I am much more an improved player today - Kekuta Manneh

The 15-year-old youngster, Kekuta Manneh who is making his first call-up to the Bakau Zonal team that had its attempt to lift its third successive zonal title, surrounded by controversy in last Sunday’s final against Serrekunda East, said "he is much more an improved player today, compared to his previous performances."

The former Vidar star striker is regarded by many football pundits as the hottest property in Bakau football in recent times.

He scored six goals for Vidar in the just ended Summer Championship in Bakau and became many people’s favourite to claim the golden boot award, but narrowly missed out as he finished second, paving the way for closest rival Lamin Fofana who guided Ron Mango to a knock-out success with seven goals to his name to win the accolade.

Due to his wonderful individual brilliance, some dazzling skills and a great eye for goal, Kuta as he is widely known attracted interest from Bakau giants Steve Biko where he is currently training for the last’ year’s second place holder, preparing ahead of another GFA Division One League Championship, slated for January next year.

The former Young Biko prodigy believed his most outstanding achievement since started playing football is when he made his first appearance for the Bakau Zonal team in the second edition of Baby Muhammed Jammeh Perpetual Cup Competition as he played an influencial role in helping the defending champions registered a narrow one-nil victory over Gunjur as part of his side’s opener at the Serrekunda-East-Mini-Stadium three weeks ago.

And the striker is with the belief that he is much more a better and improved player now than before, even though he has found his playing opportunity in the zonal team very hard to come by, having only featured twice in Bakau's last five matches in the zonal competition after twice coming on as a substitute against Gunjur and Serrekunda East, respectively.

He was both the head and the heart of Vidar Side that played one of the finest attacking footballs in the Summer Championship and in the process, progressed to the knock-out final for the first time since joining the club that has brought the best out of the offensive-minded forward. But the star could not help his Nawettan side to any success as they succumbed to a 3-2 defeat to Ron Mango in the final, played at the Bakau-Mini-Stadium recently.