By Mustapha Jallow
Makaira Tambedou, a Real de Banjul defender, announced his return to the club after his recovery. He expressed how grateful he was to be back and ready to serve the City Boys, who supported his recovery from the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury he suffered.
The center-back, who has now fully recovered from the ACL injury he suffered in 2021, had a successful loan spell at Elite United last season before returning fully fit to play for Real de Banjul, where he seems to have formed a solid partnership with David Sambou at the heart of the defense, as the two marshaled the champions’ back-line with two consecutive clean sheets in two league matches.
Speaking to club media after two outstanding outings for the City Boys, the tall, commanding, and powerful center said he is pleased to be back playing for the club he feels indebted to.
“I feel great to be back playing for Real de Banjul, a club that I can say is the reason why I’m able to play again by helping me do my operation on my knee, which was an ACL, so the club deserves my service and I’m willing to be part of the team to defend the championship InshAllah (God willing) with all my heart,” Tambedou said.
Makaira feels the clean sheets recorded after the two games are no flukes and deserves praise for them. He said: “The victories with clean sheets show how united we are as defenders and how determined we’re during the training because, as the coach will say, his weakness is the defenders, which is a motivational word for us to work hard as a team. So, we hope we continue working extra hard with the help of the gaffer behind how we play as a back four.”
He said going on loan to Elite United last season helped build his confidence and made him ready to return to Real de Banjul: “I never regret going on loan and even more to a second division team, which is Elite United, a club that helps me build my confidence back with the help of the coaches there who had the belief in me. Everything paid off, and the loan move was my perfect plan. So I am good to go as I’m Real For Real!”
Head Coach Ebrima Jatta commented on Makaira Tambedou’s return: “When I came to Real de Banjul, he was at home nursing his injury but occasionally popped up from the training ground. He returned last season when he recovered but was sent on loan at Elite United. I couldn’t watch him play during his loan at Elite United. So he came back (to Real de Banjul) when I was the head coach, and I was still thinking if he could make the team.”
Coach Jatta added: “I even considered sending him back on loan, but as we progressed into the preseason, I could see certain qualities in him, which I like my defenders to put up in games. In the last days before the squad registration, I finally decided that Makaira would stay with David Sambou as a pair. But anytime I go home, I doubt they can make it, but I’m happy they’re proving me wrong.”
“I pray that his current form continues and may Allah the Almighty protect him from an injury that he passed through because it was a severe injury that if he wasn’t strong and committed to his football career, by now he would’ve been home. Makaira can tackle and do anything without thinking of that injury; he put that injury at the back. I highly regard Makaira, so I believe the sky is the limit as a team with the rest of the technicians. So, I would like to say thank you very much, Makaira, for the performances,” added Jatta.
