By Aja Beyai
Molamin Marenah recently held trials for his new academy, Marenah Academy, from January 4th to 5th at Masroot Football Field, focusing on players aged 15 to 20. Out of more than 100 participants, 70 to 80 players were selected for the final squad.
These players will undergo training together for several weeks, after which the squad will be trimmed down to 40 to 45 players based on their performance quality.
Marenah, the founder of the academy, expressed his satisfaction with the trials, stating, “The quality and potential of the players we had was at a very high level. There are a few players that we need to help polish their skills and introduce to high-level football, which could go a long way.”
He highlighted that the style of play they plan to implement will be different from the existing style in Gambia. “We need to build different types of players who are patient on the ball. They need to relax and aim for the goal every time they touch the ball,” he emphasized.
Marenah outlined his ambitions for the academy, which include registering the team, training, playing friendly matches, and eventually participating in the Nawettan season to evaluate the team’s performance. His ultimate goal is to qualify for the third division. “Hopefully, we will try to get some of our players to participate in tournaments overseas,” he added.
In addition, Marenah called on the community to support and encourage the younger generation in pursuing their dreams, emphasizing the importance of collective effort in nurturing local talent.
