Gambian youngster Yankuba Minteh, 18, has been promoted to the Odense Boldklub first team after his exceptional development within the youth ranks in the two and half months since he joined the youth setup of the Danish club.
The Bakoteh born Minteh joined OB in August this year and assigned to the Club’s Academy where he got off to a lightning start by scoring in his first two starts. He had a dream debut against FC Copenhagen in the Superliga when he scored the decisive goal in a 2-1 win over the champions. He then started the next three games in October and provided two assists. Due to this blistering start to life as a professional, the Bakoteh United Football Academy graduate and ex-Steve Biko loanee has been promoted to the first team today.
“Yankuba is a young player with great potential and everyone can see he has spectacular skills. The key to success in recruitment is to adapt the player to the environment in which he will perform and that adaptation has been quicker than we could have hoped for, but the decision to make him a permanent part of the first team is based on what he has achieved in training and in matches,” OB’s Director of Football Bjorn Wesstrom told the Club’s official website.
“Great praise must go to Bakary Bojang, who has recommended Yankuba to OB and acts as the player’s mentor in everyday life. In addition, Tonny Hermansen and his staff have done a good job with Yankuba, the times he visited the club before he permanently moved here this summer. Now we look forward to continuing the development and working hard together to create good results for OB.”
In line with OB tradition, Minteh will has now been given a first team squad number and will dorn the 30. “I’m extremely happy to become a regular part of the first team. I have been treated very well by everyone at the club since the first day I came to Odense, and I am very grateful for this opportunity. I will work hard to fulfil my [dreams], the team’s and the fans’ dreams,” Yankuba said as quoted by the Club’s official website.
Tonny Hermansen, the Odense Academy Coach said: “The story of Yankuba’s journey to a life as a professional footballer in Odense Football Club has been unique. Already at first glance we could see that he had some top skills, but it was also clear that there were some areas where he needed to improve. I’m proud and happy that Yankuba will now be a permanent part of the super league squad, and we look forward to more matches where he shows off his great talent.”
