Latest news with #Jatta
The Guardian
10-04-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
The Gambia, Estonia … League One? Alassana Jatta on a mission at Notts County
Football appears to be a small world but moving from the Gambia to Estonia still seems a little unconventional. It was a route the Notts County striker Alassana Jatta took when he left his homeland as a 20-year-old, desperate to make it in Europe as a professional. The journey from Sukuta to the banks of the Trent has been convoluted, complicated by absconding triallists, contract withdrawals and the weather. Jatta's CV is eclectic, featuring spells with Real de Banjul, Paide Linnameeskond and Viborg. Currently he is second in the League Two scoring charts with 17 goals, spearheading the Magpies' promotion push. They sit sixth, four points off automatic promotion, and face a trip on Friday to Salford. 'It was the first time I'd experienced snow in my entire life,' says Jatta of Estonia. 'It was a little bit challenging in the beginning because my feet and everything was frozen. I struggled to untie my laces whenever we were done with practice. When I was in Estonia, I started using long pants, tights underneath, jacket, hat, snoods, gloves, everything. It was a little bit weird for me in the beginning.' Paide has a population of less than 8,000 and the club's ground holds 500. For Jatta none of this mattered; it was more about finding the first stepping stone in his career after starting with the Gambian side Real de Banjul. Jatta started taking football seriously only in his mid-teens and had offers to trial abroad early on but his father insisted he finish his education before considering Europe. Before arriving in Estonia he had trialled in Italy, only for Genoa to backtrack on signing him when another triallist ran away without informing the club. There was also a time in France at Bordeaux where a contract was verbally offered but never backed up with anything on paper. Thirteen goals in 17 games in Estonia earned a move to Viborg in Denmark to keep Jatta's trajectory heading in the right direction. They turned a skinny young man into an imposing 6ft 4in striker, ensuring he built his muscles so he could do battle with the roughest and toughest centre-backs. Jatta, who grew up as a Chelsea supporter idolising Didier Drogba and José Mourinho, is extremely affable company and lives a very quiet life in Nottingham. His only real gripe is his teammates' desire for him to join them for a round of golf. 'I'm not a fan,' Jatta says with a smile. 'They tried to convince me, but still it's not working because I don't like golf.' Jatta spends his free time walking around Nottingham or visiting local parks, happy in the knowledge the weather is overall better than in eastern Europe and Scandinavia. Notts and Viborg have the same owners but when the opportunity arose for Jatta to fulfil his dream of moving to England, it was not a foregone conclusion for him or the head coach, Stuart Maynard. 'Before moving to any team, I like to see the philosophy of the coach, how he thinks football should be run,' says Jatta. 'His own perspective, that's what I was really interested about. I wouldn't do much research about the club … After speaking with him, I was really convinced that this is the right club.' Jatta moved to the East Midlands in February 2024, quickly attracted interest from higher up and was the subject of bids from the Championship side Plymouth this January. He earned a first international call-up last year, making his debut against Kenya in March. The Gambia are under the stewardship of the Northern Irish head coach Johnny McKinstry and are an exciting crop of players, including Brighton's Yankuba Minteh. The call-up reunited Jatta with friends he had not seen for several years. 'Sharing the dressing room and the pitch with them is quite an exciting moment,' he says. 'And of course, playing with Minteh and all the other players around the world, it's a nice feeling and it's a good experience that we have to cherish because you never know what might happen later.' Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Jatta's reputation is growing in England and the Gambia, where an increasing number of Notts shirts can be found and family and friends watch League Two football via any means possible. 'Most of my friends have this jersey back home,' he says. 'If you go to Gambia, you will see different clubs and players wearing jerseys everywhere. Gambians are so passionate about football and everyone loves English football.' Gambians will be desperately hoping to witness Jatta take Notts into League One next month. 'It will be a fantastic thing to achieve for this club,' says Jatta. 'It will be something really, really exciting because that's why I'm here, to help them get promoted. It would be a dream come true.' And if they do go up, Jatta has promised to join his teammates for a round of golf – not that they need any more incentive.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'I'm not really okay with the numbers'
'I'm not really okay with the numbers' - Jatta Alassana Jatta is tied at the top of the League Two goal charts with AFC Wimbledon's Matty Stevens and Michael Cheek of Bromley [Getty Images] League Two's joint-leading scorer Alassana Jatta says he is frustrated not to have scored more goals for promotion-chasing Notts County. The Gambia international has 17 league goals this term, and 20 in all competitions, but is more concerned with propelling the Magpies into League One. Notts are currently sixth in League Two and just two points outside the automatic promotion spots. "It's a little bit frustrating and of course it gives you a trigger to work harder," he told BBC Radio Nottingham. Advertisement "You have to push yourself sometimes out of your comfort zone and go for the extra mile to help the team because I'm not really okay with the numbers now. "I just want it to be higher because the more goals that I get, the better it will be for the team." Jatta, 26, has found the net 25 times in 45 appearances since joining from Danish Superliga side Viborg in February last year, form which has attracted interest from other clubs. He has been linked with Championship side Coventry City, while an offer from an unnamed club was rejected by Notts during the January transfer window. Advertisement "I heard rumours about it, but I was actually focusing on Notts because I didn't want to be distracted," he added. "That's how football is whenever the window is open. There are always rumours here and there. "The worst thing you can do is have an ear on them because you're going to be distracted so I just shut my ears and focus on helping where I can. "I am under contract with Notts and have to show them maximum respect and do my job, whatever happens later. "We'll see what the next step will be, but for now the most important thing is to focus on Notts County and help the team meet its objectives."
BBC News
27-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'I'm not really okay with the numbers'
League Two's joint-leading scorer Alassana Jatta says he is frustrated not to have scored more goals for promotion-chasing Notts Gambia international has 17 league goals this term, and 20 in all competitions, but is more concerned with propelling the Magpies into League are currently sixth in League Two and just two points outside the automatic promotion spots."It's a little bit frustrating and of course it gives you a trigger to work harder," he told BBC Radio Nottingham."You have to push yourself sometimes out of your comfort zone and go for the extra mile to help the team because I'm not really okay with the numbers now. "I just want it to be higher because the more goals that I get, the better it will be for the team." Jatta, 26, has found the net 25 times in 45 appearances since joining from Danish Superliga side Viborg in February last year, form which has attracted interest from other has been linked with Championship side Coventry City, while an offer from an unnamed club was rejected by Notts during the January transfer window."I heard rumours about it, but I was actually focusing on Notts because I didn't want to be distracted," he added."That's how football is whenever the window is open. There are always rumours here and there. "The worst thing you can do is have an ear on them because you're going to be distracted so I just shut my ears and focus on helping where I can."I am under contract with Notts and have to show them maximum respect and do my job, whatever happens later."We'll see what the next step will be, but for now the most important thing is to focus on Notts County and help the team meet its objectives."
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Yahoo
Police reveal route of car linked to fatal shooting
Police have released a reconstruction video showing the route of a suspect car on the night of a fatal shooting. Mustapha Jatta, 30, from Nottingham, died shortly after being found with serious gunshot injuries in the village of Kings Langley on 17 September. Hertfordshire Police said it believed his death was linked to a white Volkswagen Golf which was found on fire 15 minutes later. Five people arrested in connection with the shooting were released on police bail in October. Police said Mr Jatta, a father of young children, was shot on Railway Terrace at about 00:33 BST. He was pronounced dead at the scene moments later. Shortly after 00:45 BST, police received reports of the Volkswagen Golf on fire in Furtherfield, Abbots Langley. Det Insp Adam Bridges, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire (BCH) Major Crime Unit, said officers had been "working tirelessly" to try and identify Mr Jatta's killers. "It has now been six months since Mustapha was murdered," he said. "Officers will be in the local area this week to speak to residents and businesses as part of our six-month anniversary appeal, because we are keen to hear from anyone who may have information but has not already spoken to police." In the reconstruction video, Det Insp Bridges said it appeared Mr Jatta had arranged to meet the people in the car. "For this reason we believe the suspects and the victim knew each other, and this was an organised shooting" he added. The car was thought to have "fled the scene at speed" along Railway Terrace and Primrose Hill, before it was discovered on fire. Crimestoppers, which allows people to report crimes anonymously, has offered a £20,000 reward for information which would help bring Mr Jatta's killers to justice. The reward expires on 13 June. Annabelle Goodenough, the charity's regional manager, said: "Mustapha's life was tragically cut short, and our charity would like to get justice for his family and friends." Police said anyone with information about the shooting could also contact the force. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Five arrested after fatal shooting in village Murder investigation launched after shots heard Reward of £20k offered in fatal shooting inquiry Hertfordshire Police Crimestoppers
BBC News
19-03-2025
- BBC News
Police reveal route of car linked to Kings Langley fatal shooting
Police have released a reconstruction video showing the route of a suspect car on the night of a fatal shooting. Mustapha Jatta, 30, from Nottingham, died shortly after being found with serious gunshot injuries in the village of Kings Langley on 17 Police said it believed his death was linked to a white Volkswagen Golf which was found on fire 15 minutes people arrested in connection with the shooting were released on police bail in October. Police said Mr Jatta, a father of young children, was shot on Railway Terrace at about 00:33 was pronounced dead at the scene moments after 00:45 BST, police received reports of the Volkswagen Golf on fire in Furtherfield, Abbots Langley. Det Insp Adam Bridges, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire (BCH) Major Crime Unit, said officers had been "working tirelessly" to try and identify Mr Jatta's killers."It has now been six months since Mustapha was murdered," he said."Officers will be in the local area this week to speak to residents and businesses as part of our six-month anniversary appeal, because we are keen to hear from anyone who may have information but has not already spoken to police."In the reconstruction video, Det Insp Bridges said it appeared Mr Jatta had arranged to meet the people in the car."For this reason we believe the suspects and the victim knew each other, and this was an organised shooting" he car was thought to have "fled the scene at speed" along Railway Terrace and Primrose Hill, before it was discovered on fire. Crimestoppers, which allows people to report crimes anonymously, has offered a £20,000 reward for information which would help bring Mr Jatta's killers to reward expires on 13 Goodenough, the charity's regional manager, said: "Mustapha's life was tragically cut short, and our charity would like to get justice for his family and friends."Police said anyone with information about the shooting could also contact the force. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
