NAME Amadou Kassaraté

SHIRT NO. 8

POSITION Central-Midfield

Team you support and your childhood footballing hero?

Arsenal and Thierry Henry.

When did you first visit Champion Hill?

2012/13 FA Youth Cup match against Dulwich when I was with Cambridge United Youth.

How did you come to join?

Dacey reached out after the end of last season. He spoke about his project and his ambitions for the club. Being from south east London, I’ve always admired Dulwich and kept tabs on them. I said ‘Yes’ without hesitation. It's an honour to be here.

Where do you play?

My best position is in CM – playing either as a 6 or an 8.

Can you play anywhere else?

Across my career, I’ve played every position apart from left-back. I consider myself a versatile player.

What other Senior clubs have you played for previously?

Dumbarton and Stanraer in Scotland. Greek side Thesprotos. Welling United, Cheshunt, Bishops Stortford and Folkestone Invicta.

Any trophies in the cabinet?

Thesprotos is in mainland Greece near Corfu. We were play off winners to go up to Super League 2 in 2018/19.

I was also an Isthmian Premier playoff winner with Cheshunt in 2021/22 to go up to Step 2. I scored the opener against Hornchurch in a great 2-1 win.

Who would you consider the best player you've ever played alongside and why?

Nathan Oduwa. A winger for Tottenham and London Schools back around 2010-12. I have seen him do the whole lot on the pitch, rainbow flicks, flip flaps, nutmegs...

Toughest Opponent?

In Greece, I played against a Brazilian '10' called Marcolino Neeto in a friendly against Larissa. I had to mark him, but couldn't get anywhere near him. His awareness, technique and range of passing was unbelievable.

Best moment in football?

Getting called up to Senegal's U20 team back in March 2015.

Best goal you've ever scored?

An overhead kick from inside the box. It was my first senior goal in professional football playing for Stranraer against Stenhousemuir in Scottish League 1 back in April 2017.

Best moment since joining?

Scoring on my first start at Champion Hill in the 3-1 win against Welling United.

Hopes for this season?

To get promoted.

Favourite stadium?

Hampden Park. When I was on loan at Stranraer in 2016/17 we played there against Queens Park in the league.

Favourite other sports?

Basketball. I follow the NBA. Sometimes I go to watch the London Lions in the British Basketball League.

Tell us something about yourself none of us know?

I can speak four languages.

English, French, Wolof and Fulani – my next goal is to learn Arabic and German.

If you could change one rule in the game, what would it be?

The current rules for handball. It’s become ridiculous.

This article originally appeared in the Dulwich Hamlet Match Day Programme You can download PDFs of previous issues here.