Gambian-Norwegian Mohammed Keita is still open to play for The Gambia despite making a choice to play for Norway instead of the Gambia national youth teams.
With a FIFA congress amendment in June 2009, to remove the age limit for players who have already played for a country’s national team at youth level to change national associations, The Gambia can still utilise the services of youthful and hot attacker Keita.
Keita is currently a member of the squad to the Norwegian U-23 national team after been called to the team last February.
He was part of Norway’s U-21 national team, which was beaten 4-1 by Sweden with Keita netting the Norwegians’ only goal of the game in 2010.
He has had great ambition to play for the Gambia national teams until his inclusion into the U-21 team of Norway.
His contacts and those of other players in the same league were handed over to the then national team coach Paul Put but the Gambian starlet has never tasted any national duty despite playing regular football at his club, who were the 2012 top league runners-up and won the NM league cup in 2010.
Born on 2 September 1990 in Drammen, with Gambian parents, Keita plays for Stromsgodset IF in the Norwegian Tippeligaen
The Norwegian football striker made his debut for Strømsgodset away against Brann, and followed this up with some notable performances.
He scored a hat-trick after coming off the bench against Pors Grenland in the Norwegian Cup.
Keita’s progress caught the eye of Parma, and he was set to attend trials with the Italian club in January 2009.
One year after the former Drafn-boy was admitted in SIFs A-stable, where he established himself on the junior national team, he started several games in the Premier League and became the clubs second player to arouse interest from European top teams, such as Parma.
During his link with the Italian side 2009 Sports Director Jostein Flo has said that Mohammed Keita is promising and believes the player has a bright future.
The young talented striker, who is successfully in his 5th season this year making a total of 92 league appearances, scored just three goals last season.
Stromsgodset lost 2-0 to Honefoss on Wednesday with Keita playing just 45 minutes his first match of the season.
