By Sulayman Bah
Mustapha Jarju is showing an investment worth the trouble leading his new Belgian club to a hard-fought victory in the league.
The 29-year-old Gambian, dubbed Toubabo, was at hand to give lifeline to Sporting Hasselt scoring the equalizing goal in the 20th minute, sparking an ingenious battle after visitors Hamoir had gone ahead as early as after seven minutes ticked on the lock.
That was Jarju’s third game since his shock decision to drop level to the third division.
Speaking in the aftermath of the duel Toubabo laid his improvement down to gym workout routine he undertakes after normal training session, insisting he isn’t fully fit yet.
‘Last week, I trained five times and I was also regularly in the gym. That starts to give results. Third division football remains tough too and Hamoir (our opponents) were tough but I keep working hard,’ the former Steve Biko, Raec Mons and Vancouver Whitecaps First Designated African player, says.
Mustapha’s decision to opt for third tier football following his release by Kazakh club Irtshy, shocked many.
There were even suggestions the Scorpion chose the route to merely keep fit ahead of transfer to a bigger club. However he insists that isn’t the case saying ‘I didn’t come for vacation here.’
Sporting Hasselt are fifth in the standings on forty-three points, still within the promotion play-offs places.
Still in the same league uncapped Gambian striker Sidy Ceesay scored but his goal wasn’t to safe Temse from demolition.