.

“Moripe, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players the country has produced by those who saw him play, was called “the god of football”’ by adoring fans during the early 1970s in a nod to his natural talents.

“He was feared by defenders and goalkeepers and his style of play was synonymous with flair, finesse and the golden era of South African football.

“In recent years Moripe was confined to a wheelchair after suffering a mild stroke that was worsened by the effects of a long-term knee injury that stopped his playing career in the late 1980s.

“Throughout his career, Moripe played for the Orlando Pirates and the Pretoria Callies, winning the respect of both teammates and supporters.

“In 2010, the Atteridgeville Super Stadium was renamed the Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe Stadium in honor of his noteworthy achievements to South African football. Major football games are still held at this stadium, which now stands as a tribute to his legacy.

“Moripe’s career highlights include leading Pretoria Callies to victory against top clubs and earning the 1973 NPSL Player of the Year and Sportsman of the Year titles.

“He also played internationally for Caroline Hill in Hong Kong and briefly for Orlando Pirates. Persistent knee injuries ended his playing career in the late 1980s.”

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