Foreign Football Scouts Impressed With Gambian Talent

By Alieu Ceesay

The seven football scouts from Europe have successfully concluded a three-day visit to the Gambia as guests of the Super Star Academy in Ebo Town .The scouts watch a number of demonstration matches at the QCity Sports Complex in Bijilo.
Ofer Ben Assa of Maccabi Haifa in Israel, commented that his agency was able to export over 10 Gambian players to teams in Israel and across Europe. He said they planned to take similar figure each year to foreign clubs. “We invested a lot of money to organize this trial in The Gambia. Through our connection, we brought seven scouts from Croatia, Israel, France, Italy and Serbia.”

According to him, over 10 players were identified and three stood out whom, he said, can play in the highest leagues. “These scouts will now go back to their clubs to update them on what they find out in The Gambia, he said.”
Srdan Burgarski of Red Star Belgrade in Serbia said the visit gave him the opportunity to watch so many young talented players that can play in professional leagues.
“We will go back and do our analysis before choosing any player. It now depends on the club I am representing in this scouting mission.”

Other scouts who were also part of the mission included Walter Maccreli and Viniero Semprini of Inter Milan, Christian Lariepe, Chief Scout for Africa for Lille, France; Jackie Philip Dahan, Rarana, Ramadan Sharon of Israel; and Vladimir Czsrtini, Chief scout, Red Star Belgrade.
The Ebo Town-based Super Stars Academy FC is headed by Ismaila Jagne a former Gambian international player.

The academy currently has over 70 players and is planning to register for the KM Regional Football Association Regional qualifiers.
Ousman Gaye, secretary general of the football academy said the purpose of the visit by the scouts is to open up opportunities for footballers to turn into professional players.