Madiba Kamasso, goalkeeper: the rampart of Fouladou

In Kolda, one name saturates the discussions in homes and the “main squares” of the capital of Fouladou: Madiba Kamasso. This former captain and starting goalkeeper of As Kolda (Ask) recruited by Jamono de Fatick has established himself as the driving force of the regional club, transforming each meeting into a demonstration of defensive force.

KOLDA – The blazing sun is setting over the regional stadium, but on the pitch, the air is still crackling. In the middle of the arena, a man attracts all eyes. Slender figure, ebony complexion, steely gaze: Madiba Kamasso. For the region’s attackers, he is not just a goalkeeper. He is a wall. An enigma. A gloved nightmare.

For his teammates, he is the child of the earth, the master of the air. And yet, nothing predestined this son of Pata, a village nestled 50 kilometers from the “Koldois” urban rage, to become the idol of zone 2 and of all fans of the Kolda pennant club. In this deep bush where the destiny of young people is often sealed between two peanut furrows, Madiba chose another path: that of the air.

And it was on the clay and stones of the Amadou Bâ football school that the myth was forged. His hands, hardened by work in the fields, have learned to tame leather. In 2021, during the regional phases, the “Koldois” public is witnessing an epiphany. Under the colors of Fafacourou’s Kawral, a kid multiplies the extraterrestrial parades.

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That day, recruiters no longer see an amateur, they see a destiny. A born rampart coupled with a football genius. Today, Madiba is the boss. Former captain of As Kolda (Ask) and last bastion of the Hafia Sports and Cultural Association (Asc), he transformed his cages into an inviolable sanctuary.

His statistics are dizzying: only one goal conceded in five matches during the 2023 group stages. Two titles as best goalkeeper. Two successive zonal trophies. “He’s a tough guy, a hard worker and a hard worker,” breathes Laye Kouyaté, his mentor and former captain of the Kolda pennant club.

“Madiba doesn’t play. He goes into battle. He’s a born winner,” says his tutor and personal coach. He carries this rage to win like a banner. On his line, he combines the rigor of the metronome with the ardor of the warrior. Each parade is a declaration of war on the adversary.

The professional dream at the end of the gloves

However, despite the aura that surrounds him in the “big squares” and the cottages of Kolda, the child of Pata keeps his feet on the ground. Transferred last year to Jamono de Fatick, following XXL performances, the last rampart and emblematic captain of Asc Hafia and Ask confirms his status as leader. Under his new colors, Madiba continues his exploits and soars above the competition.

A veritable wall of the “Fatickois” pennant club, he has already won the “best player of the month” trophy several times, establishing himself as the providential man of his team. The doorman is a man of challenges. For him, abandonment is not an option. “Nothing is lost in life,” he insists, his voice calm but firm.

“People’s hearts beat for the Navétanes, but we have to make them vibrate for the national championship. We need sacred union to cross the threshold,” he adds, reassured. Heir to the Mactar and Ousseynou Thioune brothers, Madiba Kamasso is just waiting for the door to the professional world to open.

Is the path strewn with pitfalls? Whatever. For the one who tamed the dust of Pata to become the king of Fouladou, no obstacle is too high. In Kolda, we no longer ask if Madiba will make a stop. We just ask: when will his next feat be?

By Ibrahima KANDE