while surfing the net trying to find info on this kid david amoo,i saw the name cherno samba on a millwall forum and thought it sounded familiar.
upon a further search of his name i found this.
He was once considered England's most promising player yet, at just 20, Cherno Samba now finds himself struggling to find a team. This week he has been on a trial at Bristol City looking to resurrect the career that promised so much when he was barely in his teens but has so far delivered very little.
When Arsenal signed 16 year old Jermaine Pennant for £2 million in 1998, the other big clubs were initially amazed by the sum involved for such a young player and then decided that they needed to do likewise. The rush was on to find the next big thing and Samba, with 132 goals in 32 games, was quickly identified as a potential star.
The offers flooded in: Liverpool were willing to pay Millwall £1.5 million, Manchester United £500,000 more than that. It was a crazy situation for a player just turned 14 who suddenly found himself being treated like one of the game’s big stars.
Eventually, having toured all the interested clubs, he decided to move to Liverpool and that is where the problems began. The two clubs blamed each other but Millwall's reluctance to set a price was matched by Liverpool's refusal to go to a tribunal where the outcome could have reserved them with a nasty surprise. Ultimately they decided to pull out of the deal and Samba found himself back at Millwall. It was a devastating blow.
He would later admit that the aborted transfer move hit him hard. “Whether you are 10, 15 or 38, when a move to big club falls through, you get low. I started to question myself and there were times I tried to quit football. At 14 I played for the under-17s. I was still playing for the under-17s when I was 17, which means I didn't improve my football.”
Whatever the reason, his game never really picked up despite representing England at all youth levels expect Under 21s. Upon turning 19, Millwall decided not to extend the professional contract that they had agreed to when Samba was still 14. Unsuccesful trials at Coventry, Leeds and West Bromwich Albion followed as the harsh reality of football started to hit home.
Salvation came from Spain where Cadiz decided to give this young Englishman a chance. A year on, however, and Samba is once more looking for a club. He’s spent a week at Bristol City with all senior English and Scottish clubs being informed of his availability.
For the kid who was once touted as a star, it is a depressing state of affairs. It is also a stark warning to all the wonder-kids out there.
At least Samba does have the consolation of having become a legend as one of the stars on the Championship Manager football management simulation game.
dont know how recent this article is but it just brought me back to when we were after this kid and how he was the next big thing.
feel sorry for the guy,who knows,maybe with a tiny bit of luck or more consideration from ourselves/millwall/agents,he could have fullfilled his potential.
upon a further search of his name i found this.
He was once considered England's most promising player yet, at just 20, Cherno Samba now finds himself struggling to find a team. This week he has been on a trial at Bristol City looking to resurrect the career that promised so much when he was barely in his teens but has so far delivered very little.
When Arsenal signed 16 year old Jermaine Pennant for £2 million in 1998, the other big clubs were initially amazed by the sum involved for such a young player and then decided that they needed to do likewise. The rush was on to find the next big thing and Samba, with 132 goals in 32 games, was quickly identified as a potential star.
The offers flooded in: Liverpool were willing to pay Millwall £1.5 million, Manchester United £500,000 more than that. It was a crazy situation for a player just turned 14 who suddenly found himself being treated like one of the game’s big stars.
Eventually, having toured all the interested clubs, he decided to move to Liverpool and that is where the problems began. The two clubs blamed each other but Millwall's reluctance to set a price was matched by Liverpool's refusal to go to a tribunal where the outcome could have reserved them with a nasty surprise. Ultimately they decided to pull out of the deal and Samba found himself back at Millwall. It was a devastating blow.
He would later admit that the aborted transfer move hit him hard. “Whether you are 10, 15 or 38, when a move to big club falls through, you get low. I started to question myself and there were times I tried to quit football. At 14 I played for the under-17s. I was still playing for the under-17s when I was 17, which means I didn't improve my football.”
Whatever the reason, his game never really picked up despite representing England at all youth levels expect Under 21s. Upon turning 19, Millwall decided not to extend the professional contract that they had agreed to when Samba was still 14. Unsuccesful trials at Coventry, Leeds and West Bromwich Albion followed as the harsh reality of football started to hit home.
Salvation came from Spain where Cadiz decided to give this young Englishman a chance. A year on, however, and Samba is once more looking for a club. He’s spent a week at Bristol City with all senior English and Scottish clubs being informed of his availability.
For the kid who was once touted as a star, it is a depressing state of affairs. It is also a stark warning to all the wonder-kids out there.
At least Samba does have the consolation of having become a legend as one of the stars on the Championship Manager football management simulation game.
dont know how recent this article is but it just brought me back to when we were after this kid and how he was the next big thing.
feel sorry for the guy,who knows,maybe with a tiny bit of luck or more consideration from ourselves/millwall/agents,he could have fullfilled his potential.
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