By Modou Lamin Beyai
Gambia first-division league’s top-scorer Mustapha Drammeh has reportedly absconded in France before the end of his two-week trial with Ligue 1 club Stade Rennais.
The 18-year-old striker, who left the shores of the country earlier last month for a test with the two-time French league and cup champions, went AWOL less than a week after his arrival in the North-West of France.
He featured for the U19 team of the Red and Blacks in their 1-0 friendly win over FC Nantes the Saturday he arrived before leaving for Belgium the following day.
He incurred the wrath of his club, Bombada, when he travelled to France without their permission with one of the Brikama-based club’s executives telling The Standard that: “He went to Rennes without our permission and we had no issues with that but now that he absconded; it’ll make things difficult for them.”
The club executive added: “I heard he is currently in Belgium after spending just three days in France, it’s a shock for us really.”
Meanwhile, a source close to the management team that took Mustapha to France told The Standard: “This is a very embarrassing situation for us and for Gambian football. How do I explain this to the authorities at the [French] embassy?”
“He was to come back if things didn’t go well there and be sent elsewhere but now that he is nowhere to be seen, how about his career? I can’t understand,” the source added.
Drammeh, who recently featured in Gambia’s CHAN team, equaled Modou Njie Sarr’s long-standing all-time league scoring record to finish last season on 15 goals and 20 altogether, a feat that ensured the Brikama-based club maintain their status in the top-flight.
Mustapha Drammeh is the second Gambian player in less than a year to abscond in France after Ebrima Jobe, alias Bira went AWOL after an exchange visit to FC Metz.
