South Africa’s Cape Town City coach Eric Tinkler has spoken glowingly of his latest acquisition—Kajally Drammeh—from Gambian club Real de Banjul.

Tinkler told the DStv Premiership club website that he had been monitoring the 18-year-old attacker for a long time.

 “He is someone we have been chasing since the start of the season but we only managed now to conclude the deal. We have been watching him every single week in the Gambian league,” Tinkler is quoted saying.

Banjul president William Abraham has since justified why the Gambia under-20 player opted for City, despite interest from Anderlecht (Belgium), FC Midtjylland (Denmark) and Budapest Honvéd (Hungary).

“I know many people will ask ‘why South Africa’ but remember this is a player who went to top Hungarian club Ferencváros and an Egyptian club. He was even supposed to go to Denmark twice but when Cape Town City came with an offer of a direct contract, we thought it was wise for him to go there and start his professional football career,” Abraham told Banjul website.

“The South African top flight football is one of the best in Africa and is regarded as the most supported and the richest domestic football league on the continent after the CAF Competitions. It is even ranked well than some European leagues, so for me, this is a good move for Kajally where he can start his life and career.”

Last week, City signed Cameroonian midfielder Brice Ambina, 23-year-old South African striker Mogamat May and Venezuelan forward Darwin Gonzalez.

Cape Town City are on position nine on the log table with 22 points from 16 games whereas Mamelodi Sundowns lead the standings on 47 points.