Yankuba

Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh’s (yahn-KOO-buh MIN-tay) fast rise to the Premier League is proof that expertise is aware of no boundaries, particularly when mixed with laborious work and tenacious willpower.

For Minteh, soccer wasn’t only a ardour, it was the gateway to a greater life for himself and his household.

Minteh’s love for soccer started within the streets of Bakoteh, a district in Serekunda, the biggest metropolis in The Gambia. He honed his expertise at Bakoteh United Soccer Academy earlier than transferring on to play for Steve Biko FC, the place he began gaining nationwide consideration.

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In 2022, Minteh moved to Europe to play for Denmark’s Odense BK, marking the beginning of his skilled soccer journey in Europe. After only one season at OB, the Premier League got here calling – he joined Newcastle in the summertime of 2023, and was instantly loaned to Feyenoord within the Netherlands, the place he had a standout season, making 37 appearances in all competitions.

Now, at simply 20 years outdated, Minteh is in his first season with Brighton & Hove Albion, after he joined for a $38 million switch payment and signed a five-year contract with the membership final July.

Within the dialog under, a part of NBC Sports activities’ collection, Minteh displays on his life in The Gambia, explaining how the challenges his household confronted left him with no different choice however to succeed.

He additionally discusses the importance of his early accomplishments, and the way he is developed as a participant in his first season with the Seagulls. Minteh, who made his debut for The Gambia’s senior nationwide crew – the Scorpions – in 2023, additionally displays on his time with the crew and presents recommendation to the following technology of gamers.

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*This interview has been edited for size and readability.

Your rise to the Premier League has been unimaginable, particularly at simply 20 years outdated. Lots of people see your success now, however not everybody is aware of the place you got here from. The truth is, your mother has mentioned “Yankuba is the one who lifted us out of poverty.”

Are you able to share what life was like for you in The Gambia and what your loved ones’s scenario was like earlier than all of this?

Yankuba Minteh: It was actually laborious for my mother and father. My mother bought greens out there, and my dad labored as a chef in a lodge. It was actually, actually powerful for them. I made a decision to drop out of college to make soccer my ardour and the factor which may take my mother and father out of poverty.

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It looks as if you’ve at all times had this imaginative and prescient that you’d be knowledgeable footballer. As a child, you’ll inform your mother that you’d present for her in the future and even purchase her a house. So, when did that dream and fervour first begin?

Minteh: I bear in mind there was a scenario that occurred once I was at house. The owner requested my dad to pay the hire however my dad did not have cash. It was late — round 3 AM — however I wasn’t sleeping as a result of I may hear the whole lot that they have been saying.

That is the place the whole lot began. I began pondering that I may make one thing out of soccer which may change my father or mother’s lives. I did not just like the scenario they have been in. Folks have been bullying them due to their poverty. I made a decision to step [up] and attempt to take them out of poverty.

Newcastle United v Brighton & Hove Albion – Emirates FA Cup Fifth Spherical

You really liked soccer a lot that you simply used to skip faculty simply to play, and finally you dropped out. At what level did you imagine you can really make it, and was it troublesome to persuade your loved ones that this was what you have been speculated to be doing?

Minteh: I feel on the age of 10 or 11. I had a coach who instructed me that if I stored taking part in soccer, I may make it out as a result of I had the potential to be knowledgeable soccer participant in the future and will assist my mother and father. That is the place the whole lot began.

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I instructed my mother I needed to drop out of college, however she insisted that I needed to go as a result of, in Africa, they imagine schooling is the important thing to the whole lot in order for you success sooner or later. However for me, I wasn’t pondering like that. I knew soccer was the factor that would change my life. It’s my ardour, and I needed to do it— not only for enjoyable, however to play for my household.

Brighton & Hove Albion v Ipswich City – Premier League – American Specific Stadium

I do know The Gambia nonetheless has massive goals of creating an affect on the worldwide stage, however what does soccer imply to the nation?

Minteh: Soccer means quite a bit to the nation. I feel it is the most important factor within the nation! Everyone talks about it and actually, actually loves soccer. Each child needs to be knowledgeable [footballer] in The Gambia.

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In 2021, when The Gambia made its first AFCON look, you have been one of many followers crowding the bus, excited to help the crew. Now, you get to play for the Scorpions. How does that make you are feeling, and what sort of help do you obtain from Gambians?

Minteh: It actually, actually makes me pleased. Being one of many followers reveals the [next] technology that the whole lot is feasible — nothing is not possible in life. You generally is a fan in the future, and the following day, you’re [part] of the crew on the bus. It actually motivates me to maintain working more durable as a result of I do know I can obtain something I would like in life. If it’s God’s will, you’ll be able to obtain something you need in the event you maintain working laborious.

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The nation celebrates you. I’ve heard that they name you “The Gambian Messi”. How particular is it for your loved ones to see your journey and your success?

Minteh: For my mother and father, I feel they’re at all times pleased about it. Generally they even cry when speaking about me. It makes them emotional. [My journey] was what that took them out of poverty, and they’re at all times pleased to listen to good issues about me. Generally they hear issues I don’t even learn about, and so they name me to ask me about it. They’re at all times following me.

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How have you ever developed as a participant since becoming a member of the Premier League?

Minteh: I’ll say it is not straightforward, however I am [learning] the system little by little. It is a new period for me and a brand new membership. I must be taught from the folks [around me], which I am doing, so I am getting [the hang of it] little by little.

Manchester Metropolis FC v Brighton & Hove Albion FC – Premier League

At simply 20 years outdated, you’ve got skilled so many fast modifications in your life. What’s been essentially the most difficult a part of this journey?

Minteh: Essentially the most difficult half was once I was in The Gambia and the owner [told] my dad to pay the hire or get out of the home. That was essentially the most difficult half for me as a result of, as a child, I used to be pondering, “What can I do to take them out of this case?” I knew I needed to do one thing with my life simply to alter the household scenario.

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You’ve achieved the whole lot you mentioned you’ll thus far. You mentioned you’d purchase your mother a home, and you probably did. Once you first moved to Europe, you mentioned you’d spend only one season within the Danish league earlier than getting consideration from larger groups, and you probably did. What do your accomplishments imply to you?

Minteh: It means quite a bit to me as a result of I do know what I can do. When my agent first introduced me to Denmark to check out, it did not go properly as a result of it was throughout the winter. I had to return to The Gambia and once I got here again in the summertime, that is once I began exhibiting them what I may do. They gave me a contract, and I instructed my agent, “I am not going to remain right here for multiple 12 months.” I mentioned “I promise you, if I play right here for one 12 months, I am out of right here.” That occurred, and I used to be actually pleased and pleased with it.

Fulham FC v Brighton & Hove Albion FC – Premier League

The place does this confidence in your self come from?

Minteh: My academy coach, Saikou Joof. He, together with a few of the many coaches that I’ve labored with, [instilled] this motivation in my head that if I maintain working laborious, I will make it, and I believed in that. If you happen to work laborious, you can also make one thing out of your life.

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Did you ever have doubts alongside the journey?

Minteh: I by no means had any doubts as a result of I knew the [potential] I had.

Brighton & Hove Albion FC v Chelsea FC – Premier League

What would you like younger footballers in The Gambia to be taught out of your journey?

Minteh: Focus in your life, and in the event you’re a soccer participant, you’ll want to work laborious. Earlier than, I educated thrice a day — within the morning, afternoon, and night time. I did not have any time to waste as a result of my household’s scenario pushed me to do it. Now, I am seeing the advantages. Now, I’ve extra money for my household. It is advisable to work laborious. Nothing comes straightforward. Expertise will not take you anyplace; you’ll want to actually work laborious if you wish to have success in the long run.

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I am a Muslim. I additionally imagine in God. I pray 5 instances a day, day by day. I imagine that nothing can work with out God.

Editor’s Be aware:  is a collection dedicated to highlighting the expertise and tales from the African continent and its diaspora. African tales are price telling, and the tradition—all the languages, tribes, and traditions—is price celebrating. Embedded in these narratives is a profound testomony to the diligence, self-discipline, and work ethic deeply ingrained in African heritage. Whether or not born on the continent or dispersed throughout the globe, the contributions of those tales to society resound uniquely, by the use of Africa.