Kotoko striker Naby Keita reveals darkest moment in his career; narrates how an ankle injury ruined a move to Lorient

Asante Kotoko forward Naby Laye Keita has revealed how an ill-fated injury ended his hopes of landing a foreign deal at French side Lorient about seven years ago.

While playing for Guinean top-flight Horoya, he went on trials at Lorient, playing four games and scoring 6 goals in the process.

However, he had to return home for a crucial game for his side and also renew his visa which was expiring.

But unfortunately for him, after winning the said match, Horoya engaged in a friendly ahead of an FA Cup tie which he sustained an ankle injury – leaving him in the treatment room for almost two years.

He narrates to Kotoko Express App how his move to Lorient hit a snag!

“I played very well and the club looked interested but surprisingly did not sign me because they said they had wingers Clinton N’jie from Cameroon and France’s Alhasanne Plea,” Keita reveals.

“My manager was amazed by the decision because he saw from how I performed that I deserved to be signed” continues Keita, who goes on to reveal his next move.” 

“My manager took me to Lorient. I played in four friendly games for the B team and scored six goals. The team was eager to sign me but that was when my fate began to turn.”

Keita reveals further how he ended up in Guinea without signing the contract and why his dream of travelling back into the European country to seal the deal collapsed.

“My visa was dying and so Lorient asked me to come back home and have it renewed. But, the major reason why I needed to return was that Horoya also needed me in a Premier League decider against Satellite FC.”

“I obliged and returned to Guinea. Thankfully, we won that game 2-1 and I scored the winner. I got the visa renewed but did not leave for France immediately because Horoya asked me to wait and play in an upcoming FA Cup game.”

“Once again, I heeded,” Keita says as he purses to give a deep sigh. “Horoya arranged for a friendly game against a Division-One club and it was in that game that my Lorient dream ended.”

“I sustained a bad ankle injury that ended me in a theatre in Morocco for a surgery which was sponsored by Horoya. I spent six months in Morocco and in all was condemned to the sidelines for two good years.”

“It is the darkest moment of my career,” stresses Keita. “I got so distraught. It was even worse for my mother who cried every time any of my team-mates or friends had deals abroad.”

“But all is in the past now,” says Keita who joined the Porcupines in October 2019 after a successful trial.

“God knows why that happened. And I am glad that I am in Kotoko which is not just known in Africa but the world over.”