April 6, 2002 – Mamadou Diallo scores his only Revolution goal

Diallo reveals a shirt sporting a U.S. flag and words “God Bless America” under his Revs’ jersey, winning over crowd after scoring for the first time since Sept. 11, 2001 strikes.

San Jose 2:1 Revolution at Spartan Stadium (Att.: 10,104)

Diallo’s stay in MLS was marked by controversy and spectacular scoring outputs, few players having made a stronger impact in MLS’ early years. After the Revolution’s visit to San Jose, my story noted: “Diallo has a scorer’s uncompromising mentality and a philanthropist’s heart,” referring to both his physical presence (a collision with MetroStars’ goalkeeper Mike Ammann hospitalized Ammann) and his work developing players in Senegal. Diallo’s physicality and finishing touch helped make him an accomplished scorer, but he also had a compassionate side.

“For what happened in New York last year, I did it for the people there,” Diallo said after the game. “I am living here and I am being paid here. America supports a lot of people in the world. I felt so sorry when it happened. I know a lot of people who were affected by this. I know a lot of people in my country think the way I think. I am a Muslim. A good Muslim would never do what happened [on Sept. 11]. A good Muslim would never kill. That is what the Koran teaches. A good Muslim prays to God and does good things, not bad things.”

The Revolution acquired Diallo with the first pick in the 2002 dispersal draft (they also added Carlos Llamosa, Steve Ralston, Jim Rooney, Alex Pineda Chacon and Shaker Asad), after MLS terminated the Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny. Diallo led the league with 26 goals in his first season with the Mutiny in 2000 and scored nine more in ’01. Diallo was expected to combine with MLS Most Valuable Player Alex Pineda Chacon up front for the Revolution, but the pairing seldom clicked, and Taylor Twellman’s emergence opened other options. Diallo had hoped to stick with the Revolution, having become familiar with the area visiting his brother in law, a Boston resident, but played only seven games before being traded to the MetroStars May 24, 2002. Diallo went on to score three times in three games against the Revolution, and had a four-goal game on the way to totaling 11 goals for the MetroStars in ‘02.

Diallo, who made 46 appearances for Senegal’s national team (he is credited with 10 goals by some sources, 21 by others), played for 15 teams on four continents in a 19-year career.

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