Kuopion Palloseura decide not to offer contract to Mal Ceesay

Gambia's Yankuba 'Mal' Ceesay

Finnish Veikkausliiga club Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS) have opted against offering a contract to Gambia midfielder Yankuba ‘Mal’ Ceesay, who is a free agent.

The former Wallidan and Alianza Atlético midfielder finds himself without a club after leaving Estonian Meistriliiga side JK Nõmme Kalju at the end of his two-year contract, which came to an end last season.

That allowed KuPS to bring Mal Ceesay in on a trial basis, and he has spent the last week training with the Savon Sanomat Areena club.

The 29-year-old has, however, been unable to reach an agreement on his future.

As a result, a man who has also turned out for Walsall and Degerfors IF and has been capped by Gambia since 2008, remains up for grabs and will explore other avenues in his pursuit of a new employer.

A statement on Kuopion Palloseura’s website read: “Midfielder Yankuba Ceesay (29) is not related to Kuopio football club ranks. [The] Gambian’s testing period ended this week, and the player [will] no longer be part of [the club’s plans] this season.”

Ceesay started his footballing career with Gambia Football Federation First Division side Wallidan FC in 2004 before moving to Peru to play for Club Alianza Atlético Sullana where he became the first Gambian to play professional football in Latin America.

Mal spent a year at the Peruvian club before having a brief trial with English League One side Walsall FC but was unsuccessful to land himself a deal. In 2008, it was announced that he has joined Swedish Superettan [second tier] side Degerfors IF. He had his first cap for the Gambia national football team in a match against Senegal.

He won his first trophy since turning professional with JK Nõmme Kalju who claimed their maiden Estonian title in the 2012 season.