I caught up with Adama Jammeh just before the Engu Rangers game against Étoile Sportive du Sahel at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium. A poised Adama with confidence gave me a short interview. He is becoming one of the national team uprising strikers,18 year old Adama is a winner of GFF League and FA cup, U20 WAFU cup and Tunisian U21 champions where he scored 15 goals in 19 matches. He came from the ranks of Falcons FC to Armed Forces before moving to Tunisia.
Fallaboweh- Your first ever senior national team cap came against Benin, what was the euphoria like?
Adama – It was a pleasure, I was really happy and moreover we won the match.
Fallaboweh- Did it gave coaches back in Tunisia to follow your development? How are you taking the chances of competing with national team strikers and club strikers?
Adama- It has definitely helped the situation, and after that they keep more tabs on me. My first national team call-up got me with the U21, I was performing well and goals were coming. After my debut match, it made the coaching staff have more confidence in me. Alhamdulliah you really have to thank God, the national team have big names and good strikers, players like Ali Sowe, Assan Ceesay and Musa Barrow. As a young player its a learning curve to be around and playing with them, it is helping me a-lot in my development.
Fallaboweh- Étoile Sportive du Sahel is a successful club, West and South Africa have envied North African success of late. What can you tell us about the Red and White Club? You made the squad to the CAF confederation cup. How is the momentum like?
Adama – Organization wise its a perfect club with lots of history. We have experienced and good players, which is also an advantage to the league. Etoile is a big club and the league is of high standard and very competitive.
Every player playing his trade in africa want to play either the CAF Champions league/Confederation Cup, making appearance there is very important. Its just a rare opportunity for my age but am happy for the chances and its good for my career.
Fallaboweh – The national league is crying for lack of goals, can we attribute it to defensive approach or lack of basics through your experience
Adama -We really have potential players in the Gambia. Therefore, I think its more of a tactical approach. Normally no team likes to lose, and the manager will instruct man-marking for the strikers and you end up seeing there is no enough space. Goals will surely come.
Fallaboweh- You are contracted till 2023, you are much into the present, but which league suits your style and where do you see yourself in the next five years?
Adama – The objective now is to concentrate on my club, am still fighting to win a spot in the starting XI. It is every young players dream to play in Europe and am not an exceptional to that wish and dream.
Fallaboweh- what is your advise to local based players in Gambia?
Adama — Always strive to have self-confidence and strive for the best through hard-work. To emphasize on this, my brother. Solomon Kanform used to tell me God created beauty and ugly but self-confidence is earned by oneself. Hard-work is the key factor. Belief one day you will be where you want to be, life itself is not easy but if you put self-confidence God will make a way.
