By Sulayman Bah
Parading the Gambian colours in storms of delight, BubacarrTrawlly
knows just how it feels to be a champion in faraway China.
The 20-year-old ex- Culture FC footballer, has netted more goals than
any Gambian signed to professional terms abroad this season.
With a buzzing statistic of seventeen goals, Bubacarr, dubbed Steve,did not only endear himself to fans but brought a secluded Yanbian
Province to the attention of world football.
And all this happened in his first spell –ten months ago to the day he
left local Gambian club Real de Banjul.
The playmaker was at his best providing assists in Yanbian 4-0
savaging of third-from-bottom HuanXiangtao as his side clinched the
Chinese second division title.
Speaking from his residence in China, Steve told Foroyaa Sport
afterwards on Saturday: ‘always feels good to be a champion, and, I’m
very happy and proud of myself for the bright start to my professional
spell’
Trawally is now sandwiched between staying with promoted Yanbian and
returning to parent club Green Town who loaned the forward to the
former.
The idea of the loan was for the youngster to grasp experience of
playing first team football and the rigours it comes with, an
assignment accomplished with adulations.
Which side he chooses to stay with could, in the long run, be of
little significance. What is though certain is he’s guaranteed of
Chinese Super League football where he will mix it with the likes of
Demba Ba, Ghana’s Asmoah Gyan and former Real Madrid starlet Robinho
whom he grew up admiring in the suburbs of Bundung.
‘As of now, both clubs want to have me for next season but as far as
football is concerned, I’m a Green Town player. So they have more
power over me but I’m on holidays now and we have a lot of time to
decide what’s best for me and the club as my agent is working on it,’
he explains.
Some reports from the rumour mill, appearing to border reality
suggest, that Steve may in fact never kick a ball in the Chinese top
flight, with his agent said to be subjected to incessant bombardment of
enquiries from European clubs all keen on signing the footballer.
‘Sure there are clubs contacting my agent in different countries. And
as I said, we are having a holiday so all that is on the run way,
let’s just keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best at the end.
On robinho and Gyan he says: ‘Well, it would be an honour to play on
the same pitch with one of Africa’s best players, not only Gyan but
Demba Ba, Robinho and many other big names in China. But there isn’t
anything like competing with Gyan for goals, (I’m) just going (to)
keep my game going and help my team win games.’
Follow this exclusive story this week.
