On a cold Saturday evening in December, Ilford FC management and players each got in their respective cars for a journey home after a 1-1 away draw with high flying Saffron Walden Town. For most of the players, it is the last game they will play until at least 26th December, due to the new Tiers and restrictions put on London and Essex in the fight against Coronavirus. Ilford manager Adam Peek commented, saying that “He doesn’t expect the league to be finished this season…”
For Ilford’s Mo Kargbo, it’s back to student life for him. As a student at the University of East London, Mo must juggle both university and football expectations, and other stresses on his shoulders. The young winger has been at the heart of most good performances Ilford have produced this season, a stunning solo goal against Cockfosters comes to mind way back in October., picking the ball up 25 yards from goal, slaloming between three oncoming defenders before nutmegging the goalkeeper with an ice cool finish. That little passage of play shows Mo has real talent and ability and can certainly have dreams of becoming a footballing star in his own right. In his six appearances for Ilford this season, Mo has scored twice, assisted three times and picked up three ‘Man of the Match ‘awards too, showing his clear talent and pedigree in this Ilford side.
“Football to me is a way of life,” says Kargbo, who really isn’t joking. As well as being an integral part to Peek’s Ilford team in the Essex Senior League, he also plays for the UEL Men’s first team too, but those ventures were only recent for Mo. “I joined the first team late here at UEL, so for me it was just a real honour to join the team but I want to help them to the best of my ability when we can get started playing university sports again”. This hunger and drive for Mo to play sport to his highest ability shows how football is important to him and how it is a form of escapism. “When I am on the pitch it is where I get my happiness.
“When I am on the pitch, I don’t have to think about things worrying me in life”. Within the ongoing third national lockdown in the United Kingdom, the non-league football picture is looking bleak. Clubs at Step 3-6 of the non-league pyramid have been asked to vote on whether the season will continue, and this will have a direct impact on Ilford if the feeder leagues above them, in this case the Isthmian League, call a halt and null and void the season. All of Peek’s work as manager and chairman will have gone to waste.
The Coronavirus pandemic again looks to be stopping Mo Kargbo in his tracks when he looked to have the footballing world at his feet but the young Ilford and UEL star will be destined to hit the ground running, whenever that may be.
