Source: FOOTYMAD
Is Demba Ba As Good As He Says He Is?
Demba Ba is pleased to have proved a point to those who snubbed him early on in his career. But isn't he jumping the gun? He's not an established Premiership player yet. Demba Ba has come to St James' Park coming at the age of 26 and suffered countless setbacks suffered before he took the first step on the professional ladder. As a teenage he had unsuccessful trials at Watford, Barnsley, Swansea City, Lyon and Auxerre. FC Rouen finally took a gamble on his services and he has had spells at Mouscron, Hoffenheim and West Ham United before arriving at Newcastle this summer. Demba Ba: "My best quality is that mentally I am very strong. "If you are a good, strong player you can thrive on pressure and expectation and rise to the challenge. Football is all about having fun. I will always be happy on a football pitch. "When I was young and looking for a club, I went to Watford for a couple of months and I learned a hell of a lot. I hoped to get a contract, but it didn't work out. I was upset but I didn't give up. I had always wanted to play in English football. "I went to Swansea and Barnsley, looking again. I tried to make those clubs take me but they didn't and, after a few months, I had to go back to France. But I never gave up. "It helps that I have had to work hard to get where I am now at this great club. I have had setbacks. Everything happens in life for a reason, good and bad. "It has worked out well for me to think I was turned down by Swansea and Barnsley and am now at a club as big as Newcastle. "Stoke was not a good club for me. I do not have any regrets about that. A week later I had signed for West Ham. "People will talk about my knee all my life. I will prove there is no problem by playing well and scoring goals. "Let them talk. I am fit and healthy. Look at the stats from West Ham last season and I did that. I will let my football do the talking."
