At 22, the striker cum defender plies her trade with Red Scorpions, one of the Gambia's biggest women's football clubs.
"I’ve been playing since I was younger and going to school. I've never stopped learning, and playing football," Ajara told Sjag.gm.
"It is the same procedure that I am using still now and it is not affecting my academic studies or my football career."
The former City Girls forward is also a student at the University of the Gambia, majoring Economics.
"I’ve a timetable at school and the days that I don't go to school are the days I go for (group) training.
"I make sure that on my free time I do some exercises to catch up with my teammates."
The soft-spoken defender has also represented her coming at international level but her passion for education is limiting her chances.
"When competitions clash with examinations, if it’s a mid-term exams they normally write to the university to allow me to join the team, and when am back I will sit to my exams, but if it’s the final exams I let go the football and concentrate on my exams," she explained.
"I was supposed to be part of the team to the WAFU A Women's tournament in Sierra Leone in March 2020 but unfortunately I was doing my final exams in my second semester, so I explained to the head coach that I would not be able to make the squad.
"It was a very difficult decision to take but I also realized that at a certain age the only thing to depend on is education, that's why I always advice my colleagues to not depend only on football because it won't last forever."
Ajara combines her football and education with a full-time job as a Procurement officer at the Ministry of Interior.
Convincing mom
Born in the Island city of Banjul, she started playing football at the age of seven years with her brothers but, mom was opposed to her playing football.
It was her father and brother who came to her rescue encouraging her to pursue her football dreams.
"It wasn't easy for me when I was younger because I started playing football at the age of seven and I was inspired by my brother. I always follow him when he leaves for training.
"I was not supported by my mother it was very difficult for her to understand the game of football most especially a girl child engaged in it but my dad supported me."
Her mother was concerned that football would hinder her education and it was not a sport for girls.
"She said that it would disturb me if I need to engage in football and go to school," said Samba.
"It took her some time before she understands that women are engaged in this game called football."
Ajara's prayers were answered when she was called up to train with the national team at the age of 14 years.
"It was when I was selected to be part of the national team in 2012 but it was still difficult for her to understand, because I was supposed to sit to my exams but I was able to convince her using my sister's and my brother."
Choosing Red Scorpions
She joined her current club Red Scorpions from the capital based City Girls FC.
Ajara caught the eye when Red Scorpions’ coach Choro Mbenga was on a scouting mission at a school’s football tournament in the capital.
"I joined Red Scorpions when the current coach Choro Mbenga scouted me at the KG5 during a school tournament," recalls Samba.
"She approached me and said she wanted me to play for Red Scorpions, but my reply was I am a City Girls player, so the two teams did the normal procedure and I moved to Red Scorpions."
Samba witnessed one of the darkest periods of Red Scorpions when the club was relegated to the second tier due to the ill behavior of some of their players and supporters.
She stayed with the club as one of the senior members in the team following the suspension of seven key players.
"We were on top of the league and I know if we continued we would be champions.
"Unfortunately we were relegated and I can still remember that night at the Serrekunda East stadium where I cried a lot and when I even went home I was not able to sleep.
"We were told that the club was relegated to the second tier and suspending seven big players but it didn't stop us as we reclaimed our first division place by winning the league unbeaten and without conceding a goal."
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