Saintfiet Expresses Pride Over Barrow’s Award Nomination

Congratulations continue to pour in for the Atalanta forward and Gambian international Musa Barrow following his nomination by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the Award of CAF Youth Player of the Year 2019.

The latest message of pride and happiness is been dispatched by Scorpions Coach Tom Saintfiet under whose reign Musa is been monitored and eventually shortlisted for the prestigious Youth Award.

“I am very happy and proud that Musa is been nominated and i think it is always good to see Gambian players been rewarded and respected in international football”. He said Musa deserved the nomination hence his talent as a young player. “I think the Gambia even has more players despite been a small country, we can achieve more than this”. Saintfiet said the nomination of Musa is a very important note for the country and it shows that the Gambia has talents and “i think he can even be chosen for the final Award”.

Barrow was earlier congratulated by the GFF President Lamin Kaba Bajo,  saying “We are so elated with his shortlisting and further congratulate him for the nomination while we do hope and pray that he wins the Award”. He said the star player is a fan favorite who dedicates so much for the National team and ” i have no doubt that he would put broad smiles on our faces for the final shortlist to the Awards”.

The Atalanta forward is the first Gambian player to be nominated by CAF for the Award of Youth Player of the Year. Barrow is an integral member of the Gambia National Team (Scorpions), returned to his Serie A side two weeks ago following Gambia’s two all draw to the DR Congo in Banjul in Match Day Two of Afcon Qualifier where he again helped the Scorpions to reach to the summit of Group D on 4 points.
Barrow played in both of the Scorpions’ engagements where the Gambia first opened her account away to Angola in a 3-1 win over the Palancas Negras before drawing 2-2 at home to the Leopards of the DR Congo.

Barrow joined Atalanta in 2016 from Hawks FC where he played domestic League, and in his first appearance with the Serie A youth side, he scored two goals from midfield where he has been previously positioned. He later joined the first team squad in 2018 after scoring 19 goals in 15 games for the Reserved side. Barrow made his professional debut with Atalanta in a 1–0 loss to Juventus in the Copa Italia in 2018 before his  Serie A debut in a 1–1 tie with Crotone on 10 February 2018. He featured for Atalanta again on 13th 2018 in an 0–0 home draw to Inter Milan.

Barrow in June 2018, scored the only goal for the Gambia U-23 in a 1–0 friendly win over Morocco in Banjul. He made his debut for the Senior National Team (Scorpions) in a 1-1 draw at home in the 2018 Afcon Qualifiers with Algeria.

The CAF Awards take place in January 2020