From a refugee to a Bundesliga match winner, Ousman Manneh is a fairy-tale worth investing in

The first goal of a footballer’s professional career is a special moment. The realisation of a childhood dream, it often arrives after years of hard work and dedication. Yet, for Werder Bremen forward Ousman Manneh, scoring his first goal for Werder Bremen at the weekend represented so much more than sporting achievement.

“I can’t believe this,” he said. “Is this real or am I dreaming? This is the greatest moment of my life.”

Born in Gambia, Manneh lived in the country until he was 17-years-old. A small, poor, West African nation, the country is in the grip of a dictatorship that has been in power since before Manneh was born. A talented footballer he sensed his country had little to no future for him and his sporting ambitions.

Leaving his family behind, he arrived in Germany as a refugee with little to no guarantees on his future and initially living in a refugee camp. “I searched the Internet for a team,” Manneh said. “At first I looked at Borgfeld and Huchting, but there were only five players at training, and I knew this is not for me. When I saw Blumenthal against Werder’s U19 in the regional league, I got the number of a coach and he sent me a whatsapp about a trial. The next day I played, and was signed. I was so happy! Even today I stay in touch with so many players from Blumenthal.”

Playing in the fifth tier of the German football pyramid, he adapted to his surroundings with ease. Manneh netted fifteen goals in eleven games, and subsequently earned the attention of Bundesliga scouts.

“First, I had a trial with Hamburg, then at St. Pauli, at Schalke and also Wolfsburg, but after I looked at everything, I said to myself: I live for a year here in Bremen, I know the city, I have found friends who can help me, and I go to school here. Why should I leave? Werder also brought many young players into the Bundesliga. I was hoping I’d get a chance someday.”

Signing a three-year contract with Bremen in March last year, he initially went into the club’s youth system, and spent last season playing with the club’s second team. That was until this summer, when after impressing he was called up to the first team squad, and was handed his Bundesliga debut late last month.

Trusted by manager Alexander Nouri, Manneh’s exposure to the first team arrived at a difficult time for Bremen. The club began the season in terrible fashion by losing 6-0 to Bayern Munich. In fact, they had won just one of their six games this season heading into Sunday’s clash against Bayer Leverkusen.

Handed his fourth start of the campaign, Nouri’s continued show of faith was firmly rewarded just before the hour mark. The scores were delicately poised at 1-1, when the ball landed at his feet following a smartly worked free-kick routine.

“First off I have to thank the fans,” he told the Bundesliga’s official website afterwards. “I’m standing here and I don’t even know what’s happened. I don’t know if I really did score a goal or if that was just a dream. It’s an indescribable feeling, especially to score the winner against a team as good as Bayer Leverkusen. I just can’t believe it.”

An achievement made more impressive by the fact Manneh had missed a big chance earlier in the game, (he was well denied by goalkeeper Bernd Leno) there is now talk he will sign a new contract with Bremen. “I’m so surprised at how everything has gone,” he said. “I really have to thank coach Nouri for believing in me, and giving me the opportunity to play on the big stage. And I need to thank the whole club for all the support they’ve given me too.”

Slowly beginning to settle into first team, the youngster is understandably full of dreams and ambitions. Checking them off with each passing appearance, he accomplished a specific one against Leverkusen. “I’ve got a lot of them, and I played against one today in Chicharito,” he said when asked if he had any footballing idols. “I still can’t believe I just played against him. Otherwise, I’ve always been a big fan of Robin van Persie. Another one is my teammate: Claudio Pizzaro.”

Speaking after his goal at the weekend, he conducted the interview with a beaming smile, and confirmed that his mother still worries about him. “But I’m okay, it’s going great for me here,” he said with a laugh, explaining that he still talks to her every day and that people keep her informed of what he is up to.

As if only serving to reaffirm his jovial nature and personal determination, the forward was asked what would have happened if his quest to Germany had resulted in failure rather than success. “This really is not an easy question,” he said. “I am a positive person and have never really thought about what would happen if I cannot do it. I just did my best every workout and hoped it was enough.”