Former Crusaders goalkeeper Musa Dibaga has described his decision to leave the club last summer as a 'tough' one, joining Dunfermline Athletic in July. The 26-year-old made 16 league appearances for Crusaders and was a key figure in their play-off victory over Annagh United, which secured their Premiership status. Dibaga's penalty-saving heroics, including two stops in that decisive shootout, were central to the success.

"It was a tough decision to leave Crusaders because I was starting to become a number one there," Dibaga said. He shared goalkeeping duties with Jonny Tuffey in a young squad where he was one of the oldest players at 25 last season. Dibaga noted the challenge of retaining talent, saying other teams quickly move for players after a good season.

Motivation for Dunfermline move

Dibaga cited the opportunity to work under manager Neil Lennon as a major motivation for his move to Scotland. "Neil is another big name...in my short career I have now worked with him and Duncan Ferguson!" he said. He praised Dunfermline's recent performance and described the experience so far as very good. Dibaga stated. He still follows his former club, checking Crusaders' results every weekend and acknowledging the consistent support of their fans.

While Dibaga settles into life at Dunfermline, Annagh United are focused on their own campaign. The Championship leaders sit first with 31 points from 14 games, holding a four-point advantage over Glenavon FC. Their recent form shows three wins, one draw, and one loss from the last five outings, including a 3-0 victory over Loughgall last Friday. Dean Smith's side have scored 36 goals this season, the most in the division, while conceding only 16 for a goal difference of plus twenty. The manager praised his team's character after their latest win, which was part of a two-game winning run. This sequence of results, which also includes a 5-1 win over Queen's University on Saturday 24 October and a 3-4 loss to Limavady United on Tuesday 20 October, has helped maintain their position at the summit with a record of nine wins, four draws, and one loss.

Annagh's next test is an away trip to face 15th-placed Strabane Athletic this Friday. The team's strong start, built on a potent attack, provides a stark contrast to the play-off defeat Dibaga helped inflict last season, underlining the competitive nature of the league. The squad will look to continue their momentum from recent victories over Armagh City on Saturday 17 October and the draw with Glenavon FC on Saturday 10 October as they prepare for the fixture against Strabane.

The original report is at google.com