Southeast Asia Indonesia

V.League 1 Journeyman Mansaray Joins Indonesian Champions PSM

PSM Makassar have boosted their attacking lineup for the second half of the 2023/24 Liga 1 Indonesia season by signing former V.League 1 striker Victor Mansaray.

26-year old Mansaray, who was born in Sierra Leone, had most recently concluded his second stint at V.League 1 side Ho Chi Minh City FC, where he scored nine goals in 15 league appearances for the Red Battleship.

Mansaray’s first stint at Ho Chi Minh City saw him score five goals in nine league games back in 2019, while the striker had also spent two separate stints at Becamex Binh Duong, scoring two in nine league games in 2019 and another two times in eleven league appearances in 2020/21. The likes of Hong Linh Ha Tinh and Thep Xanh Nam Dinh had also used Mansaray’s services in recent years.

Other clubs in Mansaray’s CV include American lower league side Charleston Battery, Swedish lower league side Umea FC, and Major League Soccer titans Seattle Sounders, with Mansaray turning out for their reserve squad.

Mansaray had also played for the United States age group national teams, having been raised in Seattle, before declaring himself open for a call-up by the Sierra Leone senior national team in 2017 – however he has yet to represent the Leone Stars in international duty.

Contracted until the end of the season and having passed his medicals, Mansaray is expected to help turn PSM’s fortunes around in the second half of the season, with the Juku Eja languishing in the Liga 1 mid-table as well as having a faltering campaign at the AFC Cup group stages.

Mansaray is set to become the second American to play in Indonesia this season, with former Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng defender Johnny Campbell having signed for Persela Lamongan in the Liga 2 Indonesia, while at the same time following in the footsteps of both Wander Luiz and Chevaughn Walsh as being former V.League 1 danger men who sank their teeth into Indonesian football. But considering both Luiz and Walsh had inconsistent stints in Indonesia, much is expected from Mansaray to perform better than them.