Ceesay focused on St. Pauli survival amid 'frustrating' goal drought
FC St. Pauli forward Abdoulie Ceesay has spoken candidly about his struggle for minutes and his ongoing wait for a first club goal, but insists his sole focus remains on helping the team avoid Bundesliga relegation. The 22-year-old Gambian international has made just six brief substitute appearances in the league since the start of 2026, totalling only 21 minutes of action.
With St. Pauli entrenched in the relegation playoff place and only four matches remaining, Ceesay told Bulinews.com that maintaining motivation is a challenge, but one he is meeting head-on. "It's hard, but you have to stay strong in this kind of situation," Ceesay said. "You don't look at yourself first; you look at the position of your teammates, and then you try to push yourself to help the team stay in good shape." The forward has featured 20 times this season without a single start.
Ceesay acknowledged that head coach Alexander Blessin's tactical system has not been an ideal fit for his style as a central striker. "The formation we use is hard for strikers," he admitted. "But the coach makes the tactics and the game plan, and you just have to adapt and prove yourself on the pitch." He joined St. Pauli on a permanent transfer from Estonian side Paide in the summer of 2024, but is yet to find the net for the German club, a fact he describes as "very frustrating."
The striker revealed the significant step up in quality from the Estonian league to the Bundesliga required a substantial period of adaptation. "The level here is far, far different. It was tough in the beginning, but I can see that I'm getting to the level step by step," Ceesay explained. He credited Blessin with helping him understand the pace and positional demands of the top flight, where transitions are rapid and mistakes are punished swiftly.
Despite his peripheral role and ongoing goal drought, Ceesay dismissed any immediate speculation about his future. When asked by Bulinews.com if a summer transfer could be possible, he responded, "I have no idea. Right now, my only focus is on the team and helping us stay in the league. That's the main thing for me." His immediate attention is on a crucial relegation six-pointer away to bottom side 1. FC Heidenheim this Saturday.
The coming weeks will be critical for St. Pauli's survival hopes and, by extension, for Ceesay's prospects at the club. A failure to secure Bundesliga status could precipitate a wider squad overhaul in the summer, potentially affecting players like Ceesay who have found opportunities limited. For now, the forward is channeling his frustration into a determined push to secure top-flight football for another season, hoping his moment to finally score for the club arrives in the process.
