The Daily Observer (Banjul)
Babucarr Camara
17 June 2011
After hitting 25 goals this season that culminated with his Belgian side RAEC Mons’ return to top flight football for next campaign, Gambian forward Mustapha Toubabo Jarju looks set to extend his stay with the Bergen outfit for at least one more year.
The former Banjul Wallidan and Steve Biko player joined Mons in the summer of 2008 following a two-year spell with fellow Belgian side SK Lierse in search of top flight football after he got frustrated with playing second fiddle football with the latter. But Toubabo only spent one season in the top flight after Mons suffered relegation to the second tier. The Gambian skipper though was not short of options with offers from both within Belgium and Turkey. Jarju turned down the advances from KV Kortrijk and Sivarspor to stay with Mons after he was offered an improved contract.
Mons narrowly missed out on a place to the top flight at the end of the 2009/10 season meaning a second year in the second tier but has finally made a return at the end of the just concluded campaign with the Gambian international the catalyst of their promotion after finishing as the team’s top scorer with 25 goals and his four goals in the playoffs paved the way for the team’s playoff win.
Having signed a three-year contract with the Bergen outfit, Jarju will be a free agent at the end of the month when his current deal is expected to expire and even though the Gambian currently have offers from other clubs, he is keen to stay with Mons for one more season. Jarju who skippered the Scorpions to a 1-0 international friendly win in Gabon over the local side has since returned to Belgium this week to start negotiations for a new contract with the club directors provided they meet his conditions.
“The three-year contract that I signed with Mons will come to an end at the end of June but I am keen to extend my stay with the team at least for one more season with the condition that they will help me secure a Belgian passport. I have spent five years in Belgium which now qualifies me for Belgian citizenship so it makes no sense to move to another country at the moment.
“I have offers in England but the move cannot materialize this year because the Gambia’s ranking is very low but securing a Belgian passport will qualify me to make a move (hopefully next season). So if the club is willing to help me secure my citizenship, I can even sign for a lesser salary for one more season,” Jarju told Observer Sports.
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Gambia: 25-Goal Season Toubabo Set for New Mons Talks