Craig Bratt caught up with Saturday’s front cover star David Sesay, who has been one of our star performers in recent weeks
David Sesay arrived at Crawley Town under no illusions he was going to be a regular starter. Signed by the previous manager Harry Kewell from Watford very much as a player to mould and nurture into a first team player, Sesay has grabbed the unexpected opportunity given to him by Gabriele Cioffi with both hands.
After having limited chances, mainly in Checkatrade Trophy games early on in his Crawley Town career, the defender is now one of the first names on the team sheet after impressing on his league debut at Newport County before the turn of the year.
The chance to shine in South Wales came after Cioffi was hugely impressed by his effort in training. “David is an extremely hard worker and he really deserved his chance,” said the Italian.
A right-footer principally, Sesay has adapted well to the new role on the left-hand side and impressed both with his ability and his energy. “I just want to build on how I’ve performed in recent games and keep showing the manager what I can do. My progression is all about first team football and the more I play the more I will improve.”
Following that draw, Sesay has started all but one game – Mansfield away – and earned his second Man of the Match award of the season against Oldham Athletic having also been the star pick in a Checkatrade Trophy match against Portsmouth back in October.
During the Checkatrade campaign, Sesay’s teammates praised him, with Filipe Morais – who took charge for the match against Tottenham alongside Jimmy Smith – calling him ‘one for the future.’
“David Sesay has a really bright future ahead of him. The lad has got man of the match on his first professional and that really shows what a talent he is,” the midfielder said after the 1-1 draw and subsequent penalty win over Spurs.
Possibly the closest Sesay has come to his first professional goal was in the home defeat in Oldham a fortnight ago when he cut in following a burst down the left-hand side and swung a lovely ball towards goal, with the ball curling just wide of the right-hand post. Should his performances continue at their current level it is unlikely we’ll be waiting much longer for the 20-year-old to get his name on the score sheet for the first time in a Reds shirt.
