𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐒𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐬 𝐆𝐒𝐂 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐀𝐅 𝐂 𝐋𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐚

Just days after leading 𝐑𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐅𝐂 to glory in the 𝐆𝐒𝐂 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓/𝟐𝟔 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐩 , Coach Sulayman Barrow “Yetti” has reached another major milestone in his football journey, successfully earning his 𝐂𝐀𝐅 𝐂 𝐋𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐦.

Coach Sulayman Barrow’s Red Star that won the GSC 2025/26 League Cup

The 39-year-old tactician continues to cement his reputation as one of the finest emerging coaches from Gunjur and the wider region, combining recent silverware with formal coaching education.

Barrow’s rise is a story of persistence, growth, and transformation - from a young goalkeeper to a title-winning coach.

𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲

Barrow began his playing career at the age of 15 as a goalkeeper. He featured in his first junior nawettan tournament in 2003 with a team known as France, before going on to represent Janneh Koto between 2005 and 2011 in the Gunjur summer nawettan.

In 2011, he joined GAMCEL - now known as Red Star FC where he played until 2015.

While he did not win any trophy as a player in Gunjur nawettan, Barrow found success outside the town, winning three trophies as a player with teams in Madina Salam, Tujereng, and Lamin.

His leadership qualities were evident early on, serving as Assistant Secretary General of the Gunjur Sports Committee in 2016 and 2017 before transitioning into coaching in 2018.

𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫: 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬

Barrow began his coaching career with Red Star (formerly GAMCEL) in 2018, enduring a challenging debut season with semi-final and knockout exits.

Coach Sulayman Barrow’s Red Star FC

A breakthrough came in 2019 when he guided his team to the league title, defeating Fabaida (formerly Halifax), marking his first major achievement on the touchline.

Despite disruptions caused by 𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐃-𝟏𝟗 in 2020, Barrow led his side to a runners-up finish in a locally organised tournament. In 2021, he added a Super Cup title but faced a difficult nawettan campaign with early exits.

Coach Sulayman Barrow’s Gunjur team that won the 2021 West Coast Zonal trophy

His resilience paid off in 2022, winning the knockout trophy against Mighty Ajax and achieving remarkable success as head coach of the Gunjur Town Team, clinching both the District and West Coast Region (WCR) Zonal championships.

Sulayman Barrow’s Gunjur District team that won the District tournament in 2021

Gunjur Zonal team led by Coach Sulayman Barrow that won the West Coast Super Cup in 2025

Barrow continued to build his résumé in the years that followed:

• 2023: Super Cup winner; quarter-final finishes in league and knockout

• 2024: WCR Zonal finalist; later won Super Cup against Foni

• 2025: Knockout Cup winner; league semi-finalist

• 2026: GSC League Cup champion with Red Star FC

𝐀 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞

Now armed with a 𝐂𝐀𝐅 𝐂 𝐋𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐚, Barrow’s latest achievement signals not just personal progress, but a commitment to professionalism and higher coaching standards.

His journey, from a trophyless nawettan playing career in Gunjur to becoming one of its most decorated and qualified young coaches, serves as an inspiration to aspiring footballers and coaches across the community.

Coach Sulayman Barrow is a promising young coach

Coach Sulayman Barrow at Nyamina Mini Stadium

A future National team coach?

With silverware in hand and qualifications secured, Sulayman Barrow’s trajectory suggests that even greater accomplishments may lie ahead.