Serigne Saliou Dia (U20) on the drain of talent: “Young people must have this notion of love for their homeland and patience”

This situation is more and more frequent, especially in a context where the competition within the Senegal A selection is particularly intense. After making their debut with the U17s or the U20 team, some players find themselves waiting for a place in the A team, which sometimes makes them “influenceable”. The idea of ​​joining other teams, particularly those from neighboring countries such as Guinea, Mauritania or others, may seem to offer a shortcut to an international career. Asked about this, Serigne Saliou Dia, who also led the U17 selection, underlined the complexity of managing young talents.

According to him, “At a certain age, management becomes difficult. A player who finished with the U20 selection while awaiting his debut with the A selection, would normally go through the U23 selection, which would serve as a springboard towards the first team. Unfortunately, our U23 selection did not qualify for the CAN, and for four years, this team has been practically inactive. The wait therefore becomes long for some players, and in this case, they can easily be influenced. They are starting to consider joining other selections,” declared on the microphone of wiwsport.

However, the Senegalese technician insists that, despite the tough competition and the sometimes endless wait, young players must remain focused and loyal to their country. “ Young players need to have this notion of love for their homeland and this notion of patience, because they tend to be in too much of a hurry. This patience will allow them to continue the work and bide their time with the selection A,” he explains. Serigne Saliou Dia also recalls that the coach of team A will call the best performing players as a priority. “IThey must be patient and understand that selection A is open to everyone, but only those who deserve it will be called.“, he concludes.

wiwsport.com