Gambian International, Baboucarr Trawally, known to many by his sobriquet, Steve, has joined Chinese Super League side Guizhou Hengfeng from relegated Yanbian Fude on a free transfer.
Steve, who had said his goodbyes to the Yanbian fans on both his Facebook and Twitter feed this week, is reported to have completed his move to the Guiyang based side amid an acrimonious fallout with Yanbian Fude, one of China’s footballing outposts formed by ethnic Koreans, about barely 30 minutes from the North Korean border. In their statement, the club have questioned the Gambian’s loyality, as they accused him of ‘giving excuses’ to secure the move away from the League One side, who got relegated form CSL last season.
Steve got his introduction to Chinese football as a virtually unknown in the International scene about three years ago, when he joined Yanbian as a 20-year-old prodigy from Real de Banjul via another CSL side, Hangzhou Greentown, who brought him to China but in turn loaned him out before he even kicked a ball for them to Yanbian in the Chinese second division at the time.
But despite his young age in a new territory and culture, the highly talented Steve went on to take the bull by the scruff of the neck, scoring 17 goals to help Yanbian gain promotion to the CSL in his debut season. Taking his place in the hearts of the club’s fans, who became fanatural about him and demanded for their club to sign him on permanent deal. In an interview afterwards he related how he ended up in Yanbian through the campaign of the fans.
“When I came to Yanbian, the team was not actually looking to get promoted, the aim was to maintain ourselves and stay up in League One but after some matches, we knew we can dream for promotion and thankfully, we’ve achieved that dream after working hard, said Trawally.
“During the season, the coach, Park Tae-ha, instilled some confidence in me and gave me my chances until I could score 17 goals for the team, the fans decided to campaign for my stay, everyone at the team wanted me to stay including the president and coaches.
“I didn’t know where my faith was hence I still have contract with Hangzhou, so I left to go to my country, Gambia, not knowing where my future lies, but my agent told me Yanbian want me to stay and asked if I want the same too, it was straightforward “YES” for me, so I was wishing they could agree terms regarding me, next minute, I became a full time player of Yanbian, excitement of which I can’t describe.
“And I want to thank the fans and the team for their confidence in bringing me into this great club and offering me the chance to play regular and good football.”
The club obliged and signed the then 21-year-old on permanent, and in his debut season in the top flight, the Gambian flyer went on to build on his league one prowesses, bagging eight goals to help the Yanbian side retain their place in the CSL despite the budget constraints of the club, one of the most modest of the sixteen clubs that make up the competition.
In his second season in the CSL, last year was the season of his confirmation as a footballer with a great promise, where he almost carried the weight of the struggling team on his young shoulders, scoring 18 goals for the relegation threatened club, the highest of all the African players in the Chinese top division, which includes the likes of former Watford and Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo and Senegalese International Papiss Demba Cisse. This earned him the recognition to be awarded the Chinese Super League Most Valuable Player (MVP) in Week 24.
Although, his remarkale goal tally including two hattricks, one against the current CSL champions and seven time league winners Huangzhou Evergrande was not enough to stop Yanbian from hitting the drop to League One, it has cemented the 23-yer-old’s place as one of the team’s figureheads and no wonder the club saw him as their valued asset and thus placing a high price tag on him despite being left with less than a year on his contract. Which led to the acrimony that flared between them and the former Real star, as they were reportedly seeking colossal amount’s for the player in transfer fees, after he put forward a transfer request at the back end of last season upon the club’s relegation to League One. Steve’s camp apparently saw the club’s asking price as a way to block him from leaving and this led them to seek abbitration from FIFA, by applying for a ‘temporary transfer certificate’ from the football governing body, which was later granted, paving the way for the player to complete his move to Gregorio Manzano’s Guizhou Hengfeng. They had finished eighth in the CSL last season.
In bidding farewell to the fans the star wrote:
“I would just like to say thank you to everyone at Yanbian Funde FC for a very enjoyable time at the club.
Thanks to everyone at the Club including the President, coaches, my teammates and fans. I met a lot of good people and made some good friends, memories of which I shall always cherish.
A lot has been said and written but surely, the truth is there for all to see. Nevertheless, I appreciate and honour everyone at Yanbian who have been brilliant with me.
Many thanks to the fans/supporters for the continued support during my time at the Club too.
Finally, I wish the Club all the very best in the future!”
By: Omar Jatta
