It’s a story that doesn’t occur often but in Bubacarr Sanneh’s case it was one bound to happen sooner or later.
The then 19-year-old was one of a number of emerging budding talents hoping to get their cut of the cake in European football, a dream made grim by poor scouting network in Gambia.
Not that players trading in the Gambian twelve-team league are substandard but are rather disadvantaged by the league’s amateurish level that has done little to deliver a promising future to young footballers.
However, Sanneh had his ambition of getting out to play in Europe realized after barging in on Michael Kallback, a licensed agent and erstwhile sporting director of third tier Swedish side IK Sporting Brage.
Like an appointed date with fate that has finally ticked, Sanneh’s fortunes underwent a surgical overhaul, and one for the better as Kallback struck his magic, linking the Gambian defender with then Danish second tier side AC Horsens.
Horsens had no clues of their new signing apart from few videos of the teenager they’ve seen but for the trust coach BO Henriksen had in agent Karllback, offered to give untried talent Sanneh a much needed chance- a gamble the 41-year-old Danish gaffer would later thank his stars for daring to take.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]‘It was a miracle when I heard that I have to go on loan in a team called AC Horsens. Willy (Abraham) and my agent Micheal Kallback were running everything without me being aware. So I was so excited to move to Europe and so was looking forward to stepping my foot there,’[/perfectpullquote]
the now 21-year-old tells me in a recent interview from Denmark.
As the case with players moving to new clubs and the awaiting culture shock that comes with switching clubs, Bubacarr struggled adapting to the many forms of Denmark’s weather.
He hit the ground running in his second month at the CASA Arena, announcing his name to the world with a swift header –goal on his debut, a classic leap that has become his trademark.
That season -2014 – he forced his way into coach Bo’s thinking, becoming the gaffer’s go-to guy in defence, scooping the fans’ best player of the campaign gong in the process.
String of heroic performances followed the following football term prompting AC Horsens to tie down Bubacarr to a permanent three-year deal elapsing June 2017 as the club went on to secure promotion to the Super Liga.
Two years on into professional football, this budding starlet will look at his huge leap from zero to hero story with an exhilarating reflection.
Playing in EPL or Bundesliga remains a wild dream for this fast growing youngster and bombardment of interest from Danish top Brondby, Copenhagen, Esbjerg and OB Odense only helps turning that belief to a reality.
By sheer number of clubs clamouring for his signature, the stopper’s price tag has tripled with teams asked to cough up in excess of €400,000.
Two weeks ago, this day, he was in camp as one of coach Sang Ndong’s most experienced centre-backs for the Gambia national team final group game clash against Indomitable Lions, Cameroon.
Dubbed Timber by fans, referencing his combative built, Buba’s rapid rise is one of thrill-never-lacking tale.
Featured Photo: Courtesy of Bubacarr Sanneh @bsanneh(Twitter) of Forza AC Horsens
