Retired captain, Scorpions
By Buba Gagigo
The Minister of Youth & Sports, Bakary Y. Badjie believes that the retired captain of the Scorpions, Pa Modou Jagne can transform himself into a manager and win the AFCON trophy for Gambia someday, as Aliou Cisse did for Senegal on Sunday.
“Pa Modou as you retire, we want to say your role in football is not just to be a player. There is a lot that you can do. You have been a player, you have been a leader but you can transform yourself into a manager. You can transform yourself into anything, in the technical side of our national team or any of our teams. But you can equally have the opportunity to do the same thing outside wherever you want to be. As recent as yesterday (Sunday), Senegal won the AFCON for the first time and who won the trophy for them? A former national team player. So the same thing can be done with you. In the next five years or six years you can be the next Alieu Cisse,” the Minister of Youth and Sports Bakary Y. Badjie added
Minister Badjie made the remarks following the legendary Gambian Captain, Pa Modou Jagne’s announcement of his retirement from the national team at a cocktail party organised by the Gambia Football Federation at the FIFA Goal Project in Yundum.
Jagne’s announcement was witnessed by the officials of the Gambia Football Federation, former Gambian players, among others.
“I have retired from the National team but I will not leave you. I will do whatever I can to help you. I will never leave Gambian football. I have just retired from playing football but I will be together with them in everything. If you need me anytime for the affairs of the national team, I am ready. I am not away, I’m not going anywhere,” Pa Modou Jagne announced.
The retired captain also announced handing over the captain band to the assistant captain, Omar Colley, a Gambian International who plays for the Samdoria in the Serie A.
“I am very happy. I am handing the captain band to Omar Colley to continue, because I know his qualities and I know the person he is. He can lead the team very well,” Jagne assured.
Pa Modou Jagne retired at 32 and he would never be forgotten by Gambian football lovers for representing the country for 17 years.
He was part of the Gambia’s team that won the Africa U-17 tournament in 2005 which later played in FIFA U-17 World Cup 2005 that defeated Brazil and Qatar, before being knocked out by the Netherlands.
Pa also played in the Gambia’s U-20 team that won bronze in 2007 African U-20 tournament and participated in FIFA U-20 World Cup 2007; and recently captained Gambia at the AFCON 2021 in Cameroon.
Jagne may not be the best Gambian footballer but he would be remembered as the captain of the Scorpions at their maiden AFCON appearance.
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