#Article (Archive)

Pa Dembo happy to be back in the Mother City

Jul 26, 2013, 12:26 PM

Santos Football Club goalkeeper Pa Dembo Touray has issued a challenge to the club’s young players ahead of the new season.

While Santos have retained a key core of experienced footballers, a number of young stars are being blooded for first-team duty.

And the club’s official website caught up with former Gambian national team topper Touray - who spent 11 years in Sweden with top-flight side Djurgarden.

He told the people’s team .co.za: “It feels good to be back. It’s nice to return and see everybody after the short holiday we had.

“I was back in Sweden; I got to see my kids and family who all still live there, so it was nice to go back and spend a week and a half with them.”

Asked about how he is adjusting to life under Coach David Notoane, Touray added: “He’s a very smart guy. He has life experience and he knows how to talk to people. If you listen to him with your brain, you can definitely make good use of his knowledge in all aspects of your life. And that knowledge will help the younger players.”

He added: “If we, the older players, are fighting so hard and want it (to secure promotion) so bad, I don’t know what the young players should be doing; they should kill themselves for the team!”

Touray also only had positive words for goalkeeper Coach Nigel Dixon, who he has worked with closely since joining the People’s Team.

“He’s a wonderful coach,” he said. “When I came here I started working with him, and I have learnt a lot.

“He’s not trying to change my technique or things I have been doing for 11 years, but he’s just there to guide me. I always listen to him and to be honest I have developed a lot just being with him.

“And Lee (Langeveld) and Lucky (Ms humpela) are also making me learn more because they are fighting so hard and are making me pus h even harder for the number one jersey.” (Culled fromhttp://thepeoplesteam.co.za).