Omar Colley wins foreign athlete of the year award

Racing Genk defender Omar Colley is the winner of the 2017 Gambia Sports Journalists Association’s foreign athlete of the year award.

 The 25-year-old defender received the honour after defeating fellow international footballers, Hamza Barry and Modou Barrow at a ceremony held at Djembeh Hotel in Kololi Friday night.

This is the 8th edition of the SJAG award meant to honour sports personalities for their outstanding contributions to the promotion of sport in the country over the past 12 months.

Colley was not present at the award night but his sister was in attendance to receive the crown on his behalf.

Colley has been a focal point of Djurgarden and KRC Genk defence over the last 12 months.

He moved to Genk from Djurgarden last season, two years after signing his first professional contract with Finish club Kups from local club Wallidan.

His performance for Racing Genk in the Europa League had brought him to the attention of a number of premier League, Serie A and Bundesliga clubs all keen to lure the talented defender away from Genk.

Colley, nicknamed OJ, was a key member of the Gambian team that won the 2009 Caf African U-17 tournament in Algeria.

He also travelled with the Gambia U-20 national team to Caf Youth Championship in South Africa in 2011.

He is currently the captain of the Gambia senior national team, nicknamed the Scorpions.

He made his Scorpions debut in 2012 and has since gone on to making several senior team appearances to his name.

He succeeded FC Sion left back Pa Modou Jagne who won the award last year.