One-time Gambia’s Scorpions powerhouse Pa Amadou Daddy Gai says he can still play an influential role as he eyes sensational return to competitive football with the current set up of the Gambia national senior team, after a two-year absence.
Daddy, whose playing career nearly came to a sad end after he suffered a career threatened knee injury which led to an immediate operation 3 years ago, spent a year on loan at the Senegalese first division side Ashlem.
During his stay in Dakar, Daddy netted 7 times to help Ashlem secure 3rd place in the Senegalese top-tier league in his first full season at the club in 2009 but the club’s hope of replicating a similar success this season seems impossible as they appear to be facing relegation to the second division following a disastrous campaign.
The loan deal to Ashlem, according to the former Bakau United captain, was part of his career revitalization process having remained in the wilderness for nearly a year prior to his loan move to the neighbouring country two years ago.
With the expiry of his loan spell with Ashlem since February last year, the industrious attacker has returned home with the hope of proceeding to Europe, where he is hopeful of signing a professional contract for the first time since he parted company with the Canadian outfit Montreal in 2009 after a bitter dispute over his contract fee.
Instead he returned home after a brief stint as a professional footballer in Canada to continue playing for Bakau United.
“I want to assure my fans and the entire Gambian people that I am back to my best form and fitness hungrier to return to the Scorpions team and I still believe I can play a key role for the team,” said the former Gambia national U-17, U-20 and U-23 technically gifted striker, in a lengthy interview with Pointsport at his Bakau Newtown residence few days after returning home from Dakar.
He added: “I want to tell my fans and all the Gambian football lovers that their star man is back hungrier to succeed with the national team now than ever before and I am determined to make a big difference for my country at the international stage.”
Daddy had his first taste of national team football when he was promoted to the Gambia national U-17 team in 2000 following his eye-catching performances with Vietnam Border at the Nawettan level, Bakau super cup team, as well as the GFA division one outfit Bakau United.
He proceeded to play for the Gambia national U-20, U-23 and the senior national team and has since forged a great reputation as one of the finest forwards in Gambian football.