10 years challenge -Omar Jasseh Wattaman
The last time I watch Wattaman was at the Serekunda East mini stadium, during a nawettan final bewteen Maccasa verus Medina FC. Wattaman’s introduction was marred with controversy, he believed that the Medina goalkeeper Toldo’s water bottle was having a juju . He waited till they had a corner kick and snatch away the bottle and throw it to the fans. Goals followed the next minutes and wattaman introduced himself to Maccasa and years that followed . Its long since Serekunda East saw the type of Wattamans Unique talent.
The name wattaman came from Juventus, “When i was a kid I do follow the team to Latrikunda primary school because I always wanted to be around them. During halftime I do bring water for them and that’s how the name came about”. Wattaman grew up admiring and idolizing Arthur Gomez, whose speed and taking on defenders were similar. He was also a big fan of Ous Jallow and Toubabo.
Wattaman has only played for his boyhood team Maccasa and went on to play divisional football with Samger FC . With Maccasa he won league cups, knockout cups and super cups both as a player and a captain. He played for Samger FC from third division to their promotion to the elite league , they finished second and wattaman would go on to represent the Gambia U17. He played for the U17 that qualified for South Africa but a muscle injury made his stint with the U20 setup short.
Wattaman’s memorable games include Maccasa v Leeds, they needed a win and he assisted the winning goal with a back heel pass. Another game was between Brikama v Serekunda East, Zonals championship. They drew Banjul and needed a win and people thought it was impossible. During the last 25 minutes Wattaman created three goals, the fullback marking him would later be named Wattaman. Winning the zonals came with a price , he faced one of the best Bakau zonal teams featuring Demba Sanyang, Daddy Gai , Bierhoff just to name a few. Wattaman was among those who dominated the game.
A dream of the Premier League or Championship wouldn’t be ruled out for a young man from Latrikunda. One thing that hunt him in UK was the work permit. Wattaman disclosed that all the clubs he trained with offered him contracts. Leeds united where he met Mancity Danny Rose and Fabian Delph , at Crystal palace he trained together with Wilfred Zaha and Clyne.
Premier league failures didn’t stop wattaman from knocking on the doors of USA. After his first stint with Toronoto, Wattaman travelled to Germany, Sweden, Turkey and Finland. In bewteen all these, he went back to play for Maccasa and the Serekunda east zonal team in 2009. Deep down in me, I think Wattaman was robbed of a life time opportunity to join the likes of Tony Yeboah, Kanu , Okocha and Adebayor. However, Wattaman would later become the youngest Gambian ever to be drafted in the MLS when he signed for San Jose Earthquake.
Wattaman was a star, the hype was around him, he was a gifted player , pacy and can take on any full-back on his best days. Yaya Bajo said “Wattaman can decide a game, thats where he think players are different , because he could recall wattaman single handedly won games. Gareth Bale and Modric , De Bryune were few players that saw a great talent in Wattaman and thought the Samger boy could have been the next big star.
Bad and greedy agents have caused lots of damages in Wattaman’s carrier, he’s been everywhere. He described some of the agents he had encountered as greedy. “I was talented and could do anything on the field, most thought I would play for Barcelona or other big teams”. Norway’s Molde wanted to Signed Wattaman , agents came from Belgium and Denmark but the deal never went through.
Jakaria Bah couldn’t agree better on what Wattaman went through he recalled between 2002- 2011. The gambia had a great pool of talents. The likes of Bura Culture, Sheriff Samba(Gamtel). He continued to say the gambia haven’t produced those calibre of players, that generation were matured. Zakaria concluded that the Gambia still haven’t produced the breed of Wattaman’s calibre, because Wattaman and the Nyassi brothers were pacy.
Wattaman is not giving up on his dreams, “Am working hard, if i play they will recognize my talent. I was badly managed, didn’t get much help and I believe in God and am confident he will pay me the price of the patience I endured. I didn’t lose my path and thankful enough I retain my health. Lots of people believe in me and am chasing my dreams”.
Wattaman is not blaming anybody” when I used to come to the park before, I used to come with six people but now am lonely. I left the Gambia in 2006 because of football. Gambians know me because of football . Am a fighter , am independent and have a good heart, there will surely be a way out. Am working with people who trust me.
Ousman Jallow , lamin Touray ( Mola), Mal Ceesay and Omar Buhar are the few people Wattaman is grateful to. He recalled and testified that both Ous Jallow and Mola didn’t mind if wattaman is playing or not they supported me. Ous Jallow paid a call when wattaman came to Turkey and gave Saviola €1000. He said Omar Buhar is one of the nicest persons he ever came across. He described him as a man who played different roles in difficult paths. Mal ceesay opened the gateway for Finland, when Wattaman was in Sweden , he invited him in their club and was later given a contract.
Finally on our ten years challenge, Wattaman weighs on Gambia’s football crises” football should be run by those who played it and our ex-players have a plight to it, Ebou Sillah, Pa Dembo Touray and the rest. Football is about who you know and these players have played for ten years or more and look at their former players they are the ones coaching now. They don’t want to be presidents: some can be ambassadors. I once came across a picture of Kaba Bajo and Jay Jay Okocha, its because the status Jay Jay have in football. The federation need the ex players , because such calibre will only change the philosophy. None in the federation has resigned , its merry go round, same old faces.
