By: Foday Manneh
Gambian Professional player Bakery Jatta and former Scorpions International Ebrima Sohna have completed the buying of Fortune Academy for an undisclosed fee.
The club, which competes in the Third Division League of the West Coast Region Football Association, was the feeder team and operated under the management of the Farato-based and Gambia Football Federation (GFF) first-tier Fortune Football Club.
In a press release on Sunday, January 8, 2023, the club’s management confirmed the transfer of the team’s ownership to Sohna and Jatta.
“After much consideration, we have agreed to transfer the ownership of our Third Division team, Fortune Academy, to Mr. Ebrima Sohna and Bakery Jatta,” the club said.
The deal shall be completed on Monday, January 9, 2023, and the duo will become the club’s new owners.
The new owner, Ebrima Sohna, was undoubtedly one of the most capped national team players from his days with the Under 17 to the senior male national team.
The midfielder retired from International football after his involvement in the Gambia’s maiden AFCON appearance in Cameroon 2021, which he was a crucial part of from the qualifications to finishing among the best six national teams of the continental competition.
Before the AFCON with the national team, Sohna returned home after several club experiences abroad and is playing for the first team of the club he has now jointly purchased, Fortune Football Club, who were the 2021 GFF League Division One Champions.
His co-owner Bakery Jatta is a Gunjur-born Gambian professional footballer who plays for German Bundesliga 2 side Hamburger SV.
Jatta’s club was close to promotion to the German Bundesliga but fell short in the 2021/22 playoffs and remained in the second tier with the hope of making it this season.
The 24-year-old has been under the radar of playing for The Gambia since his breakthrough in the German club. However, he remains on the waiting list after several invitations failed due to injuries and unavoidable club duties.
Fortune Academy becomes the second Gambian league team bought by professional or former Gambian footballers in three months.
This latest business followed the buying of Jarra-based club Dibba Oil Academy now called “BST Galaxy FC,” by another Gambian professional player Bubacarr Steve Trawally, who trades in Sweden with Hammarby Football.
The club, unlike Fortune Academy, played in the GFF Second Divison and made its maiden debut in the new league season after the transfer of ownership in October 2022.
