Gambia/Senegal: Nation Should Copy the Senegal Example

The Daily Observer (Banjul)

Nanama Keita

31 March 2011

column

How I wish Gambia can do it like Senegal when it comes to unearthing young soccer talents. With many years of trying, achieving lately at the cadet level but missing out at the senior level, I think it’s time for Gambia to steal a deep peep at neighbours Senegal.

Quarter-finalists at the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals in Korea/Japan, Senegal seemed at the time destined to become one of the continent’s major powers. But just a few years later, the big lions had become relative kittens, failing to qualify either for the first-ever FIFA World Cup on African soil in 2010 and the CAF African Cup of Nations in Angola in the same year.

The Teranga Lions’ shock exit in the second round of the 2010 joint qualifiers following a 1-1 draw against the Scorpions in Dakar marked the low point for the country. And with barely any grassroot talents to count on to for the future, most analysts had gone to paint a bleak future for Senegal football. But just two years from that worst showings at African and world stage, the Teranga Lions appear to have awakened from their deep sleep – thanks largely to the country’s football authorities newly found eagerness to go out and find new talent.

Thanks to the thorough talent search in mostly Europe and America’s leagues, scores of new players – some with dual nationalities – were scouted and regrouped to lead the team’s revival campaign. Today, the Senegalese could give a tap on their back, if no one else does, for successfully reviving their football without counting on even one of Africa’s current best strikers in El-Hadji Diouf.

The team’s last weekend victory over the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in the 2012 qualifier campaign only served as a moment of celebration and bonding with the Dakar fans who were made to endure some very unsettling performances over the last few years. Senegal’s swift move to go out and get hold of what belongs to them is something Gambians must learn from, more so when most of our current crop of players are either too old or have failed to command regular place in their respective clubs.

With the backing of the Gambia Football Association, I expect the Scorpions coach, Paul Put, to lead this campaign, albeit the Belgian’s current approach to our ‘player problem’ means the Equatorial-Gabon finals may even be a far-fetched dream for Gambian fans. The Belgian tactician’s recent move in recalling players, who have not only been out of the set-up for some time now but also passed their prime, could be detrimental to our qualifications hopes.

Take for example the coach’s contentious move in extending a call-up to a player like defender Seyfo Soley who has only played in seven competitive matches recently for a lowly-rated Cyprus second division club after being out of active football for three consecutive seasons. Seyfo – just like Jatto Ceesay, Ebou Sillah and others – was one of Gambia’s best, but age has told the best story that Gambians must know.

If Senegal can now do it without the likes of El-Hadji Diouf, Salif Diao and their all-time highest goal scorer Henri Camara, then I see no reason why we should not do the same by gradually sending our ageing players to forced retirement in order to provide room for young talents to come up the ladder. Despite our current poor friendly displays coupled with the unfavourable standing in our group of three, I believe that the ticket to the 2012 finals is still within our reach, but only with the right resources or players if you want to call it.

AllAfrica – All the Time