“My most beautiful story”
The coach began his career on the bench at the age of 24, in the 6th Belgian division, stopping his “career after six cruciate ligament ruptures“, and he is covered with diplomas like the scientist in Tintin: “trainer, psychologist, physical trainer…“, he aligns.
In more than 20 years, Saintfiet has “lived many adventures, but my most beautiful story is now, being at the CAN with Gambia. I am very happy and very proud of my team.“
A little further west, there is only the Atlantic, in this very small English-speaking country inserted in the middle of Senegal, 11,295 m² weaving around the Gambia River.
“When I arrived in July 2018, Gambia had not won a competitive match for five years, in September 2013 against Tanzania (2-0 in World Cup qualifying)“, he rewinds.
“There was no hope, the team was 172nd in the Fifa rankings. I said: +I’m here to qualify Gambia+, everyone thought I was crazy“
To build his team, he has “traveled a lot in Europe, and at my expense, to convince bi-nationals to play for us“.
“I can live anywhere”
“I know that my federation has limited means, develops Saintfiet, or I stay at home or I invest myself in my team. Money has never been my motivation.“
From the first match, in September 2018 against Algeria (1-1), he fell in love.
“There were 45,000 people at Independence Stadium, but the capacity is only 25,000, there were spectators hanging from the lighting pylons, climbing on the scoreboard, everywhere, we waited an hour and a half to start , it says passion. And we held Riyad Mahrez and (these) great players in check!“
Then The Gambia succeeds”a feat, finishing first in a very tough group with DR Congo, Gabon and Angola to qualify for CAN“, savors Saintfiet.
To achieve this tour de force, “what I changed is the strategy, the discipline, on the lawn but also outside, he develops. And I am supported by a very good federation, and an extraordinary team manager, Ousmane Drammeh“.
Saintfiet, “in love with this continent since my reading of the magazine Afrique Football, which I bought when I was young“, savors, but already sees beyond this 8th final which reaches out to him.
“I am a professional coach, my ambition is to go to the World Cup. But I am realistic, Belgium, France or Argentina are not waiting for me, he admits. So I traveled, I speak English, German, Dutch, French, a little Arabic, and other languages. I adapt very well, I can live everywhere, I have respect for all cultures, I was able to live in Bangladesh, in Namibia, in Finland…“
