Former Hapoel Tel Aviv Striker Bubacarr Tambedou Revives Career in Danish Top League

Bubacarr Tambedou, a Gambian striker once considered a flop at Hapoel Tel Aviv, has signed with Danish top-tier club SønderjyskE after a turbulent period in Israel and elsewhere. Tambedou joined Hapoel Tel Aviv in January 2024 for 150,000 euros during the club's relegation season but left after only six appearances and four months, following an undisclosed incident.

Since leaving Israel, Tambedou has revitalized his career, becoming the top scorer in the Estonian Premium Liiga with 14 goals in 18 appearances for Flora Tallinn and contributing in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers. Prior to that, he played for Dinamo Batumi in Georgia, where he scored three goals, including two in the Georgian Supercup, helping his team win the title.

In an interview from Estonia, Tambedou described his difficult time at Hapoel Tel Aviv, citing language barriers with a new coach and isolation as key challenges. He also revealed that the Israeli club was the first to offer him a good salary after other clubs rejected him. His off-field troubles include a 2023 conviction in Estonia for shoplifting, which complicated his visa renewal and limited his playing opportunities there.

Tambedou's new club, SønderjyskE, was promoted to the Danish Superliga in 2024 and finished sixth in the previous season. The club has no league titles but was runner-up in 2016 and won the Danish Cup in 2020. Tambedou’s signing marks a promising new chapter after a rocky start in Israel and elsewhere.

He expressed that despite having material success, he struggled with loneliness and lack of support during his time in Israel, which contributed to his departure. His career resurgence in Estonia and now Denmark highlights his potential when in a supportive environment.