GAMBIA: Sainey Touray influential in Union’s defeat

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Submitted by modoubeyai on Tue, 20/09/2011 - 2:26pm

Gambia and Harrisburg City Islanders striker, Sainey Touray, who is reportedly to have commenced training with MLS club side Philadelphia Union, played his first competitive game for the club on Sunday in the MLS reserve league.

Sainey fared the whole game as the Union’s lost another Reserve League game, falling to the Columbus Crew’s reserve squad 2-1. However, the Union played better than they have in the past, managing to create many scoring opportunities in the first half with the help of Sainey Touray before becoming mediocre in the second half.

After Jack McInerney opened the scoring in the 14th minute, first team regular Emmanuel Ekpo wasted no time equalizing, striking from just beyond the area two minutes later. Ekpo also set up Columbus’ game-winner in the 75th minute, a beautiful strike by Josh Gardner from distance into the upper-ninety.

Philadelphia opened the scoring with a well-worked sequence that originated with Danny Mwanga in the midfield. The top pick of the 2010 MLS Super Draft found Harrisburg City Islanders midfielder Sainey Touray streaking down the left flank. Touray crossed for McInerney, who took a touch and beat Crew goalkeeper Alex Gibbs for a 1-0 lead.

The former Tallinding United striker was the league’s youngest forward in the second division after joining the team in 2003. In 2005 he moved to GFA First Division side Wallidan, and became one of the club’s key players, leading the club to the 2008 Gambian title as the club’s top scorer with nine goals.

His play at Wallidan and with various Gambian youth national teams sparked the interest of several European clubs, leading to him training in 2007 with Arsenal of the English Premier League. At the conclusion of the 2008 Gambian First Division, Touray went on trial with Red Bull New York and was eventually signed in August 2008. He appeared in six matches with the Red Bull Reserves and scored two goals.

On March 25, 2010, on the strength of an impressive pre-season, American second tier club Carolina Rail Hawks signed Touray alias Ballack for their 2010 USSFD2 campaign. During 2010 he also spent a period on loan at Harrisburg City Islanders of the USL Second Division after he was finally signed later this year.

The Philadelphia Union will finish up Reserve League play against Toronto FC on October 16 and Ballack will be hoping to put pen to paper with the Union’s before that.