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Young Gambian prof eyes national team debut

Dec 29, 2011, 3:22 PM | Article By: Lamin Drammeh

Finish-born young Gambian goalkeeper Sam Jammeh has spelt out his desire to make his debut for the Gambia national U-23 team.

The 20-year-old gloves man, who plies his trade with FC Viikingit in the Finish top league, in an interview with Pointsport yesterday, said: “My desire is to play for the Gambia national U-23 team and I can’t wait to start wearing a Gambian jersey.”

Sam, who has recently signed a two-year extension to his current Viikingit deal, is expected to see through the remaining period of his new deal set to expire in 2013.

He made his first competitive debut for Viikingit last season in a 3-1 defeat to IF Gnistan but did enough to help his team finish second place in the 13-team Finish league table.

He has since proven to be an important weapon in the Viikingit goal-post since then playing 10 consecutive league matches leading to the club’s successful second-place finish last term.

However, Jammeh’s regular playing time was restricted by a knee injury he suffered while playing a league game for his Finish outfit and was eventually sidelined for up to two months.

He has regained his full fitness and is currently in the country training with the Gambia national U-17 team goalkeeper trainer at the Brikama Box Bar Mini-stadium in a bid to get himself familiar with the climatic condition of The Gambia.

Sam, who was born to a Gambian father, Lamin Jammeh, and a Finish mother Virpi Laitinen, said he was motivated by his Gambian compatriots Dawda Bah and Demba Savage and his father to consider the prospect of playing for The Gambia.

He spent 11 years with FC Viikingit reserve team before finally breaking his way into the first team amid quick transformation process.