Demba Ba will be focused on gunning down Bolton today – but he has a dual target in 2012. Mark Douglas reports.
HE will leave Tyneside with a heavy heart, but Demba Ba feels the pull of national service next month is too pressing to ignore.
Ba is one of Europe’s hottest properties right now and soared to 13 goals for the season with another stunning double salvo in Wednesday’s defeat to West Brom. But delight at Ba’s brilliance is slightly tempered by the knowledge that United may be without him for four games next month if Senegal – as predicted – make a real impact in the African Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
It is a thought troubling the striker just as much as it is his club supporters, but Ba believes he has no choice.
National pride and the importance of a tournament too often patronised on these shores mean he will check in with the Lions of Teranga in three weeks.
“It will be a terrible blow to leave the team,” he admits. “This is my club and I am proud of it, but this is for my country. I am going there to play for my country and to try to win. I am not going there for a holiday. It is a big tournament.
“I have mixed feelings about going away, but I have to do it. I want to make my people and my country proud in the African Nations Cup. I will feel sad leaving at this stage because everything is going well, although we need to improve some of our results.”
