Stephan
Laufer, team manager of Sv Amstetten 1946, has hailed the contribution of
Gambian footballer Sainey Ceesay, who scored 20 goals for Sv Amstetten in his
first season at the Germany club.
The
club finished 7th place in the 16-team league table with 43 points, scoring 28
times after a difficult season for Sv Amstetten in Ceesay’s first year as a
player for the Germany club.
He
scored 20 goals and made 7 assists in the process.
The
21-year-old former Sait Matty and Steve Biko talisman arrived in Germany from
The Gambia by boat through Italy.
It
didn’t take long before he could get recruited into the Sv Amstetten side.
Travelling
to Europe by sea is pretty risky journey for anyone to take more so for a young
footballer playing at the highest league in Gambia standard.
However,
there can equally be excitement that comes with it provided that one makes it,
cognizant of the so-called luxurious living condition, expectations and fancy
lifestyle many expect to find once they made it to their final destinations.
In
the height of all these expectations high in their minds, many turned to
football in search of better life for themselves and their families.
It
appears Ceesay is among few Gambian footballers that took the risky back-way
road with hopes of finding himself a bigger club and footballing environment
conducive to showcase his talent.
The
youngster is on his road to becoming another Gambian footballer making a mark
in Germany.
He
looks highly likely to emulate the progress made by Ousman Manneh, who signed
lucrative contract with Germany’s Bundasliga club Werder Bremen in 2015.
Manneh
went on to net several goals for his new club including whooping 4 friendly
match victory goals he scored in 15 minutes.
That
proved to be a remarkable career turn-around for a youngster Ousman Manneh, now
living the life of a world-class footballer from little known Gambia.
Manneh
made history when he became the first Gambian to score in the Germany
Bundasliga in his debut appearance against Bayern Leverkusen, settling
brilliantly with life at Bremen as a teenage sensation.
He
started on his road to becoming a household name in Germany Bundasliga as he
turned 18 at the time of making his eagerly anticipated maiden debut in a
Bremen shirt.
Well
if you think that is the end of success story for Gambian footballers in the
Bundasliga, you may have to think twice because it looks like there’s another
Ousman Manneh of the Bundasliga in the making.
His
Gambian compatriot and fellow Bakau native Sainey Ceesay is equally making
waves in Germany at Sv Amstetten1946. Sainey signed for the club in 2016 after
arriving from The Gambia.
According
to Sv Amstetten team manager Stephan Laufer, in a telephone interview with The
Fatu Network by this reporter, Ceesay joined Sv Amstetten after undergoing a
successful trial with the team, who found his strength and pace useful in their
pursuit of a top striker with great finishing ability to kill off the games.
Stephan
has high expectations for the powerful forward and is positive about Sainey’s
future on a personal rating.
He
said, “Sainey is fundamental for the future because our plan for this coming
season is based on players of his quality.
“He
arrived here from The Gambia through Italy in 2016. We tried him for a week at
the amateur level, and challenged him to prove what he can do for the team.
After successfully passing trials, we accepted him to be part of the team on a
regular basis and he did not disappoint us after scoring 20 goals in his first
season at the club.
“That
is a record achievement for the young footballer from The Gambia. It took him a
little amount of time to settle quickly with the team’s style of play and life
at the city. We provided a house for him and other logistics arrangements
needed to better serve us as a footballer.” Team manager Stephan is entering
the second year into his appointment as the club manager.
Sainey,
who goes by sobriquet Chompy, came into spotlight when he played for
Katchically United during the Nooran Football tournament.
While
at the Bakau-based Nawettan club, the pacey forward was a key member of the
Katchically side that qualified for the Nawettan proper.
Sainey
is known for his amazing goal-scoring technique combined with his tactical
brilliance, which contributed to his invitation to the Gambia U-17 team but
knee and ankle injuries prevented him making the final list of players
shortlisted for the Gambia U-17 team at the time.
It
was confirmed the Baby Scorpions will be without one of the most gifted young
footballers in the country at the time, much to the disappointment of a player
regarded as a potential replacement upfront.
Ceesay
made a sensational recovery from those injuries with great comeback for the top
tier side Sait Matty Football Club, a performance that earned him a call-up to
the Bakau Zonal team.
Chompy
was outstanding as Bakau won their third zonal championship thanks to an
unforgettable sublime volley goal he scored as Bakau emerged narrow winners
against their city rivals, Banjul, in a mouthwatering Zonal cup final.
The
diminutive forward was an influential member of Africell Sait Matty team that
regained promotion to the country’s top flight football following their
relegation to the second tier season before that.
He
went on to establish himself as a regular scorer for the Gambia top tier outfit
Sait Matty.
Sainey
Jarju, former coach of Sainey Ceesay at Katchically, is hugely credited for helping
to lift Ceesay to the top.
He
was once quoted by this reporter as saying, “Chompy has been the symbol of
Katchically during his short spell with the team.
“He
is always willing to deliver for all the clubs he played for. It is safe to say
Chompy was both the head and the heart of Kachically United side that played
the finest attacking football of the Nawettan in Bakau.”
Shortly
afterwards, he was sent to Steve Biko FC, which was the last Gambian team he
played for prior to leaving the shores of the country two years ago.
