Inverness Caley Thistle head coach Scott Kellacher praises goalkeeper Musa Dibaga for taking his opportunity in Highland capital after stopper’s first international call-up for Gambia
Inverness Caledonian Thistle head coach Scott Kellacher says the entire club is delighted for goalkeeper Musa Dibaga, who has been called up to the Gambia national squad for the first time.
Having initially signed last summer to be a back up to loanee Jack Newman, Dibaga forced his way into the starting line-up and has kept 11 clean sheets in 28 appearances.
Now, he has been included in the Gambia squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Kenya on March 20 and Ivory Coast on March 24, meaning Dibaga will miss Caley Thistle’s match against Alloa Athletic next weekend.
“I’m over the moon for him,” Kellacher said.
“He’s a great lad, and the way he goes about his business every day is excellent.
“We all just had a wee get together in the dressing room, and the boys are absolutely delighted.
“Everyone is delighted for him, because he has done great since he came in the door. He’s a good character in the dressing room, and he always has a smile on his face – and above all that, he’s a fantastic goalkeeper.
“On behalf of the club, we’re just really pleased for him, and it shows you what can happen even at this level. There are opportunities there for the boys.
“He has been a great find. He has stepped up after coming in as a number two when Jack Newman was here as number one, and Musa got the opportunity.
“He’s a great example of getting an opportunity and taking it, and that’s what football is all about.
“You have to be patient sometimes, but when you get your opportunity you have to take it, and he has done that, so good on him.”
With Dibaga unavailable for next week’s match at the Caledonian Stadium, it would leave young Szymon Rebilas as the only gloveman in ICT’s squad.
Kellacher is not ruling out an emergency loan to provide temporary cover, but says that is a conversation that will need to take place.
“That’s football, you have to deal with these things when they come along,” Kellacher reasoned.
“You get injuries as well, and you have to adapt, but we’re absolutely delighted for Musa.
“We’ll look at all situations that we find ourselves, so we’ll look to see what we can do – if that’s an emergency loan or not.
“We’re just finding out that he’s been called up, so now we need to get our thinking caps on, but we’re all delighted for him.”
ICT will be hoping that Dibaga can continue the form that got him into his international set-up this weekend against Annan Athletic, where the Caley Jags could move eight points clear of the bottom two.
A question mark does remain over the availability of Alfie Bavidge, though, with Inverness still awaiting the results of a scan after he was withdrawn early on against Stenhousemuir on Tuesday night with a hamstring strain.
