Getting to know Yankuba Minteh

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New signing scored twice in Japan.

2024-07-31T07:00+01:00

Yankuba, you scored two goals in two games in Japan. How pleased are you to have started this well?

“I think it's very important to have a good start. Whenever you have a good start, then you're going to have a good season. That's because if you play good and everybody sees that you play good, they help you to be part of the team and then they will help you to play good also."

How did you find the trip to Japan?

“The trip gives you time to get to know each other. It's very important for me to settle with the new team-mates and the coaches.

“I'm really learning how they want me to play and I'm trying to know my teammates more.”

You signed for Albion after a strong season with Feyenoord. How important was that time for you and do you think it will help you this campaign?

“I think the time I had in Holland was a good experience. It helped me a lot when I joined Brighton, because everything was going fine for me.

“The coach [Arne Slot] played with tempo and then I came here and that is really helping me a lot. Right now I'm expecting to have playing time and try my best for the fans and then score more goals.

“The Premier League and the Dutch League are really different. The playing styles are not the same. They all train with good tempo but the Premier League is higher. It's really, really good.”

You’ve had an impressive time in Europe so far. What was your early footballing career like?

“I'm from The Gambia. The academy I was in was called Bakode Football Club. It's a really amazing academy. From there, I joined a club in The Gambia called Steve Biko.

“Steve Biko Club helped me a lot because it made me be aggressive and know how important football is for me. The coach was so special and then he tried to help young players every time. He's an amazing guy and he helped in my career.

“The Premier League was my target, but now I'm in Brighton – Brighton is my target now.”

The Premier League was your target, but who did you look up to?

“Sadio Mane was my hero in the Premier League. In world football, [Lionel] Messi is my idol.

"The way he's humble and the way he helped his family and the country. The way he plays also I really love, because he's down to earth and then I think every African player wants to learn from him because he is amazing.

"And then N'Golo Kante also, because he is humble and quiet. All he does is like his job, play football on the pitch and then he also smiles sometimes but sometimes he's serious. I really love that.”