Former Chelsea Senegalese striker Demba Ba has revealed how he use to borrow money to feed as a young footballer.
Paris-born Ba had a difficult start to life as a professional footballer.
Starting off in France, Ba earned himself a contract worth £900-a-month at fourth tier side Rouen – but recalls having to borrow money just to feed himself in the first month.
“My first contract at Rouen (in the French fourth division) had been for €1,063 net, per month, and I had to borrow €300 in the first month for food,” he told The Athletic.
Ba had trials at the likes of Watford, Barnsley, Swansea and Gillingham as a teenager, but never ended up getting offered a deal.
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The 36-year-old says the teams felt they already had players like him in the squad.
He continued: “Ninety per cent of the time, the feedback I got was, ‘We have the same quality of player in the squad already.’
“They didn’t realise that I was training twice a week with amateurs at the time, not six times a week with professionals.
“I was told, ‘You’re not good enough’, but I didn’t want to hear that, to me it was, ‘You’re not good enough for me’.
“I just refused to give up. I remember writing letters to the top 40 clubs in France, by hand, asking for a trial.
“I never thought about rejection, only the next chance.”
Despite the early rejection, Ba eventually had a successful career in England after making a name for himself at Hoffenheim, playing for West Ham, Newcastle and Chelsea.
Although the forward didn’t win any major honours at either three clubs, he maintained a prolific goal scoring record.
Ba scored 50 goals in 122 games for his English clubs, before moving on to Turkish side Besiktas in 2014.
7 Comments
That is Africa disease of poverty for you. You can not hear oyibo man borrowing money to eat. A player borrow money to eat, that means Denbaba is hard working and he borrow money to eat. Africa leaders huuuuuuuuuu, oni kure, e no go better for una. You peoples steal the money go obodo oyibo, our children playing football and even dem Sura and co cannot get work and must borrow or beg to eat. Africa leaders huuuuuuuuuu.
Chief, I greet o.
Good day Chief Thomas, you are right. Africa leaders must be compelled to make amends. It is the same thing in my country. Apart from the capitalists who mostly reside in the city center, almost everybody in the region are suffering, spilling blod, some go to bed hungry or those whose stock in trade is population reduction.
Ok, I will thank you Femi und Ken for your greating me. I go eat before. How are you today. Ok, Sura e never come here today, omo dada ada fun e, it is good we talk to you later. Chief Thomas Adeboye HRH.
It is sad. Demba ba is an insignificant part of what Africa represent on the global stage. Go to Benin, Togo, Ghana, ivory coast,Nigeria it is the same story. Nigeria’s foreign loans set for all-time high at $45bn as at 14 Sep 2021. Since then, the National Assembly has also approved an additional $8. 325 billion new borrowing plan for the President. Some if not all this loan would be left for generations to pay. I don’t know what the problem is with our leaders despite the enormous resources scattered across the continent. It is appalling.
Chief, good evening sir and how is It’s Risi?
See Chief ooo. Good evening sir Chief, how is Iya Risi and the children? This poverty that will make hard working people to be begging serious.