Two veteran sports journalists were awarded honorary life membership of AIPS Africa at the official opening ceremony of the continental body’s congress, at the Radisson Blue Hotel in Bamako, Mali.

Kasonga Tshilunde of Congo and Mamadou Koume of Senegal were both honoured by AIPS Africa.

As a veteran who has mentored many young African reporters, 66-year-old Tshilunde, on receiving his award from the Malian Sports Minister, advised young journalists to work by the principles that govern the trade and continue to uphold to the developments of AIPS and AIPS Africa.

On his part, Mamadou Koume, who is also the President of the Senegalese Sports Journalists Association (ANPS), was emotional as he accepted the award.

Koume, who has spent over 35 years in the profession, recalled his ups and downs as a journalist, while reminding journalists to always uphold the ethics of the profession.

Source: Ida Bah, SJAG Exco Member

The nominees for the different categories for the seventh National Sports Award Night and Gala, organised by the Sports Journalists Association of The Gambia (SJAG), were Monday morning officially unveiled by the event’s organising committee.

Speaking at a press briefing, where the nominees were revealed, Musa Sise, President of the SJAG, underscored the importance of the event, which he said has earned recognition and respect from the general public.

He informed the press that the event is expected to be graced by prominent sports and non-sports personalities.

“The event is taking place next Friday at the Djembeh Hotel, formerly Jerma, starting at 8pm. We§§§§§                § are urging those given invitation to be there on time. We are also encouraging institutions that want to buy tables to come forward and do so,” he said.

Sise thanked those institutions that have come on board to partner with SJAG for the event.

The various categories

WBC Super middleweight champion Boxer Badou Jack is the only candidate for the Sports Personality of the Year. This category, which is usually determined by the organisers went to FIFA referee Bakary Papa Gassama last year.

The nominees for the Local-based Athlete of the Year Award are Gamtel’s Yahya Ndong, Real de Banjul’s Abdoulie Jallow and athlete Adama Jammeh.

The Foreign-based Athletes are: Pa Modou Jagne of Sion FC in Switzerland, Baboucarr Steve Trawally of Yanbian in China and Judoka Faye Njie in Finland.

Mawdo Jallow, Sheriff Njie and Isatou Touray are contesting for the Best Referee Award.

The nominees for the Best Coach Award are Tapha Manneh of Gamtel, Abdoulie Ngum of Serrekunda West Basketball Team, and Jane Joof of Samger. The Best Team Award saw the nomination of Gamtel, Serrekunda West Basketball Team and Samger.

For the first time, a Best Local-based Female Athlete has been included in the awards category. Adama Tamba of Red Scorpions, athlete Gina Bass, Interior’s Isatou Jallow (Basse) and Mbassy Darboe are the nominees for this category.

The nominees for the Institution in Support of Sports Award are: MGI, First Eco Partners, and Bayba Financial Services. The winners will be announced on Friday during the event.

The night will also witness the awarding of certificates to legendary sports personalities that had and presently doing well in the development of sports in the country.

by Alieu Ceesay

Gambia U-20 Coach Omar Sise has told Observer that Scandinavia based quartet of Erik Stafford, Sulayman Ceesay, Saihou Sarr and Ebrima Camara would not make the Young Scorpions’ team for the return leg of the African Youth Championship qualifier at home to Sierra Leone on Saturday.

The quartet joined the Young Scorpions in training after the first leg 2-0 win in Sierra Leone and was expected to push for a place in the team but Sise said the timing is too short to involve them for this crucial encounter.

“No it’s going to be hard because definitely speaking they need a little bit time to get in the team. They are very good players but we have no time, we have to get the team ready and we can’t leave the team and concentrate on them. But they are part of the team,” he said.

“If they want to come back in future where we will have more time to give them chance we will welcome them but at the moment we have to continue working with the team.”

The Young Scorpions are expected to see off the challenge from the Shooting Stars at Banjul’s Independence Stadium following the 2-0 win in Makeni nearly three weeks ago. Tickets for the game stand at D100, D50 and D25.

Gambian international Pa Amat Dibba has hit form at the right time by scoring two stunning goals as GIF Sundsvall closed the gap to within two points of the Swedish Allsvenskan leaders with a 3-1 home win over Orebro.

Sundsvall started the new campaign with a draw at AIK Solna and lost 2-1 at home to Gefle in match day two but has since turned the corner by winning two straight games on the bounce to move to sixth on the 16-team table with seven points, two adrift of Omar Colley’s Djurgarden, who are currently leading the log after four games.

Djurgarden, who started the season with three straight wins, missed the chance to open up a three-point lead over second place Norrkoping after they lost 3-1 at home to Hammarby in the Stockholm derby yesterday.

Dibba, who top-scored for Sundsvall in the last two seasons, opened the scorings at the Norrpotten Arena after 20 minutes, his first for the season, with a cracking effort into the top corner of the net. His second was a sumptuous volley for a 2-1 lead in the 29th minute after Orebro had pulled leveled five minutes earlier.

Sundsvall made sure of the three points in the 59th minute through Runar March Sigurjonsson.

Dibba is expected to be one of the few foreign based players that would make the Gambia’s squad of June’s penultimate round of the African Cup of Nations qualifiers at home to South Africa.

by Fatou Gassama

A 3 on 3 basketball tournament was played last weekend at the YMCA basketball court for junior school students.
The tourney is organised by ‘Ascend Together’ an organisation that seeks to help youths of The Gambia through sport, especially basketball.
Muhammed Lamin Keita, a 10-year-old student from Kotu Preparatory School, said he feels great in playing basketball, saying his dad and brothers inspired him to play the sport.
“I have learnt that my future is in basketball and I want basketball to be my career. I sometimes watch basketball on TV and the same time working hard in my grades in school.”
Janko Drammeh, a student of SOS, said he loves attending basketball games owing to the fact that his mum and dad used to play the sport. “I think basketball could be a future for me because am tall and I started playing it at an early age. I do train shooting the ball, blocking and practicing,” he added.
Dampha, another player noted that since he started playing basketball, it has helped him a lot. “The league has helped me play with big guys and at the same time training with different coaches is an opportunity. I took part in the 3 on 3 in my grade 10 and since my grade 3, I have been playing because I see the importance of basketball,” he added.

By Hassan Jallow

A Norwegian business consortium, NORGA (Norway-Gambia) International Holding Company LTD in their bid to support sports events and bodies around the country on Saturday provided sports material to the Nation’s broadcaster, Gambia Radio & Television Services (GRTS) at a presentation ceremony held at GRTS’ conference hall.
Ba Jabbi of NORGA, accompanied by three young Norway-Based Gambian footballers, Sulayman Bojang, Isack Ceesay and Erik Stafford Germundsson, who are currently training with the Gambia’s U20 team presented the materials on Saturday.
According to Ba Jabbi, the aim of the donation is to improve their partnership with the National Broadcaster, adding that they are so pleased to have the opportunity to support the GRTS Sports Committee with this donation. Mr. Jabbi further disclosed that NORGA is a sports friendly company which has so far supported numerous sports events and bodies around the country and is currently sponsoring the construction of sports stadium in Brufut. “As usual NORGA believes that sports touch not only the lives of the youth but a large chunk of Gambia’s population. Any efforts geared towards the promotion of sports is efforts towards national development.” Ba Jabbi told Observer Light.
NORGA, which has its headquarters in The Gambia has many business and developmental investments within The Gambia and beyond. Among them is the West African Quarry Products LTD, West African Seafood, West African Real Estate, highly significant corporate investments that have been benefitting communities in terms of job creation, social and community development.
The donated materials, which included football kits, jerseys and footballs were received by GRTS’ Sports Committee, headed by their Director General, Mr. Momodou Sabally.
Receiving the donated materials, Mr. Momodou Sabally, DG GRTS thanked Ba Jabbi and the entire management team of NORGA for the noble gesture. “I am deeply impressed by our own brother, who should be selling these materials and making money, but decided to give to the National Broadcaster. We are deeply grateful.” Said DG Sabally.

by Modou Lamin Jammeh

Bunja Yarboe, a young Gambian based in the United States of America (U.S), is currently making name as a Basketball player in the Country.
The Brikama born Nusrat graduate, fondly called Kobe Brayant, started his career at the age of 8, when he was inspired by his Uncle Ebrima A.K Sanneh (Baba Eaks), who guided and provided him with all the necessary stuff to become a Superstar. Bunja is currently a final year business Student of Wayland Baptist University of U.S and hoping to have his BA degree in few weeks to come.
Among his breakthroughs, Yarboe made it to the national Basketball team of The Gambia at the age of 15. He was one time Nusrat Senior Secondary school Athlete of the year, GBF slam dunk Champion, SAC defensive player of the year and many more.
In an interview with this Reporter, Bunja said he was fortunate to have a basketball lawn at his Uncle’s compound in Brikama and he used that opportunity to develop himself. “I have real passion for the game and I’m doing my best to get to the highest level. I played for Wallidan, Dinghareh and other basketball teams. I also played twice for the WCR NAYCONF team and severally for the national team. I as well played for the Western Texas College basketball team before transferring to Wayland Baptist University team upon my arrival in the U.S.

He added that his first time playing for the Gambia’s national Basketball team was a great feeling and experience to him. “It is also my interest to find ways of how to improve and development Basket in my country. I am excited to know that the game is growing in The Gambia but we still need to do more effort to get it to next level .
He thanked everyone that have contributed to the progress of his career, whilst praising his family, most especially his Uncle Ebrima A.K Sanneh (Eaks), for the relentless support. Yarboe commended the effort of Observer Light for availing Gambian talents the opportunity to be exposed.

The head coach of The Gambia U-20 team, Omar Sise will face the media today evening for the traditional pre-match press conference at the Independence Stadium.

The press-conference will be preceded with the Young Scorpions’ normal evening training session as they prepare to host the Shooting Stars Sierra Leone for the return leg of the ongoing qualifiers for a place at the African Youth Championship (AYC) in Zambia next year.

Omar Sise and charges went to camp last Monday following a convincing 2-0 away win. Two second half goals from Bun Sanneh and Captain Abdoulie Jallow were enough to secure The Gambia a vital away win.

Omar Sise will tell the public through the journalists his technical preparations for the game on Saturday at the Independence Stadium. Kick-off time is 4.30pm.

by Alieu Ceesay

The Youth and Sports Minister, Alieu K. Jammeh on Monday presided over the inauguration of nine fully furnished offices for as many recognised National Sports Associations (NSAs). The offices are located at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.

The nine beneficiary associations are; Gambia Basketball Association, Gambia Cricket Association, Gambia Wrestling Association, Gambia Volleyball Association, Gambia Judo Association, Gambia Karate Association, Gambia Chess Association, Gambia Draught Association, and Gambia Golf Association.

In his inaugural statement, Minister Jammeh said it was a fulfillment of a promise made by his Ministry through the National Sports Council to provide offices when they embarked on their restructuring process and assessment. The lack of offices, he said were issues raised by sports association in developing their different associations. “We have no excuse not to deliver, the Ministry and those who work there have no ulterior motive.”

He reminded associations of the Sports Bill to be enacted, while warning against people monopolising positions in associations. He also called for unity and collaboration by all stakeholders for the development and progress of sports in the country.

On his part, Marcel Mendy, the Executive Director of the National Sports Council said the new offices came after what has been series of consultations and hard work. “We had nine recognised National Sports Associations when the promise was made for offices, but as we speak we now have 13 registered associations.”

by Alieu Ceesay

The Gambia Basketball Association (GBA) has received a complete set of basketball post from the Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Dr. Alhaji Yahya AJJ Jammeh, Babili Mansa.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony on Monday, Minister of Youth and Sports, Alieu K. Jammeh encouraged the executive of the Association to take good care of the equipment as it could go a long way in developing the sport in the country and athletes in basketball. “His Excellency not only this case supported sports associations, but we are all witnesses to the amount of support he continues to invest in sports development. The President has a big heart for the youth and sports,” he said.

The Government, he said has prioritised sports development by not only providing the policy and enabling environment, but went the extreme to provide the needed financial resources. He, however, lamented the lack of desired outcome of these huge investments over the past years.

He commended the basketball executive who, he said is ready to work with the Government. He encouraged other sports associations to follow in the foot-steps of the Basketball Association in order to get similar support.

In receiving the equipment, Abdoulie Jallow, Secretary General of The Gambia Basketball Association applauded the Gambian leader for extending support to the Association. “On behalf of my President and executive, we express our thanks and appreciation to the President. This has been our cry all the time for equipment and facilities for basketball.”

by Alieu Ceesay

The Gambia Cricket Association (GCA) has disclosed that a new cricket pitch erected at Brikama Jamisa would be named after the grandfather of the President, Jehjewo Jammeh.

The pitch, situated at the Brikama Jamisa Basic Cycle School, according to a press release from the Association, would help the community of Brikama as part of the game’s development and decentralisation across the country.

“The pitch would be officially opened and handed over to the community of Brikama on Saturday 23rd April 216 at 9:00am; the general public is highly invited,” the Association said in the release.

Teachers XI thrash Ebbeh in League

Meanwhile, Teachers XI thrashed Ebbeh – Gi on Saturday 16th April 2016 in the Senior Men’s Domestic League played at the July 22nd Square in Banjul. Teachers XI won the toss and batted first and scored 81 runs all out in 9 overs. Abdoulie Bah batted and scored 12 runs, the highest. Bailo Baldeh bowled and took 4 wickets for 8 runs in 3.3 overs bowled.

Ebbeh-Gi batted in the second innings and scored 56 runs all out in 15 overs. Bakary Camara batted and score 8 runs, the highest for them. Serign Mass Gai bowled and took 4 wickets for 22 runs in 4 over. Teachers XI won by 25 runs

Primary School League Update

Elsewhere, Wesley Lower Basic School played St. Mary’s Lower Basic School in the Primary School league. Wesley batted and scored 62 run; the highest scorer for them was Abdoulie Jallow with 9 runs. The highest wicket taker Ismaila Jallow took 4 wickets for 10 runs in 2.4 overs. St. Mary’s batted and scored 61 runs.

Youth Empowerment Through Education and Sports (YETES), an organisation aimed at engaging and educating youth on a variety of health topics by using sport as a medium, is set to stage a Malaria Marathon race on Sunday, 24 April 2016.

The 5km and 10km marathon runs will take place a day before the World Malaria Day celebration.

According to the organisers, the race will start at Fajara and Kairaba Avenue Junction (Laybatou Junction) through Kotu Quarry and Manjai neighborhoods and terminates at the Serrekunda General Hospital.

“During the first 5k, stops will be made along the way where participants will have a chance to learn from a short malaria prevention lesson before continuing in the race,” added YETES officials in a statement.

About Malaria

Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by parasitic protozoans (a group of single-celled microorganisms) belonging to the Plasmodium type. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, fatigue, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases it can cause yellow skin, seizures, coma, or death. Symptoms usually begin ten to fifteen days after being bitten. If not properly treated, people may have recurrences of the disease months later.  Those who have recently survived an infection, reinfection usually causes milder symptoms. This partial resistance disappears over months to years if the person has no continuing exposure to malaria.

by Alieu Ceesay

After months and weeks of preparation, all roads lead to the Djembeh Hotel in Kololi today, where the 7th National Sports Award and Gala, organised by the Sports Journalists’ Association of The Gambia (SJAG), would be held.

In what promise to be an exceptional awards night, the event will get underway at 8pm and all invited guests, awardees and SJAG members are urged to be seated on time.

The event aims to honour and celebrate the country’s present and past sports personalities who have done exceptionally well in promoting Gambian sports. As usual, this year’s event is expected to be graced by prominent sports and non sports personalities from within and outside the country.

The various categories

WBC Super middleweight champion Boxer Badou Jack is the only candidate for the Sports Personality of the Year. This category, which is usually determined by the organisers went to FIFA referee Bakary Papa Gassama last year.

The nominees for the Local-based Athlete of the Year Award are Gamtel’s Yahya Ndong, Real de Banjul’s Abdoulie Jallow and athlete Adama Jammeh.

The Foreign-based Athletes are: Pa Modou Jagne of Sion FC in Switzerland, Baboucarr Steve Trawally of Yanbian in China and Judoka Faye Njie in Finland.

Mawdo Jallow, Sheriff Njie and Isatou Touray are contesting for the Best Referee Award.

The nominees for the Best Coach Award are Tapha Manneh of Gamtel, Abdoulie Ngum of Serrekunda West Basketball Team, and Jane Joof of Samger. The Best Team Award saw the nomination of Gamtel, Serrekunda West Basketball Team and Samger.

For the first time, a Best Local-based Female Athlete has been included in the awards category. Adama Tamba of Red Scorpions, athlete Gina Bass, Interior’s Isatou Jallow (Basse) and Mbassy Darboe are the nominees for this category.

The nominees for the Institution in Support of Sports Award are: MGI, First Eco Partners, and Bayba Financial Services. The winners will be announced on Friday during the event.

There will be awards for the late Salifu Ndure, late Assan Kujabi, late Abdoulie Jagne, late Yusupha Samba, Pele; late Abdou Jallow, Kebba Diyas, former international; Chico Njie, former athlete and trainer; Dodou Njie Barracks, retired referee; Musa Babanding Ceesay, wrestling; Ba Jabbie, administrator; Binneh Marong, basketball; Sense Muhamed Kaba, Karate; Lawyer Ousman Sillah, former International; Sheikh Omar Sallah, former international; Mary Gaye, pioneer of female football, and Abdoulie Star Jallow, Ex-Scorpion.

There will also be special awards for CAF Referee Bakary Papa Gassama; Lamin Samura, Africell for its annual support to SJAG Award Night and Bayba.

Awards for Unsong Heroes will go to Eliman Janneh; Kebba Balajo, Coach; late Alieu Sallah and Ali Qadra.

by Alieu Ceesay

Ex-Senegalese international and former African Player of the Year Award winner, Elhadji Ousseynou Diouf, will jet into Banjul today (Friday) for the 7th National Sports Award and Gala Night, organised by the Sports Journalists Association of The Gambia (SJAG).

Diouf, 35, will be flying to Banjul together with former teammate Alasane Ndour. This will be his second time attending the SJAG Awards Night.

El Hadji Ousseynou Diouf (born 15 January 1981) is a Senegalese footballer who last played for Sabah. He can play on both wings as well as forward.

Having started his professional football career in France with Sochaux, Rennes and Lens, Diouf’s performances in the2002 FIFA World Cup for Senegal prompted a move to Premier League side Liverpool, where he kept the bench warm, later that summer. He has also played in England’s top flight for Bolton Wanderers, Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers before a stint in the Scottish Premier League with Rangers. In 2011 he joined Football League Championship side Doncaster Rovers but was released at the end of the 2011–12 season following the club’s relegation. He then moved to Leeds United where he spent two seasons, making 40 appearances. During his nine-year international career, he scored 21 goals in 69 caps.

by Alieu Ceesay

Gambia’s U-20 Coach Omar Sise is upbeat that his side can finish the work started three weeks ago by securing a convincing win when his charges host the Shooting Stars of Sierra Leone in the return leg of the African Youth Championship qualifiers.

The Young Scorpions will be heading into tomorrow’s encounter at the Independence Stadium as favourites following their 2-0 first leg win in Sierra Leone. Kickoff is at 4.30pm and the winner will face Morocco in the next stage of the qualifiers.

“We have almost reached the final stage of the preparations; as you can see in today’s training, we did some tactical review, which is positive and we going to demonstrate it,” Sise told journalists in a pre-match press conference on Thursday after the team’s penultimate session ahead of the game.

As to what the status of the boys were both mentally and physically, Sise said all the players were fine and ready to face Sierra Leone who were expected in town yesterday as we went to press yesterday. “All the players are fit and ready for the game.”

The late or early coming of the visitors, he told reporters has nothing to do with the team’s preparations, adding that they are only looking forward to a convincing win. “I am going to focus very much as how to attack and defend in order to win the game. We are focusing on the three points and we are working hard and praying to get that.”

Pa Omar Babou, assistant captain said the mood in the camp is calm and the boys are very confident of winning the game to earn the public’s respect and love. “All that we have to do is to come out and implement what we have been taught at the training ground,” he said, while calling on the fans to come out and give the needed support to the team.

by Alieu Ceesay

Gambia U-20 Coach Omar Sise said they do not count much on their opponents’ strategy, but rather they care about their own strategy and game plan.

Sise was speaking at the mix zone of the Independence Stadium after the Young Scorpions secured a solid 2-0 defeat of Sierra Leone’s Shooting Stars to complete a 4-0 aggregate whitewash in the first round of the 2017 African U-17 Championship qualifiers on Saturday.

Pa Omar Babou opened the scorings for The Gambia after 35 minutes when he stabbed home a rebound after the keeper had saved Pa Omar Jobe’s initial shot. Jobe got his own goal in the 68th minute when he headed in another shot initially parried away by the visitor’s keeper.

The Sierra Leoneans had to thank their goalkeeper for not conceding more than two goals in Banjul but the Young Scorpions wouldn’t care much having secured a place in the penultimate round of the qualifiers where they will face Morocco in another double-legged affair. The first leg would be played in Banjul on May 19 with the decider to be held in Rabat on June 6.

Speaking further at the post-match press conference, Sise said he is very much proud of his players for showing a respectable performance in both games against the Shooting Stars.

“As far as the game is concerned, though we won but it was not a very good game for me, because in the beginning of the game we were out of our line, but it happens sometimes,” he said.

For his part, the Sierra Leone U-20 Coach Charlie Wright said they are trying to rebuild their team as they were affected by the Ebola outbreak in their country in the past two years. He said the Ebola disease kept them apart as there were no leagues or proper tournaments in their country, adding that it was very difficult to bring some players together back to partake in this U-20 qualifier. He added that over 95% of the players are not mature and did not have much competition, unlike the Gambian side that played friendly matches internationally.

“We believe that it is not the end for us as the technical people for the boys; we will still maintain and keep them back so that they will graduate and expose them as we are now free from Ebola,” he said.

by Arfang MS Camara

Former Senegalese captain and ex-African Player of the Year, Elhadji Diouf has urged Gambians to stop football agents from selling players in Norway, Sweden and Finland based on what he described as no reasons.

The Gambia Football Federation, (GFF), he said, needs to make sure that players are sold to right clubs and not allow greedy agents to do whatever they wish. He said the country has good young talents that can qualify the country to the African Cup of Nations and World Cup.

Diouf, who had a successful football career in France and also played twelve years of professional football in England, never minces his words. He was recently in the country on the invitation of the Sports Journalists’ Association of The Gambia (SJAG) and was speaking on Friday during the Association’s Awards and Gala Night.

He urged The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) to properly nurture young players so as to bring glory to the country.

Diouf also used the night to share his story with the young talents, explaining that he came from a family where his grandmother used to sell groundnut on the streets. He urged the young talents to be committed and focus on their footballing career.

“I came from a poor family as my grandmother was selling groundnut, and I did not know my father at that time. I was brought up by my mother, though I don’t hold anything against my father and now am having a very close and good relationship with him. As humans you need to be hardworking, determined and ambitious,” he charged.

The former Liverpool, Bolton Wanderers and Leeds United winger also on Saturday watched the U-20 team defeat Sierra Leone 2-0 in the ongoing qualifiers for the 2017 U-20 tournament in Zambia.

After the game, Diouf who met the players at their dressing room, said he was happy with the performance of the team and urged them to remain united. “I have seen good talents and it is convincing you can one day qualify the country to the African Cup of Nations and World Cup. You have to be committed and one day you can be like me,” Diouf told the players.

He encouraged them to remain focused in order to be written in the history books of Gambian football, while warning them to be mindful of some scrupulous football agents.

by Arfang MS Camara & Alieu Ceesay

The Sports Journalists Association of The Gambia (SJAG) on Friday awarded WCB Super Middleweight Champion Boxer Badou Jack “The Ripper” the Sports Personality of the Year. The award was made during the SJAG’s 7th edition of the National Sports Awards Night on Friday.

The other categories of awardees included Best Referee of the Year, Mawdo Jallow; Best Local Based Athlete, Yaya Ndong of Gamtel FC; Best Foreign Based Athlete, Pa Modou Jagne of FC Sion; Team of the Year, Gamtel FC; Coach of the Year, Tapha Manneh of Gamtel FC; Best Organisation in Support of Sports, MGI. A special award was also given to Africell for being a long-standing partner as an organisation in support of sports development.

Special Awards were also given to Lamin Samura, and Bayba, while the unsong heroes’ awards went to Eliman Janneh, Kebba Balajo, the late Alieu Sallah and Ali Qadra.

Speaking at the ceremony, the President of the SJAG, Musa Sise, said the Awards Night is meant to serve as an inspirational gathering, where youngsters would be inspired to become winners and highfliers.

According to him, since inception some years ago, this event has continued to gather momentum yearly by improving on the quality of the awards, setting international standards in its recognitions and delivery. He added that this is in line with their desire to contribute to the attainment of excellence in sports.

“It is sufficed to say, if it is not for the persistent encroaching and questioning by sports and investigative journalists, none of what we have all known to be facts today would have been uncovered. Corruption, bribery, unscrupulous administrators all driven by greed have plunged our games into disrepute yet still most of us remain in denial,” he said.

Pap Saine, SJAG Honourary Life President, disclosed that the Association was founded in 1998. He said the purpose of the awards ceremony is to promote sports and celebrate those who excelled in sports for the country. He added that these awards would also serve as encouragement to other athletes.

The awards and awardees, he went on, will help to inspire the young athletes coming up to continue developing and promoting sports in the country. On behalf of the Association, he thanked all the sponsors who in one way or the other contributed in the success of the award.

He, however, appealed for support from institutions and partners for the Association’s programmes in promoting sports in the country.

The awards night was attended by prominent sports and non-sports personalities from within and beyond the country, notable was ex-Senegalese international El Hadji Diouf and former teammate Alasane Ndoure.

The Gambia Swimming Association on Sunday 24th April 2016 ended a three-day open water technical training clinic for thirty swimming officials at The Gambia National Olympic Committee House in Mile 7.

The clinic, instructed by Samuel Greetham, a member of the FINA open water swimming technical committee and Director of British Swimming, is meant to offer technical proficiency and help develop best practices that can help the National Association to succeed. The training is also part of series of lined-up activities by the GSA to enhance pool performances, by providing the required information for judges and referees.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Arfang Y Jobe, the Technical Director of The Gambia Swimming Association, thanked the instructor, saying he did justice to his deliberations during the clinic. “I am very much excited by what I saw from the participants during the three days; they’ve shown commitment. We’re looking forward to the results later this month, and I’m quite optimistic that many of them will pass the exams,” he concluded.

For his part, Samuel Greetham thanked the participants for their cooperation during the clinic and urged them to stay focused as swimming officials.

The British Swimming Director went on to laud the level of dedication and commitment that the participants manifested during the training.  “I have hope in you all, and I know you can do it. Gambia is a blessed country with unique seaside that can be used to explore talents. I will be more than willing to come back again to train many Gambians in open water swimming.”

Arfang Y Jobe, Amadou Danso, Yoro Njie, Basiru Drammeh and Cherno Jefaru Krubally, were the five Gambian officials appointed in the FINA open water swimming commission in January 2013, and more is expected from swimming officials when the three-day training results come out later this month.

Source: Omar Jarju, West Coast Radio

Born in the Kombo North settlement of Lamin village, goalkeeper Baba Dumbuya was one of the best goalkeepers produced by the country. The former Rising Lions, Jattas, Flemings, Wallidan, Gamtel and Gambia U-17 keeper was very key in qualifying the country to the African Championship in Algeria, which it went on to win.

Dumbuya was said to have been unfairly dropped from the final squad for the tournament proper and, therefore, missed out on the D1 million cash windfall given to each of the player that participated in the 2009 triumph.

The reason(s) for then Coach Tariq Saigy’s decision to drop the goalkeeper will forever remain in the memory of Baba Dumbuya who deserves to be rewarded and recognised by the football authorities.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Observer Sports, Baba Dumbuya lifted the lid surrounding his omission from the squad and how it has affected his career. As a player who had a difficult time in his career, the Lamin-born former goalkeeper reflected that he had lots of obstacles, but never gave up in pursuing his dreams.

“That moment when I was with the U-17, it was so difficult because there were games played on me. I will not mention names but it was not fair. I was playing for Wallidan but it was at the latter part that I came to realise that I was not a registered player with the team [Wallinda] that season. What happened was, when my brother, friend and hero (Joe Gomez) returned from trials in France, they took off my name and put in Joe, but  they were paying me as a registered player and I was not aware of it,” he said.

“So when I was with the U-17, all my teammates would go and participate for their teams when the league started and I was the only player in the team without a club. I did not know the reasons why I was not playing. It went to an extent that my goalkeeper trainer, Franco, had to go up to Wallidan training ground to find out why  I was not playing; the reasons were not clear. It continued until when [The Gambia] Football Association [ headed by Seedy Kinteh] started having meetings on my issue that I cannot be part of the team when I don’t have a club and the news struck me because I knew I had a team [Wallidan].”

Dumbuya said he was just giving his best to the country and the fans, and thanked the goalkeeper trainer Franco for making sure that he remained in the team, considering his outstanding performances. “I could remember Coach Lamin Sambou also stood by me not because we are from the same place, but they all saw the talent I displayed.”

In spite of his inclusion in the 18-man squad for the two legs against Sierra Leone and away leg to Ghana during the qualifiers, Dumunya only came in for the team during the return leg against Ghana in Banjul, which the team needed to win to qualify. He came in as a substitute for Musa Camara who got injured and surprised many with his heroic goalkeeping performance that qualified the team to Algeria.

“I was definitely betrayed because we have been training together for seven months. I was ripped off from what rightfully is mine. It all happened within short period of time when the goalkeeper trainer was away and other goalkeepers were brought in as we were about to travel to Egypt for training for the tournament proper. From goalkeeper No.2 after Musa Camara, I was moved to No.4,” he said.

On the President’s generous reward of D1M to each of the players, the former Wallidan keeper said he deserved a potion of the money because he had worked hard to qualify the team. “I was honestly happy the team won, but I was not happy that I was not part of the team because I worked for it. In fact, at that time I did not go out because people would be questioning why I was not part of the team.”

After thorough thinking, Dumbuya finally decided to quit the game for business and coaching. He is still part of the game and is now coaching his local team Jattas FC in the Lamin Nawettan where he has so far won two titles.

“I still have vivid memories of that final qualifier, OJ was man of the match with his headed goal giving us a two-goal cushion over highly fancied Ghana but to say the goals won us the game would be off the mark. That game was strange one. It was Baba’s goalkeeping heroics that preserved our lead and eventually took us to Algiers. The rest as they say is history. He played his part in that memorable run to our championship triumph,” posted sports journalist Baboucarr Senghore immediately a football fan, Momodou Sabally uploaded a picture with the former goalkeeper.

“One of the best goalkeepers I had played with. We played together at Wallidan FC. A flimsy reason was given when he was dropped from the team. Gambian football is about whom you know though,” added Abdoulie Amar Gaye.

by Alieu Ceesay