News Details

Jobe’s journey from gloves shopping before debut to mainstay

  • May 31,2020
  • Momodou Bah
  • It is every footballer’s dream to play for their national team, and having the opportunity at the tender age of 18, was a dream come true for Gambia goalkeeper, Modou Jobe.
  • With established duo Pa Dembo Touray and Musa Bajaha missing, Spaniard Jose Martinez, then Gambian coach, turned to the unknown Real de Banjul teenager, who had no experience of international football to fill in for their 2008 Africa Cup Nations qualifier away to Cape Verde in June 2007.

    "My gloves were bad. It was raining during our final training, and my gloves made it impossible to make a firm grab of the ball. The ball kept going into the net which must have discouraged the coach," Jobe told SJAG.gm.

    "I went to a sports shop with the Head of Delegation on the day of the match to buy a new pair of gloves. The coach was worried that I might not keep up with the pressure as I was young and in an uncharted territory," Jobe recalled.

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    He went on to mark his debut with a clean sheet in Praia as nine-man Scorpions held their host to a barren draw in the penultimate match of the 2008 AFCON qualifiers.

    "It was the most difficult match of my career," added Jobe, nicknamed after former Inter and Italy keeper, Francesco Toldo.

    "We were reduced to ten men after Ebou Sillah was sent off early. Later, Dawda Bah was also sent off. I was forced to pull many saves to keep the score level. After the final whistle, I was flat on my back exhausted.

    "My teammates had to carry me to the dressing room as I was very tired - it is the most difficult match of my career so far."

    Now, 31, Jobe is Gambia’s first choice between the sticks and the longest serving member in the current Scorpions team.

    "I remember receiving a call from Lang Tombong Tamba (now Gambia Football Federation Vice President) asking me to join the team at the airport for an AFCON qualifier against Guinea.

    "Pa Dembo Touray was unavailable for that game and I was to be an understudy for Musa Bajaha. Two weeks after that game, I played my first match against Cape Verde," said Jobe.

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    Drive to turn professional

    After eight seasons, winning four (4) league titles between Real de Banjul (3) and the Gambia Armed Forces, GAF (1), in 2014, he moved to neighbouring Senegal, joining Niarry Tally on loan from Real de Banjul.

    "During my time at GAF we played against the Senegalese military side in the West Africa Military Games in Bamako, Mali.

    "And when Niarry Tally came to Banjul for a preseason camp, I played against them saving a penalty and we won. They showed interest and I told them to contact my club Real de Banjul, and a deal was agreed.

    "I didn't know how much my wages were because I didn't care then to be honest. All I wanted was to leave and play in a better league to better my chances of becoming a professional."

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    After two seasons and winning the Coupe du Senegal (Senegal FA Cup) with Niarry Tally, he left for ASC Linguere where he played for a season before joining Nigeria's El Kanemi Warriors.

    "Whilst at a national team training camp in Rabat (Morocco), I received an offer to play in Nigeria. I phoned the club president and informed him that I wanted the deal to try a new challenge. After some back and forth, the deal was finally agreed but I couldn't play in the first round due to delay in negotiations."

    The Scorpions shot-stopper arrived in Abuja not knowing where his new club is based.

    "Upon arrival in Abuja and staying for a few days, I was informed that my team is in Maiduguri (a city notorious for Boko Haram insurgency)."

    The journeyman departed El Kanemi Warriors after two seasons for Saudi first division outfit, Jeddah Club in 2019, where he has nailed a permanent place as they pushed for promotion before football was halted due to the novel Coronavirus.

    AFCON dream

    The Gambia is yet to qualify for Africa's flagship tournament the Africa Cup of Nations. In fact, they remain the only country in the West Africa yet to make it to the biennial championship.

    The Scorpions top their Total Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021 qualifiers Group D, level with Gabon on four points; two more than DR Congo and Angola, with no point at the bottom of the standings.

    Jobe was the Scorpions hero in the preliminary round against Djibouti, saving two penalties to send the Gambia to the final stage of qualifying. A 2-2 tie on aggregate forced the game into penalties where Gambia prevailed 3-2.

    "The Africa Cup of Nations is the ultimate dream for me and my teammates - we came close in 2008 and 2010 but fell short of achieving our targets.

    "With the current group of players, we're confident of qualifying for our maiden AFCON. It would mean a lot to our people because we deserve to be at the tournament.”

    There are four rounds of matches remaining, and Jobe his hoping the Scorpions will finally break the jinx by grabbing one of the tickets to Cameroon.