By: Ebrima KB Sonko
Aminata A. Darboe, the Police Ladies and Gambia Women’s National team goalkeeper has resigned from playing active football for refereeing amid her great passion for men’s and women’s with whistles and flags.
Aminata A Darboe is a former Gambia women’s U-20 and Senior National Team who recently quit playing active football for refereeing. Aminata told The Alkamba Times Sports that she decided to surrender her dream of playing football over the supposed long career she endeavors to have in refereeing.
“I want it to be my career because I know that I have a long career in refereeing than in football, and secondly, I want to give a chance to young ones coming too. And I have a lot of experience in football; that’s why I changed my career from football to refereeing because it is all the same work,” The former Gambia National team goalkeeper said.
When asked whether she retired from playing football for a more lucrative career in Gambian football refereeing, Aminata said she switched to refereeing because of her passion for football refereeing.
“I have a passion for refereeing; that’s why I become a referee and not because of money. The Police football team is paying me a standard monthly salary to sustain myself and my family, so changing my role from a footballer to refereeing is not because of money. I love being a referee such as Bakary Papa Gassama.” The former Police Lady netminder revealed.
Aminata A Darboe had represented the Gambia’s female U-20 team as their first goalkeeper and had a few called up to the Senior National team, where she played nothing more than twice before she abandoned playing football for refereeing.
Aminata won the Best Female Goalkeeper award at the inaugural Gambia Players’ Association Award Night Ceremony in 2021.
