By Momodou Jarju
Fourteen footballers plying in the Gambia’s first and second division leagues are in Turkey for a two weeks’ trial.
An executive member of Serekunda East-Bi, second division team, Mikailu Secka said the footballers left the country for Turkey last Monday 12 August, 2019 for auditioning with a Turkish Super Lig team Büyükşehir Belediye Erzurumspor who invited their team for a trial.
However, they decided to invite other players from other football teams in the first division.
He said his team East-Bi sent in eight players of which four are Gambians and four Guineans; Wallidan (first division team) provided four players and Gamtel (first division team) provided two players.
He said the footballers’ team facilitated the transportation of their players to Turkey and their anticipation is for the players to be bought after being tested.
“It would be three test games and it would be used as a trial for the boys,” Secka said.
Secka said the Turkish team wanted defenders, wingers and central strikers which comprised fourteen players they sent, noting they selected players they think can be sold and to form a good team the invited players from other division teams.
“All these is facilitated between Malick Camara (president of Serekund East-Bi FC) and Sherif Ahmed Diallo (a Guinean) who is a FIFA manager and a licensed scout of FIFA but close friend of Malick,” he said.
He thanked the Gambia Football Federation, Sport Council, and Ministry of Youth and Sports for supporting the players to have visas. The fourteen players are as follows:
East-Bi players are; Ibrahima Sory Toure-Guinean striker, Momodou E. Jammeh-striker, Momodou Lamin Sallah-striker, Edrisa Bojang-winger, Sylla Ibrahima Sory-Guinean midfielder, Sylla Djibril Katty-Guinean midfield, Ferdinand Jatta-defender and Savane Sekou-Guinean defender.
Wallidan players are; Ousman Sillah-striker, Ebrima Kandeh-striker, Sadi Gaye-defender, and Alagie Camara-defender.
Gamtel players are; Gregory Sambou, defender and Modou Sarr, midfielder.