By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay
When news struck social media on Sunday evening that Musa Noah Kamara, aka Musa Tombo is heading back home, there was a combination of reactions; it ranged from shock and laughter to rage and anger. The explanations surrounding this latest episode of drama in Sierra Leone football is at the very least baffling.
Theories have ranged from Black Magic, ownership squabbles to Tombo himself blaming the cold weather in Sweden. The true reason might never be known, even when he has returned home.
The 19-year old signed a three-and half-year deal with Swedish second tier side Trelleborgs FF just over two weeks ago. This came after a fantastic season with East End Lions where he scored 15 goals to win the Sierra Leone Premier League and the golden boot.
This latest turn in events have shocked even his family members in Freetown who say he was settling in great.
Tombo’s mother, Isata Bangura told Politico that her son seemed happy before this latest twist.
“Even Friday we spoke, he called and said I should pray for him. I even told him to call me after buying foodstuff so that I can teach him how to cook,” she said.
“I cannot understand, I am confused, I am stressed,” a clearly distraught Mrs Bangura said on the phone.
So how did it get so bad in three weeks that the boy from Tombo could not handle it anymore?
The theories
For the record, Sweden is currently going through summer, so the player’s excuse about cold is too cold to believe. Sweden has a generally mild climate. February is the coldest month of the year in the Scandinavian country, with temperatures dropping from -22 degree C to -3 degree C. This is the hottest period of the year, only July is hotter. The average temperature in August is 17 degree C.
In fact, this is not the first time Tombo has gone for trial in Sweden. the General Manager and Secretary General of AIK Freetong, Tombo’s parent club, Bai Bangura, told Politico that they took him to Sweden last year on trial.
“In October 2018 we took him for trial to Hammarby in Sweden. But because football was not playing, and he was struggling for fitness, he couldn’t get the contract. So, we returned home.”
AIK Freetong is an affiliate club to AIK Stockholm in Sweden.
Back in October Sweden was cold and he managed and returned home shortly after failing to get the contract. So how did Tombo survive winter out there and now when its summer he complains as if it’s winter again?
Mystery!
To convince him to stay, former Leone Stars internationals like Tetteh Bangura who played in some of these Scandinavian countries wrote on social media that he tried talking Tombo out of his decision but failed.
Another player, Kwame Quee also voiced his concerns on Tombo’s return and pleaded he be given help when he returns home.
“I have never seen or heard this s*** since I started pro (professional) football. Musa Tombo, damn! this is not normal. Something is behind this. But God is there for everyone. Someone’s child is speaking as if they have done something to him,” he wrote on his Facebook wall.
Another former Leone Stars international, Alfred Zagalo Sankoh summed his reaction in just four words on his Facebook wall, “Musa Tombo just let me speechless.”
Tombo’s maternal Uncle, Dauda Musa Bangura said they are sad and shocked.
“It is really sad for us, we never expected this to happen. For now, we don’t have much to say until when we meet with him to explain the situation,” he said.
AIK Freetong also expressed how difficult Tombo’s decision is for them.
“We are disappointed. This is a big blow for us, because it was our first player sales abroad.”
East End Lions have not released any statement yet regarding the issue.
Tombo is at the center of a bitter ownership controversy between his parent club and East End Lions where he spent last season on loan. But this should not even be a controversy, because prior to his departure, the player was owned by the AIK Freetong and was loaned to East End Lions. Contract documents showed the terms clearly.
But this is the controversy that might have brought this young man home with the speed of lightening. With his return, AIK have lost 75,000 Euros in transfer fees.
Family members believe the players career is been threatened by dark forces who think they should benefit more from his current contract.
“This is something that is strange. It is possible that something else is at work. Because for him to just say he will come so suddenly is baffling,” said the uncle.
“Musa was good. He was good until Friday when he started saying he will return,” he added.
The Tombo effect
Tombo’s story is supposed to be the tale of the dreamer who can become something whiles believing and fighting for his dream. The 19-year-old was supposed to be the young man that will shine the torch for the next generation of players Sierra Leone will export abroad. But he is coming home too early. And he is coming not with glory but with misery. A misery that could spill over and hunt every Sierra Leonean player that will try to get a contract in Europe or elsewhere.
Bangura said, “We are afraid that it might affect our other players like Sufian Kalokoh who might get a chance to go abroad in the future.”
Instead of holding the torch to lead his generation, Tombo has picked it up and might just have burnt through their careers, ensuring their collective destruction, making them all spell bound by his temptation not to miss “Sweet Salone”.
But it is harsh and unfair to just bash Tombo. He might also be a victim here, a victim of something that he does not even understand. A victim of the dark places people could go for power, control and money in this game.
Or this could be a deeper problem with his psyche as a footballer.
This is a player, a day after winning the golden boot and the trophy for East End Lions, was back to his root playing six aside football in a non-division league at the back of Pademba Road. He is humble to a fault. He is the top goal scorer in the country’s elite league and he was back down there playing for Benjamin Lane and banging a goal that evening.
So perhaps Tombo just can’t go up or staying up is difficult for him. He has a dangerous problem with transition. And this problem is not unique with him. It might be a deeper problem that could be affecting so many other professional footballers in Sierra Leone. An inquiry in to this is crucial, even for the sake of Tombo’s sanity.
The road for Tombo
So what happens to him now? The first dilemma Sellas Tetteh will have as the coach of Leone Stars is whether to pick him for the national side or not. Say what you may but Tombo is by far the most lethal option the country has upfront. But is he in the best frame of mind to perform at such a top level?
Tombo is back home, not just with his bags but with his dream and the dream of a nation who were rooting for him to succeed. Whatever happens, his life will never be the same again. The country can only hope that this botched move doesn’t hunt his promising career in the years to come.
© 2019 Politico Online
