NAME: Alieu Darbo
AGE: 21 years
BORN IN: Angered (Hammarkullen)
FAMILY: Two sisters, Mom and Dad
POSITION: winger / Forward
CURRENT CLUB: GNK Dinamo Zagreb
PREVIOUS CLUBS: Orgryte IS, Le Mans FC, Wigan Athletic

21-year-old Alieu Darbo's the guy who can play both offense and Winger. He is also a citizen both in Sweden and in The Gambia, which has given him the opportunity to play in the Gambian national team. He has a tough 2012 behind them, but is now completely focused on making 2013 SEAT years ...


HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR INTEREST IN FOOTBALL?
I have always been very passionate and loved football. But it is different now ... Now it's more of a job than it is a hobby, but I love the sport very much.

HOW DID THE ONE THAT JUST FOOTBALL WAS SUCH A BIG PART OF YOUR LIFE?
I basically have always played. It started at a very young age, and then it became more and more serious as and when I turned 13, I started playing for Orgryte IS (ÖIS). Then I began to seriously train very much on their own and strive to become better and better.

IS THERE ANY PERSON WHO HAS BEEN EXTRA IMPORTANT AND INSPIRING FOR YOU WHEN IT COMES TO THE SPORT?
My dad and my older sister clearly. Then, even myself. I find that I constantly inspires me. Because despite everything I've been through, I've never given up. Had it been anyone else who got to experience it all so had the person may no longer play.

TELL U.S. A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR CHILDHOOD AND HOW YOUR FOOTBALL INTEREST STARTS?


I'm like I said football at an early age. Even when I lived in The Gambia (8-11 years, editor's note.), I played a lot, and loved it. When then came back to Sweden so I shifted between Marie Holm BOIK and Gunnilse IS before I finally moved over to ÖIS. Meanwhile in ÖIS I developed a lot and be sure to constantly improving any me. As I said earlier, I trained a lot on their own, in addition to the club demanded of me. It could be anything from intervals to technical exercises. The whole time I had his sights on becoming better. 2009 when I was 16 years old, so I was discovered by a scout from Le Mans FC. A club who played in France's top division. I moved to France and made the A-lagsdebut when I turned 18. By that time, I also had time to represent The Gambia in the U17 World Cup and also played for the U20 and U23 national teams.

YOU LEFT SWEDEN EARLY AND NOW YOU LIVE ABROAD AGAIN.
MISS YOU GOTHENBURG?
No

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST SETBACK IN LIFE OR ON YOUR WAY
TOWARDS SUCCESS?
My worst adversity, or my worst year was obviously last year. Suffering from a broken kneecap and having to undergo two operations was not fun. And then to hear the doctors say that I might never again be able to play football again made me really feel better. It was a very difficult situation for me. A broken kneecap is nothing to joke with, it took a long rehabilitation and people do not understand what I went through. On top of this was a journalist in the media lied about not writing at Wigan. All other clubs were interested in me in the summer knew the truth, and they have spoken to Wigan. Journalist's only motive for doing this was that he wanted to interview me in the early stages, after which I refused and told him evil, apparently. Then he threatened that he would go out in the media and write shit about me and destroy. Which he did. Then snatched other media on this and continued to fuel the rumor. I could not prove that I'm in England due to the injury. But now I just want to forget all this and move forward. Dinamo know the truth, and on their website it says that I played for Wigan. A club that writes and makes public statement knows what they're talking about.

HAVE YOU EVER regretted YOU TOOK UP FOOTBALL AS INTERESTING?
No, absolutely not. Football has given me so much and I just want to start playing again. Since I really hope that The Gambia can get to the World Cup. We must. But I'm sure it will. It starts to get many good players now who Kekuta Manneh in Vancouver (Canada), Ebrima Bojang in Saint Etienne (France) and Nyassi brothers who also play in Mls * as Kekuta.

HAVE YOU NOTICED THE DIFFICULTY TO BE foreign origin,
OR MAYBE CLEAN THE BENEFITS?
In Croatia, the major benefits, especially financially. And then to represent a big club in Europe, playing in the Champions League ... well, it does not get much better. I'm living my dream now and I'm evolving every day and learn something new.

WHAT IS YOUR FRIEND IN FOOTBALL WORLD?
Well I have lot of football friends that I can talk to about everything from social networking to personal stuff. But right now, I prefer to keep myself to my family, after everything that has happened. When everything happened with Wigan so it felt like a lot of my old friends wanted me to fail. For when the article came out so they spread it to everyone and acted like they were super excited. But now I have silenced them all. It's all about jealousy. They want to be where I am right now. Not all 21 year olds, especially Gambians, has represented clubs such as Le Mans, Wigan and Dinamo. Or have played international football.

WHAT IS THE REST OF THE YEAR OUT. FUTURE DINAMO ZAGREB?
I have a three year contract, with an option for two more years with the club. I like it now so we'll see. I keep my fingers crossed

BEST FOOTBALL PLAYER OF ALL TIME AND TODAY?
There are so many that are good. But through the ages perhaps Ronaldinho, Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldo (Brazilian de Lima). But then like all different.

FINALLY. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TEAM AND IS THAT YOU
ONE DAY SEE YOURSELF PLAYING?
Just you, I would just concentrate on Dinamo Zagreb and obviously play the Champions League. Then I take it from there. But in football everything turns quickly!