Pa Modou reciprocate the efforts of Kabba Ceesay

Dear Editor,

Pa Modou Jagne on Monday 7th June 2010 walked into my office with a surprise gift of sporting items, ranging from football boots, goalkeeper gloves, bibs and training kits for my football academy.

It is an unexpected gesture but not a surprise to me, because I know the type of person Pa is and how much love and care he got for me.

As his first coach in organised  football Pa is one of the best students I have ever trained since I started grooming players with teams like Victoria Juniors and Wharfi Elminite FC.

I started football management in 1986, when I was in the national team. I returned from Guinea Conakry for an international duty, when one night a group of high school students walked into my tiny house at Charles Street, led by Mr. Omar Gaye (BANA) now Director at Gamworks agency. At the peak of my football career these young lads convinced me to take up football management at a very early age which I considered the biggest challenge in my football career.

I was the leader and team captain of Juventus Football Club then, but I immediately made up my mind and took a decision to face the challenge by being a player manager with these young boys. It was a wise and right decision, because I didn't want to betray the trust and hope they got in me.

He was well-trained at home; he is disciplined and a quick learner indeed. When he joins Elminite in 2000, as a teenager we were defending the Treble in Banjul, but unfortunately we played only two games and had a problem with "BAYO", the organising committee and we refused to participate further.

The following year was his first full season with the club and he was quick to make his mark on the top best players ever played for the team.

Pa was first paired with Pa Modou Ngum, alias Base who was with the team for so many years, but he came and easily over shadowed all the big men in the team and immediately caught the eyes of Gamtel FC technical staff and eventually made a move to Gamtel FC.

Following my advice, Pa rejoined me at Ports and since then he proved beyond all reasonable doubts that he is part of me.

Mr. Thomas AXEL relied on my valuable advices and assistance to put things together.

I am grateful and delighted at the gesture and would like to seize this opportunity to reassure him of my support and prayers for a successful playing career.