At just 15 years old, Muhammed Lamin Drammeh has lived through a journey that many seasoned adults would struggle to endure. As Footy-Africa notices, the young Gambian footballer has overcome incredible odds to sign for Italian Serie C side Catania FC’s U17 team, a major milestone in a dream that has driven him across continents and through unimaginable hardship.
Drammeh, originally from The Gambia in West Africa, left his family and home at the tender age of 13 to embark on what is known as “the back way”, a dangerous and often deadly route taken by many West African migrants in search of a better life in Europe. His journey, which involved crossing the Mediterranean Sea, ended in Italy, where he arrived on August 28, 2024.
Now, less than a year later, he has officially joined the youth setup of Catania FC after impressing the club during a trial period. The young forward described his signing as “a dream come true.”
“I feel so happy about this because it was not an easy journey for a young person like me to reach Italy and sign such a deal,” Drammeh told Footy-Africa in an exclusive interview. “Football was always my dream, but I felt I couldn’t achieve it in The Gambia.”
While still battling the complexities of immigration and gaining legal residency, Muhammed remained focused on his football. Despite delays in obtaining documentation to legally live and play in Italy, he eventually secured his status and joined Real Sicilia 2022 — a local grassroots club, where his talent quickly caught the eye of scouts from Catania FC.
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His journey, though extraordinary, is not isolated. Drammeh is among a growing number of young Gambian footballers who have taken similar routes and gone on to achieve professional success. He openly credits players like Ebrima Colley and Musa Juwara, both of whom travelled the back way and later played in Italy’s Serie A, as his sources of inspiration.
“I get my inspiration from Gambian players who went through the back way and played in the Italian Serie A like Ebrima Colley and Musa Juwara,” Drammeh explained.
His signing with Catania U17s marks the beginning of what he hopes will be a long and successful footballing career in Europe. Drammeh dreams of not only playing in one of Europe’s top five leagues and the UEFA Champions League, but also representing his homeland on the international stage.
“I want to play in the top five leagues and play in the UEFA Champions League, and also represent my country.”
Drammeh’s story is one of courage, determination, and hope. It’s a stark reminder of the sacrifices many young people make in pursuit of a better future and how, sometimes, those dreams do come true.
