Fankaty Dabo opens up on that missed penalty at Wembley, his career slide, abuse on social media and being ridiculed by Troy Deeney.
The 28 year old couldn’t net his spot kick in Coventry’s Championship playoff final to Luton in 2023, subsequently being released by the Sky Blues that very night.
He moved to Forest Green where boss Troy Deeney publicly mocked him, contributing to Dabo losing his love for the game.
Now he’s at his new club Raith Rovers, although insists he’s not bitter about his fall from grace in the last few years.
š¤ WELCOME, FANKATY DABO!
The 28-year-old right back joins us with a wealth of experience both down south and in Europe.
Known for his high energy, Fankaty brings pace, dangerous crosses, strength and tenacity to the squad.
Welcome to Starkās Park, Fankaty!#YouBelong pic.twitter.com/20dxtpLFC9
ā Raith Rovers Football Club (@RaithRovers) September 23, 2024
š¹ Fankaty Dabo meets RaithTV.
Our newest signing talks about his journey to Kirkcaldy and who he is both as a player and person. https://t.co/c1U83SsfiV pic.twitter.com/hvyArx3Gvn
ā Raith Rovers Football Club (@RaithRovers) September 23, 2024
š¬ Quickfire Questions.
Fankaty Dabo reveals his football idol, the best player he’s played against, his favourite kit he’s worn and more. pic.twitter.com/E0yGePkSTl
ā Raith Rovers Football Club (@RaithRovers) September 24, 2024
Dabo said, per the Daily Mail: “I felt like I had let a lot of people down because playing in the Premier League is not only lucrative, but itās also fulfilling because itās peopleās dreams.
“So, me missing the penalty felt like Iād stopped a lot of peopleās dreams. I have always been one to take accountability and take a lot of pressure on myself for others, so thatās how I felt in the moment.”
On was subjected to online racist abuse: “I was made aware of it, but thank God I didnāt see it because I donāt know how I would have reacted. There are so many much better people out there than ignorant people making stupid comments.”
On Robins telling him that he was surplus to requirements: “Me and the gaffer had been in dialogue since the start of the season. But I really found out after the game at Wembley, which was the cherry on a s*** cake really.
“It is what it is. Thatās football and the industry we are in. You know what youāre going to get half of the time, and so itās just a case of deal with it and move on.
“You get inklings in life; you get gut feelings. It is what it is and I have no hard feelings. Itās just football.”
Since his departure from the Sky Blues, he signed for Forest Green, only for that to not go as he had hoped.
At the time, Rovers were dropping down the EFL, having been relegated from League One, David Horseman was replaced by Troy Deeney, who then lasted just 29 days having publicly criticised his players, including Dabo after defeat to Harrogate.
Deeney said to the media at the time: “I said to him in front of everyone, six months ago, you had a kick to get to the Premier League. Now you wonāt even get a game in the National League.”
Forest Green went on to get relegated to the National League under Steve Cotterill with Dabo, despite making 35 appearances, was again finding himself on the move.
He became the newest signing of Scottish Championship outfit Raith Rovers earlier this week on a deal until January.
āIām delighted to be here and looking forward to getting back to playing and enjoying my football again,ā he said as he gets set for this weekendās game with Falkirk.
āMy agent said to me that there are better players who have missed bigger penalties than I have. John Terry missed one in a Champions League final and his career was still amazing. He wasnāt defined by that penalty miss.
āSo, itās just another piece to my own puzzle; or another piece to my armour. I donāt feel like one shoddy penalty defines me.
āHopefully, I can remain fit and itās a new chapter and story to be told.ā
The past 16 months of Fankaty Daboās career have been tough, to say the least, after he missed a crucial penalty in the Championship play-off final.
Heās been through a lot. https://t.co/SwGCOK2v7t
ā Jack Kenmare (@jackkenmare_) September 28, 2024
š£ “I’ve learned that football is very cruel.” š„
Just over a year ago, in May 2023. a missed penalty took Dabo from the cusp of the Premier League to despair.
His journey since that fateful day is a fascinating one and it’s a side of footballers we very rarely hear about. pic.twitter.com/TlzjW0v6L9
ā SPORTbible (@sportbible) September 28, 2024
Seen a fair few people share the transcript of what Troy Deeney said about Dabo, here’s the audio for those interested – sounds even harsher hearing it. You’re meant to support your players, not publicly shame them. What happened to the importance of mental health @T_Deeney?? pic.twitter.com/dW9wOnVAvU
ā Debajyoti Choudhury (@TDC1991) January 14, 2024
Dabo also spoke to SPORTbible: “I’ve spoken to a few people recently and they’ve all said the same thing. They say memories in football are short. Everyone forgets what’s happened and who you are. I’ve learned that football is very cruel.
“Everyone still asks me about it. They always say something along the lines of, ‘Oh, you missed a penalty and this has happened to your career’. It has become annoying. It could have changed a lot of people’s lives but at the end of the day, someone had to miss.”
“The amount of people who have asked, ‘Why did you end up at Forest Green after missing the penalty?’ I don’t know. Have you got the answer? If you’ve got the answer, then I’ll take it, but itās just football. It is what it is.”
On looking ahead and wanting to play for the love of football again: “My little boy would love to see me play again”
On being a footballer: āI’ve realised that football isnāt everything. There’s so much more to life. Everyone isn’t going to be wealthy enough to retire and never work again. You see a lot of footballers venturing out into different fields and expressing themselves, whether it’s fashion or music.
“Itās funny. When I was younger, I’d see following that path and would think, ‘What are you doing? You should be focusing on your football’ but now I see it in a completely different light. There’s more to life than football because when football ends, or if football doesnāt treat you great, then youāve got another option.”
He was frustrated at a lack of game time and watching everyone else play:, but knew he had more to give when training on his own.
“I’ve been trying to reach out to my friends who are in the same position as me,” he said, with Michael Hector and Darnell Johnson helping him. “You try and keep everybody’s spirits up. It can be tough.
“It’s so easy to feel like you’ve seen your friends with social media. All they’ve got to do is upload a Snapchat or an Instagram picture and you feel like you’ve seen them. But really and truly, I haven’t in months. That’s what I’ve been trying to do in my spare time.”
“Did I fall out of love with football? Maybe last year.”
Coventry fans slam article published by The Sun on former player Fankaty Dabo
“I just felt like I let a lot of people down. I felt like I let my teammates down, the fans down, and my family down; all because life could have got a lot better for everyone.
“Iād say we werenāt a kick away from the Premier League because, as I’ve said previously, I was just keeping us in the game. But my teammates could have played in the Premier League last year, so it would have been a whole new experience for them.
“You feel like you let a lot of people down but when my teammate and coaches reassured me that I didn’t, then it’s like, āOkay coolā and you try to move on.
“I’m not caught up on it because there are people who have missed bigger penalties than me… much bigger. So, who am I to be grieving as if it’s the worst thing in the world? I don’t really think about it until I’m asked. I’m buzzing to even have stepped up to take a penalty at Wembley.”
On the hours that followed after the playoff final: āThere were loads of people around me. All my family and friends came into my house, just to console me after what was almost a traumatic time. All the coaching staff wanted to make sure I was okay, as well.
āYou live and you learn. In fact, I’d say it’s helped me be more empathetic towards players who miss penalties. Previously, I looked at it and thought, ‘Ah well he’s missed’ but now I’ve been in that position, I understand how it really feels.
“Me and the gaffer had a few conversations and you begin to understand that it’s coming to an end.Ā everyone acted like he called me the day after the play-off final, but it was me. I pushed him for a response because I was going on holiday with my family, and I didn’t want that looming over my head.
“The question was whether I was going to get a contract or not. He really wanted to meet me and speak face to face, but I just said, ‘Gaffar I’d rather just call me and let me know now. Whatever the case, I can just deal with it and then just go and relax with my family.ā We had a quick chat but it was simple enough.”
He has praised the Sky Blue faithful for their support: “The fans are amazing. They always had my back. Even when I go and watch a game now, I’m still viewed as almost a cult hero. I havenāt got a bad word to say about the club. Despite how it ended, I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.”
On falling out of love for football: “I’m going to be completely honest with you. I didn’t enjoy it. It’s nobody’s fault but… I just didn’t enjoy it. That’s the most that I can say.”
David Horseman personally got in touch with Dabo to express just how interested he was in signing the player, saying he was “way above” League Two level.
āHeās a brilliant person and an unbelievable leader,” Horseman said before adding a “massive thank you” to Rovers for getting the deal done.
Dabo: “I just wanted to play. And up to that point, I thoroughly enjoyed football. I was thinking, as long as my family is fed, as long as we’re alright, then I’ll move. At the end of the day, I just wanted to enjoy it. As a kid, that’s all I wanted to do ā enjoy playing football. But it didn’t turn out great. We live and learn.”
On Troy Deeney: āIt is what it is. He said it to me in the dressing room first. That’s what he chose to do. I’m not mad about it.ā
What Troy said of Dabo: āDabo was awful again and Iāve told him. He wonāt be playing on Tuesday. Heās faster than anybody but he gets ran every game, he never makes a tackle, and every time the ball comes to him he looks like he kicks it with his shin pads.
āHeās not been good enough for five, six, seven, eight, nine weeks now. Why do you think he was dropped at the start? Iāve told him in front of everyone that six months ago he had a kick to go to the Premier League, now he wouldnāt get a game in the National League.ā
Dabo on. talking with current FGR boss Steve Cotterill: “The manager called me into the office after we got relegated. He said, ‘I want to go in a new direction.’ I was completely fine with it. We just shook hands and went our separate ways.”
He went on a free-of-charge initiative with the Professional Footballers’ Association [PFA] putting on an intense 10-week programme last summer.
It saw out-of-contract players keeping up fitness levels with the hope of finding a new club.
āIt made me realise how enjoyable football can be,ā Dabo says.
āI didn’t enjoy my time there [at Forest Green] but when I went to the PFA camp, I was like, ‘This is great. This is football. This is what being a team feels like.ā All of us know how tough and depressing it can be to train by yourself, so to be alongside people who are in the same boat was nice.ā
āItās interesting to see different perspectives on what you see in the media, because a lot of media stuff can be twisted. You know what they say; there are three sides to every story. Your side, their side and the truth. So curating your own view on it is interesting.ā
Ahead of his first game for Raith: āWould I say that Iām going to kickstart my career again? No, but it’s up to me ā like it was last year ā to prove how good I am,” he says. “I just want to get back to a level where I’m playing good football. And I want to feel appreciated at a club who wants me.
“As long I put my mind to it and stay focused, I’m sure I’ll be able to work my way up the ladder again.ā
Twitter users gave their reaction as Fankaty Dabo opens up on that missed penalty at Wembley, the career slide, abuse and being ridiculed…
@kingy1969: Good luck lad. You deserve some luck in your career. Stay fit and keep playing.
@Reece33782895: All real Skyblues love you @FankDabo š©µ
@willieo2018: @FankDabo Love you brother. Youāll always be a Sky Blue. All the best in your future career
@OllieHopo49963: What a man @FankDabo š©µ
@SkyBlueCrampy: Love himā¦ a key guy in the revival of our club. Heās so much more than that penalty miss š©µš #PUSB @FankDabo
@Moore_Thought: Heās a beautiful human being.
@Swissy_____: If anyone deserves a good run at a club – it’s Fanky. Will start looking for their results ! Good luck
@skybluchrisymc: Good luck Fanky we loved him at Cov He will do well for you boys #PUSB
@iain_latto: Donāt tell Troy Deeney! š Topper of a signing. Delighted with that!
@SBAconnor: A class act and player for you Raith, I really hope you revitalise his form and show him the love he deserves and needs right now. We will be following you at Coventry
@michaelrenwick_: If you can keep him fit and firing he will be exceptional for you. If you can get him back to the player we originally signed and had in our title winning season. Good luck Fankaty š©µ
@talkabouttom: Luton fan here – always felt sorry for how it ended after the penalty for Fanky (especially at FGR) so I’m glad to see he’s got another chance to prove himself yet again šŖ
@rcw9715: If he hit peak form youāre absolutely laughing. Injuries and constantly playing when never fit enough absolutely derailed his career. Real shame
@ngreen1604: Good luck @FankDabo you deserve a break hope everything goes well up there in bonnie Scotland you were a top player for us in our progress to the Championship, and unlucky with injuries..onwards and upwards #PUSB
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