Ecuador 95' star Christian Saba opens up on signing his first contract for Bayern Munich 25 years ago

Published on: 16 June 2020

Former Ghana youth international, Christian Saba has revealed signing his first contract for German giants Bayern Munich even before the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Ecuador 95. 

The defender caught the eyes of the Bavarians after excelling at the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations in Mali in 1995, with the club sending scouts to get the young Saba sign for them.

The then 16-year old bewildered by the approach from Bayern revealed it took a friendly between the Black Starlets and a Swiss youth side to convince the GermanS to hand him an official contract.

Saba signed the contract and has been with the club for the past 25 years but mostly as a reserve player, until recently when he became a youth team coach for the club.

“I was at the hotel after the win against Mali when I was informed that a man was looking for Ghana’s number 15. I met the man who introduced himself as a representative from Bayern Munich and he expressed an interest in me. I asked him to talk to Arday. I was trembling with excitement. After he left the coach’s room we were caught in two minds. Could he really be from Bayern?,” he told godfred.substack.com.

“The scout came back and asked to see Arday in his room. I was summoned as well and he a call was made to Germany. The phone was handed to Arday and at the end of the line was a World Cup winner and legendary Bayern personality Franz Beckebauer. He told Arday they really wanted me and that he should take good care of me during the tournament. I was sold from the point.”

“During the Starlets camp in Germany we played against a Swiss team. Bayern officials were present and after the game an official contract offer was laid. They wanted to complete the deal before the World Cup. Ernest Thompson was sent from Accra to negotiate the terms and that is how I joined this team that has been my home for the past 25 years,” he narrated.

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