Mansary hoping to prove himself

WHEN Mamoud Mansaray moved to Ireland 18 months ago from Sierra Leone, he could not have imagined that he would soon be playing League of Ireland football.

Two weeks ago, Mansaray signed for First Division side Athlone Town.

Plying his trade with local side Calry Bohemians this season, Mansaray has scored 12 goals since the season began in September.

It has always been his dream to be a professional footballer.

Mamoud left his home country for a better life in Ireland. He was originally living in Drogheda, before finding a place in Globe House, where he has been living ever since.

For Mamoud, following his dream of being a professional footballer was proving to be difficult in Sierra Leone.

“I used to play in Sierra Leone, but there was no good opportunities for me,” he told The Sligo Champion.

He began playing astro weekly in Sligo, with games organised by Dave O’Hara.

It became clear almost immediately to Dave, and those he was playing astro with, that Mamoud had talent.

“I told Dave that I want to be a professional footballer,” he said.

“He talked to people he knew because he knew I wanted to be a footballer.”

He trained with the Sligo Rovers under 19s, but could not play as he was overage.

Mamoud turned to junior football and signed for local side MCR. Ahead of the 2019/2020 season, he made the switch to Calry Bohs, where it is clear that he was enjoying his football.

He knew he would have to work hard to pursue a career in football.

He continued playing astro weekly along with training with MCR.

He received a work permit and got a job working in a hotel locally.

Dave O’Hara continued to put in good words about Mamoud to see if the could help him pursue his dream.

Contact was made with Athlone Town, who agreed to take Mamoud on trial to see what he could do.

He impressed on trial with the midlands club, and scored against St. Patrick’s Athletic in a pre-season friendly.

Athlone manager Adrian Carberry liked what he saw and made the decision to offer the 22-year-old a contract.

There won’t be a huge pay cheque for Mansaray, but he is not overly concerned about that just yet.

“I really want to prove myself now in the League of Ireland,” he said, and he will grasp the opportunity with both hands.

Mamoud has to travel to Athlone via public transport, which isn’t easy.

“I spend my own money getting the bus to Athlone and I stay with a friend in Dublin after training and I come to Sligo the next morning for work,” he said.

He is hoping that he will not be left out of pocket for too long as a result of paying his own way to training.

But, he is hopeful that it will all be worth it in the end.

“I’ll do it to take the chance,” he said, with hope.

Sligo has become his home, but if he is to keep up the travelling to Athlone, he will consider leaving to live closer to Athlone.

“I am trying to move to the Athlone Refugee Centre, because it will be easier, but I am waiting for that to happen,” he said.

He has made a lot of friends here in Sligo, he said, where he has been welcomed with open arms.

This is the start of a dream for Mamoud Mansaray, and he is hoping to keep pursuing it, no matter what it takes.