By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh
In The Gambia, football is a fever that surges through dusty streets under a blistering sun, yet dreams of glory often fade in the harsh light of reality. The First Division League, the heart of Gambian football, is an amateur crucible where players like Salim Ceesay, Hawks FC’s midfield maestro, chase fleeting triumphs on weathered pitches. Despite the Gambia Football Federation’s long promises to professionalize the league, players earn wages that might cover a week’s meals but little else and professional contracts abroad a distant mirage for most. Amid this struggle, Salim, a 2025 Medical Laboratory Science graduate from the American International University (AIUWA), weaves magic on the pitch and in the lab at Sukuta Health Centre. A rare Gambian footballer with a degree, he’s a beacon, daring a nation to dream beyond the goalposts. His degree is a rebellion against a system that starves ambition.
Barefoot Beginnings, Unyielding Ambition
Sanchaba’s sun-scorched streets were Salim’s first arena, where barefoot boys chased ragtag balls with boundless joy. “Football was my heartbeat,” he says, his voice soft with nostalgia. “Rain or shine, we played for love.” His talent shone early, earning him a spot in Wallidan FC’s youth academy, a feeder to the their senior team. Now at Hawks FC, a First Division powerhouse, his velvet passes and calm command outwit defenders like a chess grandmaster. Yet, in a league where match bonuses might cover a week’s meals but little else, Salim’s ambition burns brighter than the odds.
The Gambian First Division, with its 16 teams and passionate fans, is a cultural cornerstone, but its amateur status unchanged despite the Federation’s pledges offers little security. Only a few players juggle side jobs, and international scouts rarely visit the country. For Salim, a high school match became a turning point. A teammate’s injury, with no medic on hand, left the crowd pleading for help. “We were stranded,” Salim recalls, his tone resolute. “I saw sports and health collide.” That moment sparked a quest beyond the pitch, leading him from Kotu Senior Secondary School to AIUWA, where he earned a BSc with honors in 2025, a feat fewer than 5% of Gambian footballers achieve, as the desire to play football pressures force many to abandon education.
Grit on the Pitch, Precision in the Lab
Salim’s life is a relentless dance between turf and test tubes. “Dawn training with Hawks, daytime lectures, midnight study forged me,” he says. The First Division’s grueling schedule, weekend matches, midweek practices, and no off-season demands endurance, mirrored in his lab work at Sukuta Health Centre. There, his hands, once threading passes through Real de Banjul’s defense, now analyze samples with surgical care. “The pitch teaches you to push past exhaustion,” he says. “The lab demands the same.”
AIUWA’s first year tested Salim’s resolve, with assignments looming like defenders and exams striking like penalties. “I was nearly broken,” he confesses. “But football drills taught me: one more step.” His parents, unwavering supporters, fueled both dreams. “They never asked me to choose,” he says, gratitude in his voice. In a league where players rarely pursue higher education, Salim’s degree is a rebellion against a system that starves ambition.
A Hero for Gambia’s Dreamers
Salim’s story is a clarion call to Gambian youth, who watch First Division stars battle for fleeting glory. “Don’t pick one dream,” he urges. “Be an athlete, a scholar; be both.” In a nation where football’s allure overshadows the league’s meager rewards, his dual path inspires. He envisions a Gambia with professionalized leagues, world-class pitches, and thriving clinics. “Every child deserves to play, learn, and heal,” he insists.
The First Division’s amateur status, unchanged since the 1960s, limits prospects. The Federation’s unfulfilled promises, professional contracts, and better facilities leave players like Salim to forge their own paths. His fusion of top-flight football and a degree makes him an icon, defying a system that offers little security. “Football gave me purpose,” he says, “but education gave me power.”
A Legacy Beyond the Final Whistle
Salim dreams of international leagues, where talent meets reward, and a master’s degree to deepen his impact. “I’ll keep pushing,” he says, a spark in his eye. To young dreamers, his words are fire: “Chase every passion. Never quit.” His story demands change: fund the First Division, create scholarships for athlete-scholars, and build pathways for dreams to soar. In a land where football reigns but opportunity falters, Salim Ceesay is crafting a legacy that defies gravity, proving that heart and hustle can rewrite a nation’s future.
