The Gambian quadruple namely; Pa Ousman Gai, Modou Manneh, Modou Joof, and Saikou Ceesay, have immensely increased the number of the country’s foreign-based players in the Far East. Saikou is one of the key players pushing the Diggers to the 2024/2025 Philippines Football League championship, currently in 2nd place, one point behind defending champions, Kaya.
Ceesay, who had a stint in Senegal, notably with Guédiawaye FC, is a proven goal scorer, having won the golden boot in the Gambia in 2021 and a league title with Gambia Armed Forces. He has two FA Cups and a Super Cup medal. His experienced is rightly a contributing factor to Manila Digger success story.
Ceesay currently has 16 goals in 15 appearances, scoring five goals in front of the home fans.
Ceesay hints that he is well settled and contributing positively to the team.
“Everything is going smoothly for me. The Philippines is a peaceful country. They are very welcoming. They take you as a family that is across all regions. You have the feeling that you are appreciated and that they want you around. It’s incredible that everyone within the football circle knows me. From the Federation down to ordinary football enthusiasts. I am having a really good time here. Having Gambian teammates has helped me a lot; I just feel like I am home. We share the same apartment; we are always together; we got each other’s back and everything. In the field, they helped me a lot; they assisted with most of my goals. Agent Modou Lamin Beyai facilitated the move; when the opportunity came, I grabbed it. Right now, in Far East Asia, when they talk about the Philippines, they talk about me; the exposure has come, and it has really helped my transfer market.” Ceesay mentioned
“My aspiration and ambitions matches that of the club. Taking the club to the AFC Championship and winning the golden boot—these are the targets that I have for now. Everything is on track. We are eyeing the AFC spot; we will compete because our team is solid; we have transformed the team.”
” The first thing the team president told me is that I try and score around 20 goals and help the team to qualify for the AFC Championship qualifiers. It’s a task given to me. He told me that if I scored the said goals, I would be guaranteed as the league-leading goal scorer.”
Saikou has been playing through the pain, nursing an ankle injury in the last three matches. His fellow countrymen, Modou Manneh, have 11 goals; Pa Ous Gai has 9 goals; and Modou Joof has 2 goals. Saikouba is guaranteed as the golden boot winner with one match left, as he will join elite Gambian foreign-based players like Pa Omar Jobe, Assan Ceesay, Ali Sowe, Dembo Darboe, and Alfusainey Gassama to win the golden boot.
“Overjoyed and grateful to God for giving me that opportunity. Hard work always pays; I have always been working for that. I will be happy; that’s always been the target, like I have achieved my target, though the target is 20 goals,” he added.
