#Article (Archive)

Estonian top-flight club set for Gambia visit

Mar 17, 2020, 5:30 PM | Article By: Arfang M.S. Camara

Estonian Premium Liiga club Paide Linnameeskond is set to visit The Gambia on a one-week scouting trip.

Officials of the Estonian top club will be in the country from March 23rd-30th to visit local partners, Real de Banjul and Modou Lamin Beyai of Modoustic Sports PR with a view to furthering their already existing relationship and scouting of some players.

Paide Linnameeskond, CEO, Jaanus Pruuli, will be among the delegation in the Smiling Coast during the weeklong visit where they will also be opportune to watch the Scorpions’ 2021 Africa Cup of Nations return leg home qualifier match against Gabon.

William Abraham, president of Real de Banjul, said Paide’s visit to the country is set to be an historic one as it is probably the first time that top executives of a European football club are visiting the country.

“Their visit will be great because since our partnership with them started, it’s been always great. We look forward to welcoming them to the country and further our relationship with them.”

Jaanus Pruuli, Paide’s CEO, said: “I’m looking forward to visiting the Smiling Coast of West Africa to see the great work that is being done there by Real de Banjul and Modou Lamin Beyai over the recent years.”

“Last season, both Alassana and Muhammed Sanneh were among top players in the Estonian league and we were blessed to have the opportunity to develop them. I hope our visit will further strengthen our relationship with our Gambian brothers.”

Three Gambian players have since featured for Paide since the partnership started; namely: Alassana Jatta, Muhammed Sanneh and Patrick Sylva.

Paide Linnameeskond, also known as the Estonian Barcelona, is a football club based in Paide, in the capital of Järva County.

They competed in the Premium liiga, the top flight of Estonian football and play their home matches at the Paide linnastaadion. Last season they finished 4th in the league with Alassana Jatta, the top goal scorer with 13 goals despite playing only half-season due to his move to Danish club Viborg in August.

Founded in 2004, the club has played in the Premium liiga since 2009 and has never been relegated from the Estonian top division.