It is barely a Week to the much anticipated Scorpions training camp to Portugal where the Gambia National Team will engage on two friendly international warm up matches with Congo (Brazzaville) and Guinea ahead of the resumption of Afcon Qualifiers.
In our series of profiles for the current Scorpions squad, our pendulum this week is swinging on Switzerland born Gambian defender Saidy Janko. The former Manchester United exploit was born to a Gambian father Bakary Janko from Niani Kayaye (CRR) and a Swiss-Italian mother.
Janko is among the few uncapped players invited by Coach Tom Saintfiet for their debut with the Scorpions following his discovery at the Swiss top tier club BSC Young Boys subsequent to his loan move from Portuguese side, FC Porto. Janko was one of the array of youngsters that joined English Premier League giants Manchester United under former Manager David Moyes in the summer of 2013, which earmarked the start of other victorious successes for his youthful career.
He had successes with several other top tier clubs in England, Portugal, France and Scotland taking every opportunity to explore his talent to become a genius in what he does best. Janko 25, represented Switzerland at U-18s and U-21 soon afterwards to become FC Zurich Youth maverick
The latest Gambian born inclusion in the Scorpions provisional lineup is described as a resourceful time when the Gambia currently tops the pole in Group D on 4 points and thus his experience and versatility will be a big booster for the Scorpions Afcon Qualifying campaign as the team is set to announce its name to its first ever continental showpiece in Cameroon 2022. Janko’s pace and agility at either side of the defense would be the best for Striker Assan Ceesay with an enormous onslaught against opponents.
Saidy Janko was one of the players been visited in Switzerland by Coach Tom Saintfiet and GFF President Lamin Kaba Bajo in January 2020 while on a European tour to Gambians plying their trade in the various Leagues in Europe.