Le Mans Striker Alieu Darboe joins U-20 team

Former U-17 star midfielder Alieu Darboe is the fourth professional player to join the Gambia National U-20 team in preparation for the Africa U-20 Orange Championship against Sierra Leone, slated for July 24th at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.

Darboe arrived in Banjul on Thursday and caught up with the rest of his teammates on Saturday morning, as they continued their preparation for the big game at the Brikama Box Bar Mini-stadium.

Readers could recall that three other professional players: Muhammed Touray, Sainey Mboge and Pa Sulay Njie have all arrived to link up with the rest of their teammates ahead of what promises to produce an exciting international match in less than a fortnight time.

In an interview with our reporter shortly after taking part in his second training session with the squad yesterday, Darboe whose valuable effort could not help the U-17 team progressed to the second stage of the African U-17 championship in Nigeria last year, said he is extremely delighted to earn a call-up to the U-20 team, and that he is looking forward to the tie.

"I will do my best to help the team achieve positive result when the championship kicks-off and hopefully we can meet our target," Darboe who started his professional career with a First Division team in Sweden, called Orrgryte stated.

Darboe who guided Orrgyte to two Swedish cup titles in 2007 was tempted by a big move to the French League 1 side Le Mans.

He has since his arrival at the club earned the admiration of the club coach which also paved the way for the young lad to break his way into Le Mans first team, as he looked set to play a part in the French cup competition next February.

The 17-year-old Darboe, who also had a successful spell with another French team, called Nice before moving to Le Mans in 2009 has been offered the opportunity to play for the Sweden U-19, but he is now focused on helping The Gambia.