By Fatou B Camara
Abuko is an important semi-urban town in the Gambia, not least because it is home to Abuko Nature Reserve – one of the West African nation’s oldest and most frequently visited protected areas.
In addition to its environmental significance, Abuko is also known for producing many distinguished individuals who have made notable contributions to Gambian society. One of such personalities, a proud and illustrious daughter of Abuko, is Sainey S. M’Boge.
Sainey comes from a devout Muslim family which includes seven siblings. Aside from her older brother, she has six siblings- one of which is her twin sister but they did not have a lot to rely on as children, and their situation got no easier as they grew up.
Like many others, Sainey’s route into the football game was not simple at a time when pathways of girls playing football were nowhere near as advanced as they are 13 years.
Chastised by the religious, economic and political landscape, her challenged narratives about patriarchy and male-female behavioural conventions from a young age, a lone female face against ubiquitous discrimination that stemmed from the illegality of women playing football in the Gambia.
Sainey’s though was always going to pursue her dream, a rugged stubbornness overcoming her in her quest to not only forge a career but to find herself as a person and credits her late brother for helping pursue her dream of playing football for a living.
“He believed in me when others didn’t. His support still gives me strength,” she reflects.
Tracing Sainey’s Football Journey
Deeply raised in a religious Sarrahuleh community, Sainey was so engrossed to football in a way that disturbed her parents. Her mother was very protective of her daughter and had other ideas. She tried to steer the young Sainey towards Islamic/Arabic education to help her avoid any football related injury.
Mrs. Salimatou Sissohore, mother of Sainey, initially struggled with her daughter’s desire to play football due to their conservative Serahule community, where girls were rarely encouraged to take such paths.
Despite her early reservations, Sainey’s determination convinced her mother to fully support her passion.
Through Sainey, Salimatou has witnessed how one girl’s determination can challenge cultural expectations and open new doors for others.
As a retired teacher, she always believed in standing behind children’s dreams. “I believe that whatever a child opts for whether it’s education or sports the parents should assist and see that she achieves her aim in that thing.”
Sainey’s talent was visible in her formative years. Little girl and her friends would gather on the grassless pitches to emulate the skills of the established footballers they watched on television. From rabona, backheels, elastico panenka, nutmegs to scooped passes.
She always managed to replicate them either on the field, streets or by playing keepy-uppy to and from school.
It was during one of these days that her immense talent was spotted by a youth coach Dawda Badjie who facilitated her move to Abuko United- a local amateur club. For five seasons, She excelled in the National Women’s League (NWL).
From the earliest days of her playing career, Sainey S. M’Boge distinguished herself not only through her skill on the field but also through her natural leadership. For those who followed her journey closely, her rise to a senior role in football administration seemed almost inevitable.
“She has the character. She’s vocal, commanding and patient. Sainey has always been a leader,” says Omar Cham, one of her former coaches at her childhood club. “It doesn’t surprise me that she reached this level in her career. Even as a player, she stood out as a top personality.”
Many who have known her from her early years recall the quickness of mind and foot as well as the agility and perfect balance which came to define her play at her peak and the aforementioned attributes were visible even in those formative years.
National Team Experience
The dawn of Sainey’s journey to global recognition began when she earned a place in The Gambia’s national team following her participation in Norway Cup, an international youth tournament.
This opportunity was made possible through a project initiated by Sulayman Sowe, affectionately known as Saul Sowe whose aim was to provide international exposure for Gambian boys and girls under the ages of 15 and 16.
The Norway Cup initiative was born out of the Gift Gambia Project, a programme established to support underprivileged children by equipping them with football boots and creating opportunities for them to play and grow through sport.
“I’m a product of the Norway Cup. That’s where everything started for me”. She says, reflecting on the tournament’s impact on her career.
After her impressive displays in Norway and club level, she earned a place in the Gambia’s squad for the 2012 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.
Many insisted that Sainey was still too green for the big time, suggesting that the Gambia coach Buba Jallow avoid the audacious risk of taking the teenager to Azerbaijan, but M’Boge, then known as Sainey Sissohore and serving as the team’s vice captain of the team would go on to quell that apprehension by scoring a historic goal against France.
“I represented The Gambia at the U17 and U20 levels, although I never featured in an official match for the U20s. I also had a brief training camp with the senior women’s team. Each level brought different challenges but wearing the national colours is a feeling I’ll never forget,” she says.
Her first World Cup goal was not only a response to her critics but also a tribute to her mother, who was present in the stands that day. When she found the back of the net, her celebration wasn’t just about the goal, it was a heartfelt sprint toward the woman who had made it all possible.
“My mom believed in me when others doubted,” She recalls. “She wanted to show other mothers what it means to support your girl child’s passion. That’s why it meant everything to see her in the stands. People did not understand why I ran like that. I ran because my mom was watching. That goal was for her.”
In the tapestry of Gambian women’s football, few voices echo as powerful as that of Penda Bah another trailblazer who etched her name in history by scoring The Gambia’s first-ever goal in FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
That achievement alone is monumental but it is her unbreakable bond with Sainey S. M’Boge that breathes deeper meaning into the legacy they built together. To Penda, Sainey was not just a teammate, she is a sister, a mentor and a guardian angel.
“Sainey M’Boge was my everything. She was the only one who could tell me the truth, even when it hurt and to anyone. She stood up for me when no one else did. She was my role model long before I ever shared a pitch with her.”
Penda goes on to recall how Sainey gave up her own playing career not out of necessity but out of purpose.
“She left the game not because she had to but because she chose to fight for us as a women’s football coordinator. And believe me when I say this, Sainey could still outplay many of the young players today. She’s that good.”
Perhaps the most touching part of Penda’s reflection is Sainey’s belief in education. Even in the midst of tournaments, she made sure her teammates stayed focused on their academics.
“She would say, ‘Penda, go to school because she knew football and education can go hand in hand. And today, I can speak confidently in public because of her motivation.”
Football administration
In 2015, M’Boge was appointed Senior Women’s Football Coordinator at the Gambia Football Federation (GFF).
What followed was a transformation of the women’s game in the country. She launched national youth leagues, trained coaches, empowered female administrators and coordinated international team activities. But her work wasn’t just administrative it was deeply personal.
“I knew what it felt like to have no boots, no training ground and no crowd. Because of this I fought hard to be able to give them courage and the necessary support they need in order to be hungrier in the game” she says.
Sainey played a central role in restructuring youth teams like the U-15 girl’s football program which led to U-17 girl’s development. She has championed the development of women’s football in the country.
From grassroots awareness to launching a youth league, she worked tirelessly to give young girls what she never had, an open door and a clear path.
She first served as a FIFA Live Your Goals Ambassador and after a year, she took over the program, expanding it for the remaining three years of its four-year cycle and making it even bigger and better. This became the foundation of her journey with the GFF in advancing girls’ football nationwide.
These were major milestones in women’s football development during her time with the federation.
In 2019, she made history as the first woman in The Gambia to be appointed Chef de Mission, leading the national delegation to the African Beach Games in Sal, Cape Verde. She stood tall in a sea of men not as an exception but as an example.
But leadership came with resistance. Despite her dedication, she felt unsupported and mistrusted in her final months at GFF.
“I felt like a threat. Like my efforts weren’t valued anymore,” she admits.
Torn between her duty and her dignity, she made the painful decision to resign not as a failure but as an act of growth and courage.
Move to Denmark
When Sainey S M’Boge moved to Denmark after being appointed as a player care officer, she entered not just a new country but a new kind of challenge, one shaped by cultural contrast, silence and scrutiny.
“As a Black Muslim woman in a male-dominated and culturally different environment, there were stares, assumptions and sometimes complete silence,” she reflects. “But I held onto my values, kept my head high and stayed focused on the game.”
In a country that champions gender equality and equity, Sainey quickly learned that representation and carried weight not just as an individual but as a symbol of where she came from.
“You learn to represent more than yourself, your background, your faith, your culture and that makes you stronger,” she says. “It’s never easy but it’s never impossible. People say what a man can do, a woman can do but beyond that, we do it with resilience. I walk into every room with my faith, my skill and my mind-set. Talent alone doesn’t earn you your place but discipline and presence do. So when you’re the only woman in the room, you make sure they remember you.”
In October 2024, Danish club AC Horsens appointed Sainey as Player Care Officer, a role she earned on merit though it began with a simple recommendation. Her husband, recruited by the club, saw in her the exact kind of leadership and empathy the team needed. So when he recommended her to them, then the club agreed.
Matarr M’Boge, husband to Sainey is a passionate and accomplished football coach whose achievements speak volumes.
He joined the Gambia Football Federation (GFF) in 2015 serving in multiple roles. He served as head coach of the U-17 team from 2015 2017, U-20 2017–2022 and U-23 Head Coach 2021–2022. In 2024, he transitioned to Europe, joining AC Horsens in Denmark as a Transition Coach.
“When I recommended Sainey for the Player Care role at AC Horsens, it was because I saw qualities in her that go far beyond what is the usual standard in football,” Matarr States.
As her husband, Matarr has observed the dedication Sainey puts into both her career and her family. He notes that balancing motherhood, marriage and a demanding role in football is never easy, especially in a global and male-dominated space. That is why he strives to support her by creating an environment where she can focus on her goals without guilt or pressure.
At Horsens, Sainey supports international players especially Africans helping them settle, adjust and thrive in a foreign environment that can feel distant and isolating.
In a football industry often obsessed with qualifications and credentials, her husband, Matarr believes that too many people overlook the human element — the subtle qualities that shape team culture and cohesion.
“Sainey brings those qualities effortlessly,” he says. “She creates a space where people feel seen, respected and empowered from players to coaches. I knew she would make a massive impact at Horsens and she has.”
Sainey’s Mission Beyond the Pitch
Today, with over a dozen professional certifications including the FIFA Safeguarding Diploma, CAF Women Instructor credentials and her participation in the UEFA Women in Leadership Programme, Sainey Sissohore M’Boge stands firmly at the forefront of global football conversations. But despite her growing international profile, her heart remains deeply rooted in Gambia.
“I want to be who I never had,” she says. Whether seated in a modest office at the Gambia Football Federation or speaking to young girls in rural schools, her message is always the same.
“You are enough. Your story matters. Football is not just for boys.” She encourages girls to dream boldly but reminds them that education and integrity are non-negotiable.
“Believe in yourself, stay educated and protect your integrity. Education means nothing if it’s not used to inspire change”. She urges.
For M’Boge, integrity is sacred.
“That’s why many can’t hold on to it because it’s priceless,” she states , without hesitation.
Today, Sainey is more than a football administrator. She is a wife, a proud mother of two boys, a mentor and a symbol of what is possible when faith, purpose and resilience collide.
She continues to chase her dream of becoming one of the world’s leading figures in football administration with a particular passion for giving back to women’s football in Africa and beyond.
“In five years, I see myself coaching and mentoring young girls, helping them grow, guiding them to believe in themselves and making the game better and better,” she shares.
Sainey has already structured her own team, Kambeng Girls Academy which is steadily growing. One of its players Yafama, was selected for The Gambia’s U-15 Girls National Team that participated in the Ghana School Championships.
Through this academy, she continues to give back to her community by helping young girls develop and achieve more than she ever could and she wants to take this to the highest level.
“I want to open doors, especially in places like Abuko. I dream of building a stronger academy that focuses on both football and education”
To Sainey giving back isn’t just a dream, it’s a responsibility. And if anyone questions her why, the answer is simple.
“I was just a little girl with a left foot and a big dream. Now, I help girls who were once like me, girls who believe they too belong to this game.” she says.
