Musa

[ICTPaisley]

1 hour ago, big cherly said:

For me, the two most important positions in a team that can influence a match is the striker and the goalie. 
The Striker will always demand the top dollar. Goalies tend to be a lot further down the pecking order in way of wages. They can however accrue more points than the rest of the team players as was proved so effective last season where, whilst we couldn’t score in many games, Musa helped in no small measure getting the points needed to get above Dumbarton and Annan.

I think the guy is a real talent and could be the difference in getting promotion next season. I know all the talk is players earn too much and we (the club), will stay within their new wage structure. I hope that means we pay at least the minimum wage for the hours the guys are contracted for (12, 16, 32 or whatever). 
Savage is no mug however. He knows talent when he sees it. He also knows the value of achieving promotion next season.

Musa’s manager will do (rightly so), what he can to get the best deal for the player. If Musa is content with ICT and would consider staying for another season (to gain more exposure), then I hope AS comes up with a deal that could be acceptable to both parties. 
 

If the boy does move on then I wish him every success in the future. Like it if he finds a team in Scotland 

bc

Personally I don’t see the point in this “just do an extra season with us” mentality. All it’s doing is holding him back another year when he is clearly above this level. 

Id be very surprised if he stayed, and if he does it’s because he lacks ambition.

[Starscape]

3 hours ago, ICTPaisley said:

Personally I don’t see the point in this “just do an extra season with us” mentality. All it’s doing is holding him back another year when he is clearly above this level. 

Id be very surprised if he stayed, and if he does it’s because he lacks ambition.

Not necessarily. He's played about 2/3rds of a season. He's still to prove himself long term. The idea that he'll be first choice for English or Scottish premier teams is unlikely, and I would not be surprised if a larger Championship team would view a player in his first pro season, who had injury problems, as a bit too risky to hang their hat on. If it's a promotion chasing Division One Cove Rangers or relegation threatened Championship such as Dunfermline, then staying and developing with a familiar team is probably best. 

He may well end up being a second choice keeper for a team, not getting games and going backward.

[big cherly]

On 5/31/2025 at 10:31 AM, ICTPaisley said:

Personally I don’t see the point in this “just do an extra season with us” mentality. All it’s doing is holding him back another year when he is clearly above this level. 

Id be very surprised if he stayed, and if he does it’s because he lacks ambition.

Good chance someone will come in with a few quid above our limit that makes it a moot point. 
There is a (strong in my mind), argument for Musa to consider what’s in the stable he knows. ICT will be in with a good chance of either winning promotion outright, or get into the playoffs. 
For this to happen, as Starscape puts well, Musa gets starting place as long as he is fit. It provides him a full season to demonstrate his goalkeeping credentials and showcase his potential for interested bigger clubs.
With the full promotion case, he would be offered the chance of playing in the championship and certainly a marked increase in wages. 
If it’s playoffs (and fail), then Musa has the season under his belt and the further exposure of playoff games. 

Musa’s manager/agent was certainly of the view he would benefit with another season (at ICT) as the boy knows the management, players and area. A stable and contented place to play goes a long way, and I’m sure that’s not lost on both Musa and his manager.

Anyway, I don’t see it as a lack of ambition, more his manager/agent trying to get the best (full package) he can for his client. 

All up in the air until Admin is settled as far as the club are concerned. By that time Musa may have signed for the Coonty!! 
bc

[RiG]

Despite allegedly attracting English Premier League and Championship interest Musa has signed for Crusaders FC...

[+Hiro]

Odd move.  They've been poor for a couple of seasons and its not like there's big wages on offer.  They didn't even qualify for Europe for next season so it's not as if there's a shop window for Musa.

[CELTIC1CALEY3]

Gambia coach is from NI - may have played a part.

[Yngwie]

3 hours ago, RiG said:

Despite allegedly attracting English Premier League and Championship interest Musa has signed for Crusaders FC...

I feel so disappointed for him. 

[CaleyCanary]

6 hours ago, Yngwie said:

I feel so disappointed for him. 

Can’t help feeling he’d have been better off staying with us…

[bishbashbosh]

For those that don’t view the P&J.

Ex-Caley Thistle keeper Musa Dibaga signs for NIFL Premiership side

The Gambian international spent one season with Inverness and was the fans' player of the season. 

by Paul Chalk

June 10 2025, 12:00 pm

Share1Comment

Former Caley Jags number one, Musa Dibaga. 

Former Caley Thistle goalkeeper Musa Dibaga has signed for NIFL Premiership club Crusaders.

The 25-year-old Spanish-born player was signed at the early part of last season by former ICT boss Duncan Ferguson.

It was the first professional move for the keeper, who had only played for East of Scotland outfit Whitehill Welfare and Lowland League side Bo’ness United before impressing on trial in the Highlands.

He arrived at the Caledonian Stadium on a one-year deal, and soon replaced on-loan Dundee United keeper Jack Newman as the first pick.

Inverness looked on course to be agreeing terms with Dibaga last month, but the fans’ player of the season was soon on the move.

His agent Mark Agg-Jones recently told the P&J it was “with a heavy heart” that they had opted to move on, but he cited financial constraints at the League One club as being too restrictive.

 

Clubs in England, including one English Premier League side, were he said interested in Dibaga, who was in Scotland’s third tier’s team of the season – earned with 14 shut-outs in 32 appearances.

‘It was clear that this is the right club for him to continue progressing’

Now the Belfast News Letter is reporting that he’s joined Crusaders in Northern Ireland’s top-flight on a two-year deal.

Crusaders manager Declan Caddell has tipped his new arrival to become “a fans’ favourite” at Seaview.

He told the club’s social media platform: “We’re thrilled to bring Musa to Crusaders. He had a fantastic season with Inverness and comes highly recommended.

 

 

“After speaking with him, it was clear that this is the right club for him to continue progressing and achieve his ambitions of playing at the highest level.

“We look forward to seeing him in action next season and have no doubt he’ll be a big success and an instant fan favourite.”

Semi-professional side Crusaders, who have a mix of part-time and full-time players, finished sixth in their division last term, just three points away from fourth-placed Dungannon Swifts.

After three successive seasons in the Conference League qualifiers, the Crues missed out by being beaten in their Euro play-off semi-finals by Glentoran.

 

The hope is a stronger pool including Dibaga next term will take them back into continental competition.

Agent describes reason for move

Agent Jones has come under fire from some ICT fans, who were gutted to see their number one leave.

He told the P&J “competition was fierce” for Dibaga and added: “Musa has exactly what he needs to continue his journey; a great city, lovely people, and a club that has moved heaven and earth to obtain him.

“The platform and opportunity to attain 90 professional games that may in future include European ties and a real prospect of silverware has been a persuasive influence, as is the opportunity to be part of a fan-owned club in an intense and passionate league, which made this feel right.”

[IBM]

Good luck to Musa although only time will tell if it has been a good move for him, I just wonder if it has been a good move for his agent regarding signing on fees.

[RiG]

Crusaders themselves have confirmed the move. Bit odd that the P & J is reporting the source for the transfer as some local news paper.  

[+CaleyHedgehog]

Best of luck to Musa. He could not have done more for us in the time that he was here, and I hope that he will settle in and do well at his new club.

[ictchris]

That agent must get paid by the word, what a windbag.

[+CaleyD]

At only 25 he may well have been getting interest from the type of teams claimed, but he's unlikely to have been offered first team football, more likely a chance to see how he developed.

Whatever the standard some might consider Crusaders to be, there's more 'shop window' opportunity for him there than here .