By Sulayman Bah
No Gambian athlete is getting a mention along with Jamaican star Usain Bolt but a certain 19-year-old is getting that high tagging.
Bakary Jatta on Sunday hugged the headlines in Germany when he made his first appearance of the season for Bundesliga club Hamburg SV’s reserves in the third division.
Jatta ran the length of the pitch with an incredible pace, beating his marker to smack home the game’s opening goal in the 34thminute before teammate Knoll doubled the advantage minutes on.
Opponents Jeddeloh got to score via Keven Oltmer, but it couldn’t have been more than a consolation.
The victory sees Hamburg top the third division table on ten points, one ahead of second-placed Lubeck but the Gambian’s goal was the talking point with commentators already describing him as the division’s Usain Bolt.
Jatta though doesn’t take the plaudit in his post-match reaction to the goal.
‘It was the first time I’d made such a goal. I have relied on my speed.
‘Usain Bolt is even faster than me, but I still try to be the fastest on the pitch. It was a good feeling when the ball was on the net after the long sprint,’ the 19-year-old said.
Bakary burst onto the scenes last season playing six games for the senior team in the Bundesliga.
His inclusion to the A-team followed his eleven goals for the reserves.
The refugee-turned professional footballer is attracting overtures from Wolfsburg but the wolves have been that’s no-go area by Hamburg.
