Junk Food Had Me On Scrapheap

Mar 16 2008 By Scott Mcdermott

MORGARO GOMIS has revealed how he piled on the pounds on a diet of junk food and was ready to quit football before Cowdenbeath saved his career.

The Dundee United midfielder was ready to chuck the game just three years ago - when he couldn't get a start for English non-league sides.

Amazingly, he's now one of Craig Levein's most valued players at Tannadice and is gearing up for the CIS Cup Final at Hampden today against Rangers.

The 22-year-old Frenchman left Montpellier's football academy in France as a kid to pursue a career in England but after being left on the sidelines he let himself go and was out of shape.

When Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen rescued him while at the Blue Brazil he knew it was his last chance in the game and turned his life around at Central Park.

Morgaro said: "This final means everything to me because three years ago I wasn't even playing football.

"I couldn't get a game with the likes of Dagenham and Redbridge or Barnet and was on the verge of quitting.

"I wasn't fit when I was down there and I was eating bad stuff all the time.

"Because of that I became overweight and unfit. When I came to Cowdenbeath I lost a lot of weight and began feeling really good again.

"I told myself it was my final chance to make it. "My family backed me up.

They knew playing football was all I ever wanted to do. Now I need to make up for lost time."

It has been one hell of a journey for Gomis, going from Montpellier to Chelsea as a trialist before finding himself in Fife and then United.

But he's adamant his spell at Cowdenbeath changed his life and insists he'll never forget the experience.

He said: "I started my career at Montpellier at 14 when Cameroon legend Roger Milla was one of the youth coaches.

"But they released me and I got a trial at Chelsea. I trained with the reserves for two months but they didn't offer a contract.

"That's when I started playing in the lower leagues in England.

"When it didn't work out my agent said Mixu would give me a chance and I thought 'go for it'.

"Mixu told me to enjoy my football and that's what I did.

"Craig Levein then came and watched me and invited me for a trial at United.

"To find myself preparing for a cup final now is unbelievable.

"I've got my ambition back and want to play at the highest level.

"Even my bad experience in England hasn't put me off trying that again in the future."