Hereford's Loss is O'Kelly's Gain

It has been reported that Mustapha Dumbuya, now improving his game with Richard O'Kelly at Doncaster, had a trial with Hereford United in summer 2009.

The previous season Dumbuya, a defender, played for Wingate & Finchley and Maidenhead United and before moving to the Moathouse Stadium.

"We are big on the personality and the character of the person we bring to the football club," O'Kelly told the Star.

"We don't always get it right but any person who signs a contract and comes through the door at Doncaster Rovers needs to be the right character, personality and want to improve and do things the way we do.

"When Mustapha first came to the club we thought that he had all those qualities so hopefully he can keep going from strength to strength."

O'Kelly, who had a succesful spell as coach at Edgar Street under Graham Turner, also spoke about the difficulties of picking a player from non-league.

"Mustapha is a long way away from being the finished article. Like any player, if you start to listen the plaudits coming your way you can become complacent.

"Mustapha has got a long way to go but in the two games (recently) he has played he certainly has not done his case any harm.

"In pop music, you have one hit wonders and in football sometimes you have one season wonders.

"He has started very well but the trick as a professional footballer is to do it day in, day out. He has got to keep on coming to training to try and improve himself and then going out and playing the game becomes second nature."

Dumbuya was with Grays when he came on trial to Hereford.

"I’ve played for Wingate and Finchley, Maidenhead and Grays Athletic, whilst at these clubs I had trials with Gillingham and Hereford United but was turned down by both for lack of experience," said Dumbuya last summer.

"I also trained with Fulham for a period."

He also had a loan spell with Bournemouth last season.

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