Edi, thanks for your cordial response. I was not a
professional player. I came to the US on a soccer and
academic scholarship, from king College and Wabash College,
respectively. I decided to go to Wabash because I wanted to
control my destiny. By that I mean I don't have to play if I
don't want to. I was never interested in playing professional
soccer, after my experience with the GFA, which also explains
why I declined the offer from King College.
The topic of discussion is the epidemic of foreign coaches in
African football. That has nothing to do with professional
football. The guys you mentioned were not helped by any
foreign coaches. They made a name for themselves in Africa
and were later approached by scouts, which is why I suggested
that the GFA or local teams eliminate the scouts from the
picture. All other countries do it. Senegalese teams are
proactive and successful in selling their players to pro teams
in France, etc. We could do the same thing.
In The Gambia, we were more successful when the squad was
coached by Kabba Jallow, Axie Gai, Biri, Sahou Sarr, etc. In
fact the Junior squad was ranked among the best in Africa,
beating the Ghanaians, Ivorians (Yusuf Fofana, Troare,etc)
Malians, Senegal, both Guineas, etc. We were able to do it
because the coaches know what works for us. I don't know
about other players, but I play to win and that means throwing
in all I got. If a player will put on lackluster performance
for Real and burst his tail for a foreign coach, then I think
he has major issues to resolve within himself. This same
attitude we have towards our coaches is the same attitude we
apply to our own engineers, lawyers, doctors, and best minds.
We always look to the other. Africa will stay behind as long
as we seek European validation.
Let me know your thoughts on these points.
Later
Joe Sambou
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: SV: Re: European Coaches in African Football
Author: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
<[log in to unmask]> at PO_EXTERNET
Date: 01/14/2000 6:47 AM
Mr joe Sambou,
Thank in return to your mail regarding to the above issue.Firstly i was
not a top player but interested in football and I can recalled the time
you were at your best.if I could remember right, you were living just
around blanc street. However, going back to the issue in question,I am not
saying that the coaches are responsible to the poverty neither do i
referred to the parents not to educate or encourage their children
academically instead of whole hearted football players.It is not every
parent who is able to pay for higher education as yours migh have been to
you.
Secondly, if we are talking of opportunity,all the players i have
earlier mentioned have somebody that help their progresses and for that
actions, we cannot rule out the foreign coaches.I believe in luck
of-course,but it goes alone with optimism.
I will not totally said our
local coaches are good for only our local teams but working togethre with
foreign coaches will give the boys more courage to improve their skill as
they are all looking for recommendation to play out side the country.Hope
you understood my point here.
If the football association is not able to
sponsure such activities,therefore foreign coaches could have.Hence we
know that our country is poor and have little to spend on football,we need
people who can make contact to bring hope in the life of the game.As a
saying goes,A blind cannot pave the way for a blind. You have been a
foreign player yourself,was it that you help yourself without any
intervention? or was it the FA that sponsured all the contact and
expenses? please throw light on that. till i hear from you good luck and
may God bless the Gambia and the Gambians all over the globe.
__________________________________________________________________
EDI LK SIDIBEH NAAKANTIE 2C9
DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS & ADMINISTRATION 48320 KOTKA
KYMENLAAKSO POLYTECHNIQUE
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PEACETO EVERYONE ON EARTH.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
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