Ebrima Darboe is now 20 years old and a jewel at the traditional Italian club AS Roma. He kicks so well that not only does the Gambian national team call him up, but Arsenal and Tottenham also have them on the list.
A football miracle! Darboe comes out of misery. His life is a drama: little Ebrima, who always wanted to be a footballer, loses his father Jamba at a young age. He was the only one who always supported him in his dream. The new man at the side of mother Jainaba, his uncle, does not allow a football career.
After the death of his father, he dares to flee
As a 14-year-old, little Ebrima threw himself into a six-month, life-threatening escape to Europe to make his dream come true. He leaves his family, his two sisters, his brother. He lands in Sicily via Libya and an extremely risky Mediterranean crossing.
As a minor, he found shelter with a social worker in Rieti, near Rome, until Scout Miriam Petruzzi took him into care and changed his life. Ebrima Darboe is so talented that he passed a trial training session at AS Roma and got off to a flying start. As an 18-year-old, he already earns 50,000 euros a year – allegedly sending a large part of it home.
The Gambia contingent leads to an emotional return
As a 19-year-old, he made his Serie A debut, ten days later he was in the starting line-up against Inter. Of course, the Gambia’s national team is knocking on the knock. The squad brings him back to his homeland after five years this June. And into the arms of his mother Jainaba. A highly emotional return.
Roma jewel Ebrima is overjoyed: “Coming home after five years and hugging my mother again is the best I have ever experienced.”
And the proud mother Jainaba: “I have mixed feelings about his success. I so much wish that his father would live and see what has become of him. ” She has now changed her mindset: Ebrima’s younger brother Alhaji can now also become a footballer.