After guiding his Jalaan side to promotion to the Oman Premier League, Gambia’s Ebrima Camara, better known as Bura, is hoping to have a fantastic season when it gets underway.

“I just started training in advance, we are having a break and I am preparing to have a brighter season and make a bigger impact in Oman,” he told Observer Sports in an interview.

Camara scored a brace for Jaalan FC in their play-off game against Al-Musanah to gain a promotion from the 1st division to the Oman Premier League.

The former Bakau United sensational attacker scored 12 goals for his club last season. He described the level of football in Oman as ‘tactically difficult’.

On the senior Scorpions team, he said, “I was extremely surprised that I have not been called yet. I did well for my club in Oman, but maybe my performance is not impressive to the coach. I will work hard to improve if the coach thinks I was not good enough last season.”

Regarding the U-20 team that is currently doing well and putting smiles on all fans, Bura said he likes the set up of the squad, describing the side as a good one.

by Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

Gambia trio Gina Bass, Adama Jammeh and Suwaibou Sanneh could not make it to the finals of the 100m of the African Senior Athletics Championships currently underway in Durban, South Africa.

Gina Bass finished 3rd in the semi final in the women’s  with a timing of 11.63 and could be part of the best 8 to the final.

Adama Jammeh was ranked 4th in the male semi final with a timing of 10.29 and was ranked 9th in the overall semi final with only 8 making it to the finals.

USA-based Gambian sprinter Suwaibou Sanneh finished 3rd in his group with a time of 10.41 and was short of qualification timing to the finals.

Meanwhile, the 4th Gambian athlete in the competition, Alhagie Salim Drammeh did qualify for the semi finals of the 400m due to be held late yesterday (Thursday).

Story Source: Namory Trawally

Ex-Gambia skipper Pa Dembo Touray played eleven seasons with Sweden’s Djurgarden, except for brief loan spells with Assyriska and Valerenga, and he is still regarded at the Tele2 Arena as a cult figure.

During his time with the Stockholm club, the goalkeeper played more than 200 games and won two national championship titles, two Swedish cups and one Superettan title. But in February 2012, he moved to Santos in South Africa, where he played until the summer of 2015.

The former Real de Banjul keeper last year returned “home” to Stockholm, where his family still lives, and is now a goalkeeper coach for Swedish division three side IFK Lidingo. But for some time, he has also taken the leap into the business of football agency. He is part of the Global Football Consulting, an agency run by Andreas Kouvatsis and former Gambia international Njogu Demba-Nyren.

“It has been one of my dreams, to work as an agent or scout in my career. I have had these thoughts for years,” Pa Dembo Touray told Swedish publication FotbollSkanalen in an interview on Friday, adding that the idea is to work with the markets in The Gambia, South Africa, Senegal and Kenya, by bringing them to Sweden.

“[We want to bring] players who are really hungry to come to Europe. There is always quality [in The Gambia]. I opened the door [for them] here in Sweden. Now we have players like Omar Colley, Pa Dibba and Kebba Ceesay. There are many good talents in Gambia; the clubs just have to give them a chance to come here. There are many teams that want CVs and videos on the players, but it can be hard to find video clips from there, and sometimes you have to take a chance as Djurgarden took a chance with me. The first time I came here, they knew nothing about me.”

He added: “I just started. Now I work behind Andreas (Kouvatsis) and continue to listen to him. Then we will see in the future what to do. There are things going on. But I’ll take it step by step. I have learned a lot already.”

Asked about his opinion on agents when he was a player himself, Dembo decided to reserve his opinion, but added there are some who are good at their job and vice versa.

“I had a few agents in the beginning when I came here to Sweden. Everyone thinks they lied all the time. Where are they now? They have no players. They have nothing, because they used to lie. You have to be honest all the time. If there is something going on, just say to the player,” he added.

On Omar Colley and Djurgarden

Pa Dembo’s compatriot Omar Colley now plays for Djurgarden and has been one of their best performers with the centre back linked with moves to Hertha Berlin and Espanyol.

“I’m proud of how Omar has developed. Right now he is one of the best center-backs in the league. I’m proud of him. He came to Sweden, went to my team, took my number, joined the squad and took my captain armband. Damn, what’s happening here? (laughs). No, but I’m so happy for him. He does a very good job. It’s fun to see a different Gambian do well in Djurgarden,” he added.

During the interview, Pa Dembo was presented with a picture of him in Djurgarden’s colours. In the photo, he sits in front of a wall whose wallpaper is a picture of joyful blue-striped players after one of the club’s good moments in the 2000s.

“This is the time I want to see Djurgarden get back to the time around 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005. We won almost everything and played in Europe,” he said, before pausing for a while and added, “I want to see Djurgarden start winning derbies again. It is important.

“I understand that it is frustrating for the supporters. The last time they won a derby was in 2011, it was my last derby. It is so important for the supporters, the players and the club. They need to start winning derbies,” he concluded.

Gambia’s athletics sensation Adama Jammeh has joined her compatriot Gina Bass in qualifying for the Rio Olympics this summer.

The Gambian secured his place at the Games by winning silver and finishing within the qualification time at the finals of the African Athletics Championship in Durban, South Africa, yesterday.

Two weeks ago, Ms Bass booked herself a ticket to Rio in France. Both athletes represent The Gambia in the 200meters and Jammeh said afterwards that the qualification is as a result of their hard work.

Jammeh is now the second Gambian to secure direct qualification to an Olympics Games in the sprint event after Suwaibou Sanneh in London 2012.

Jammeh did not just qualify to the Rio Games but he also smashed another national record (20:45), a timing that saw him don the silver medal.

Gina Bass who earlier won qualification to the Games finished third in the 200meters women’s event.

Speaking after scooping his qualification to Rio and breaking another national record, the sprinter who’s been working so hard to get to Rio said, “I feel so proud and happy to book myself a ticket to Rio, break the national record and African silver medal.”

“More is expected as training goes one, the award is for all Gambian population.”

by Baboucarr Camara

& Sang Mendy

Coach Omar Sise and his U-20 charges were yesterday (Sunday) evening defeated 2-0 by  Senegal U-20 side in an international friendly played at the Jules Francois Bocande Centre in Toubab Dialaw, approximately 47km from Dakar.

According to sports journalist Momodou Bah who is currently in Dakar, Alhassane Diouf put his side ahead from the penalty spot in the 30th minute after he was brought down by Hamidou Bojang. Ebrima Njie extended the lead for Senegal on the 80th minute.

The friendly was part of technical preparations ahead of the first leg at home against Guinea in the final and decisive round of the qualifiers for U-20 African Youth Championship in Zambia early next year.

by Momodou Bah in

Dakar, Senegal

Banned from football, but still active in the game; former Gambia Football Association, now Gambia Football Federation third vice president, Adama Halla Samba, has spoken to Observer Sports, reaffirming his commitment to continue contributing his quota to the development of football in the country.

Samba served as the third vice president of the dissolved Seedy Kinteh-led GF executive that was slammed a five-year ban from any future football management and governance by the disciplinary committee set up by the Gambia Football Federation Normalisation Committee in 2013.

In an exclusive interview with Observer Sports, Halla Samba who has established a name for himself in Gambian football talked about his footballing and coaching career as well as his ban from football among a hosts of other things.

Born in Banjul to the late Alhaji  Kelepha IBA  Samba and Aja Fatou Jobe, Halla Samba started playing football when he was at primary school through to high school at Armitage High School.  “When I left School, I played for Adonis Football Club and won many trophies with them, during that time I also played for the National Team.”

Football, the former national team player told Observer Sports, was not his preferred career, but he happened to have a passion for the game and just loved playing it.

“I was selected to the National Team when I left school. My first assignment was to represent The Gambia in Ivory Coast and played many matches at that level. It was a good feeling because anyone would like to represent your country at such a young age, which I am still proud of.”

Halla as he is widely known had never played professionally, because as he puts it “during our time it was very rare to play professional football. Only Biri Biri was playing professional football. It was not as easy as it is now.”

As to what were his memorable moments, he reflected his winning goal against Real de Banjul, which ended 2-1; and also winning the Confederal Trophy in Dakar, when he was the head coach of Wallidan FC.

Halla Samba registered his first hat-trick during his High School (Armitage) football match against Gambia High School at the then Box Bar Stadium in Banjul.

On his coaching career, the former Wallidan gaffer said, “I have achieved many things as Coach of Wallidan, which includes 9 league titles, 8 FA Cups, 3 GNIC trophies, 7 Super Cups and 2 Confederal trophies- one in Dakar against Jean d’arc and against US Goree in Banjul. I then retired from coaching to become vice president and eventually president of Wallidan FC.”

In a controversial move by the then normalization committee, the former GFA 3rd vice president was banned together with other executive members of the Seedy Kinteh-led executive for five years. “The banning of the Seedy Kinteh-led executive was unjust, unfair and was malicious. I say so because the reasons advanced for the banning was thoroughly investigated by the police and we were vindicated.

Instead the then PS [Mambajick Njie] at the Ministry of Youth and Sports was charged with giving false information. We were not there to enrich ourselves but for the development of the game. As a result, we were the only executive that made the Gambia proud at the U-17 level. This achievement opened doors for most of our players to start playing professional football and were made millionaires by His Excellency Sheikh Professor Dr. Alhaji Yahya AJJ Jammeh, Babili Mansa. This has never been achieved since football (GFA) was founded in 1952. I think our executive should be given credit and not victimized,” he told Observer Sports.

Talking about the way forward for Gambian football, he said  a lot of things have to be done and these include improving playing conditions by upgrading existing facilities countrywide and building other  structures which can be transformed into permanent structures at community level for development of the game. “It is fundamental principal that for any skills to be learned there must be adequate training for players, coaches and officials. Finance is also one of the most important components of developing any sports especially football and as a result you need to mobilize lot of funds, but should only be used for the development of the game.”

Halla Samba has now set-up a young team coming up called Lions of Banjul in the 2nd Division league, with the target to get promotion to the 1st Division next season. “I want to nurture my young team [Lions of Banjul] to produce talented players who can be of benefit to their families and nation.”

As to whether he is still available to serve in football administration, “of course every good citizen would like to contribute his/her quota to the development of your country in the area you specialize and am no exception. That is why am grooming the team I said earlier on,” he stressed.

by Alieu Ceesay

The Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Limited-sponsored inter-senior schools football championship, dubbed, “Principals Cup” yesterday (Monday) commenced at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.

The official kick-off was preceded by a march past by participating schools. The championship is meant to promote grassroots football.

The President of Gambia School Football Association, Martin Gomez, described the championship as another important milestone in the history of school sports, particularly football.

“This championship has been going on for years, but this year we came with a different style in organising this tournament,” he said.

He further informed that the championship was preceded by qualifying rounds across all the regions and was supported by The Gambia Football Federation.

The winner of the tournament will receive D100, 000 in both male and female categories courtesy of GTBank.

Gomez finally thanked the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Limited for their wonderful support towards this year’s championship.

In the games played yesterday in the male senior secondary school category; Armitage SSS beat Kanifing East SSS 1-0, while Tujereng SSS drew goalless with Nasir SSS.

In the senior secondary female category, Bottrop thrashed Brikama Ba Senior School 6-0.

UBS Tournament

Meanwhile, the Upper Basic School Football tournament, which is separately organised and funded by the Secondary School Football Association is also ongoing.

In the female category, Tallinding drew goalless with Presentation; St. Johns Vianney’s beat St. Mulumba’s 3-0; Greater Banjul beat Pakalinding 2-0.

In the Upper Basic male category, Ndemban beat Latrikunda (LK) 1-0; Janjanbureh drew goalless with Kitty; and finally Bakalarr beat Talliding 1-0.

by Jainaba D Jatta &

 Fatou Gassama

Pa Yusupha Samba was elected President of the Bakau Sports Committee, at an elective congress on Sunday, bringing an end to the tenure of the Lamin Fatty-led task force committee.

Speaking at the congress held at the Bakau Youth Centre, Lamin Fatty, outgoing head of the task force committee, said the committee was “only interested in the development of sports in the community by bringing sanity in the management of sports in Bakau”.

“Neither do I have any team; support a team, nor play football. I am a native of Bakau and I want to ensure proper coordination for the development of sport in Bakau. United we stand, divided we fall,” he told the delegates.

At the congress, teams’ representatives elected  Pa Yusupha Samba as President, Babou Sanneh as 1st Vice President;  Badi Jaiteh, 2nd Vice President; Sheikh Omar Faye, Secretary General; Adama Loum, Assistant Secretary General; Sulayman BF Drammeh, Treasurer; Ebrima Nyafuneh, Assistant Treasurer; Lamin Fatty, Auditor; Kebba Bojang, Programme Officer; and Ousman Drammeh, Public Relations Officer.

In his acceptance speech, newly elected President Pa Yusupha Samba, called for unity among the youth of the coastal settlement for the development of sports. He assured that he will work diligently with his executive to advance sports development.

Bakary Paco Dampha, ex-president of the Bakau Sports Committee, who doubles as the President, KM Football Association, assured his full support to the new executive.

Luntanding Jaiteh, the alkalo of Bakau thanked the youth of the town for their sense of discipline during the congress and urged them to work towards the development of Bakau. “My doors are always open to work with you,” he assured the new executive.

by Alhagie Babou Jallow

The Gambia Chess Federation is gearing up for a national chess tournament, as well as its elective congress. The two events are scheduled to take place on the 17th and 31st July 2016 respectively.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Amadou Jallow, the President of the Federation, informed the media  that two weeks ago his Federation organised a preliminary tournament with the participation of all the affiliated clubs across the country and twenty clubs have qualified to the final stage, slated on 17th July at the KM Youth Centre.

He further dislclosed that the 31st July elective congress will be held at the National Olympic House in Kanifing.

The Chess President assured that his executive have been working very hard to ensure that both events go successful.

He noted that the executive have registered great success in promoting and developing the sport in the country.

Sasuna Mbaye is the Vice President of the Federation; he reaffirmed the Federation’s readiness to promote the sport at the grassroots level.

Amadou Kanteh, the Public Relations Officer of the Federation, expressed similar sentiments.

by Alhagie Babou Jallow

The 2016 Serrekunda East Nawettan qualifier is in progress with games being played at the Serrekunda East Mini-Stadium.

A total of 46 teams registered for the qualifiers with only four teams to qualify for the rainy season football fiesta.

On Saturday, Payford FC advanced to the next stage of the competition after beating Stand Seven 5-4 on post-match penalty shootout following a goalless draw in regulation time.

On Sunday, Banda Gi FC eliminated Dragon FC 4-3 on post-match penalty shootout after the game ended goalless in normal time.

Bahamas FC are also through to the next stage of the qualifiers with a 4-3 penalty kick win over Leicester City after a goalless stalemate.

by Arfang MS Camara

St. Augustine’s Senior Secondary School Monday kicked off the GTBank-sponsored inter-senior school football championship with a 3-0 win over Bureng Senior School.

Dubbed, the Principal’s Cup, the tournament, organised under the auspices of the Secondary School Sports Association, is meant to promote grassroots football in the country.

Banjul-based St. Augustine’s Yano Viera and Ba Lamin Sowe were the heroes of the night as they scored the goals.

In the other games, Muslim High School  defeated Njaine Sanjal 5-0, while Daddy Jobe won Tahir Senior School 1-0.

Speaking in an interview with Observer Sports, head coach of St. Augustine’s Senior Secondary School, Paul Sylva said he was not surprised at the resounding victory, saying his side was well prepared for the tournament.

“St. Augustine’s has a lot of encouragement in terms of sports and I have been working with them since last year. This is a team that I have been building”.

Such a tournament, he said, is very important in terms of promoting and developing school football.

The head coach of Bureng Senior Secondary School, Muhammed Y. Darboe, expressed disappointment after his side’s heavy loss.

“The final result was very fair but bad on our side, and the only problem is that the St. Augustine’s team were more physical and strong than us,” he admitted.

Results for Day 2 (Tuesday)

Girls

Muslim 3 vs 0 Mindow

Tahir 1 vs 0 Brikmaba

Nasir 0 vs 1 Ngainsanjal

Daddy Jobe 0 vs 1 Bottrop

Boys

Brusubi 1 vs 2 Armitage

Nasir 3 vs 0 Bureng

Farrafenni 1 vs 1 Kanifing East

Tujereng 0 vs 0 St Augustine

by Jainaba D. Jatta & Fatou Gassama

Banjul-based St. Joseph Senior Secondary School have been crowned champions of the 2016 Girls Cricket League after their triumph over Presentation Girls Vocational School in a final played on Tuesday at the 22nd July Square in Banjul.

Presentation Girls Vocational School won the toss and batted and scored 45 runs in 15 overs for 7 wickets with the highest runs scored by Maimuna Sano with 7 runs. The highest wicket taker was Jeamy Mendy with 2 wickets for 9 runs in 3 overs.

In the second innings, St Joseph Senior Secondary School girls batted and scored 46 runs in 13.2 overs for 3 wickets. Kaddy Kujabi scored 8 runs, the highest and also took 2 wickets for 6 runs in 3 overs.

At the presentation ceremony, the President of The Gambia Cricket Association, Johnny Gomez, thanked the School Heads and Physical Education Teachers for allowing and preparing the students to participate in the tournament. He told the players that they are all winners with the zeal and commitment they have shown.

The winner and runners-up went with a trophy and certificate, while the participating schools went with a certificate each.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, June 28th 2016, Albion Lower Basic School locked horns with Campama Lower Basic School in the Primary School Boys T20 Knock-out Tournament.

Albion Lower Basic School won the toss and fielded to Campama bat and and scored 32 runs for 10 runs in 9.3 overs; the highest runs scored was Ebrima Camara with 6 runs and the highest wicket taker was Modou Njie with 1 wicket for 2 runs in 2 overs.

In the second innings, Albion Lower Basic School batted and scored 33 runs in 6.2 overs for 4 wickets. Alagie Sowe Scored 12 runs; the highest and the highest wicket taker was Abdoulie Kanteh with 2 wickets for 5 runs in 1 over.

Albion won the first Primary School Boys T20 Knock-out Tournament by 7 wickets.

At the presentation ceremony, Mr. Malamin Fofana, Treasurer of the Association thanked the schools and the students for participating in the tournament. He urged the other schools to train hard so that they could participate and become winners for their schools in the next tournament.

Below is the Primary School Boys T20 knockout tournament table standing

by Fatou Trawally

In their quest to revitalise the traditional sport of wrestling, Weeders Youth Development Association of Tubakolong Village, in Upper Niumi, are gearing up for a major wrestling contest on 2nd and 3rd day of Koriteh.

The Association has also planned to stage a marathon run from Albreda to Tubakolong on the 2nd day of Koriteh.

In an Observer Sports interview, Kemo Y Ceesay, Chairman of the organising committee, affirmed that the wrestling contest is part of efforts to revive the traditional sports in Tubakolong and surrounding villages.

“The flag is named after wrestler Leket Bu Barra and we are targeting a total of 100 wrestlers for both heavyweight and lightweight categories. There will also be attractive prizes for the winners,” Ceesay told Observer Sports.

According to him, Governor Lamin Quin Jammeh and Chief Modou Charty Cham are expected to grace the events, while Aja Tumbul Samateh-Manneh, wife of Tabora Manneh is the chief patroness.

Proceeds from the events, he said would be used to develop the village’s mosque and its Islamic school.

by Alieu Ceesay

Basse-based Nasir Ahmadiyya Senior School boys will take on KM-based Kanifing East Senior School in the semi final of the GTBank-sponsored inter-senior schools football championship, dubbed “Principal’s Cup”.

In the other semi-final game, Janjanbureh-based Armitage Senior School will be locking horns against Tujereng Senior School.

In the female category, it will be an all-West Coast Region affair as Brikama-based Bottrop Senior School takes on Farato-based Mingndaw Senior School Girls.

Muslim Senior School will take on Daddy Jobe Senior School in the other semi-final.

All the four semi-final matches will be played this evening (3pm and 5pm) at the Independence Stadium.

by Alieu Ceesay

The Young Scorpions of The Gambia – U-20 – on Saturday went to camp at the Seaview Gardens Hotel in preparation for the first leg clash at home against Guinea in the final and decisive round of qualifiers for the African Youth Championship in Zambia early next year.

The much-anticipated game is scheduled for next Saturday, 9th July at the Independence Stadium in Bakau, with kick-off at 5pm local time.

Coach Omar Sise and charges lost 2-0 in an international friendly away to Senegal a week ago, but the team has since resumed training for this all-important tie at the Stadium.

The Gambia Football Federation announced the tickets for the game as: VIP D500, covered D100, Uncovered D50 and D25 for score board and opposite score board.

The game promises to attract a huge turnout, considering the number of Guineans residing in The Gambia and the number of Gambian fans expected to turn up to cheer up the boys.

The Gambia eliminated Sierra Leone and Morocco to advance to this final round.

by Alieu Ceesay

Mam Drammeh’s two goals in either halves was enough to crown the girl’s  team of Banjul-based Muslim Senior Secondary School as champions of the first ever GTBank-sponsored inter-senior schools football championship dubbed ‘Principal’s Cup’.

The Muslim played Brikama-based Bottrop Senior Secondary School in an intriguing and highly attended final played yesterday (Sunday) at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.

Mam Drammeh opened the scorings for her school just after 17 minutes into the first half.

Skipper Meita Sanneh leveled the tally for Bottrop girls just few minutes into the second period.

With few minutes to stoppage time, Mam Drammeh broke the hearts of Bottrop with a stunning strike to send the Muslim bench into wild jubilation.

As winners, Muslim girls received medals with a cash prize of D100, 000 and a giant trophy, while Bottrop equally received medals and pocketed home a consolation prize of D50, 000.

In an interview with Observer Sports, the coach of Muslim SSS, Kabir Okunade, was full of praises for his girls and expressed delight for being the first school to win the GTBank-sponsored inter-senior school football championship for girls.

Boys Category

Meanwhile, in the boys’ category, Kanifing East Senior Secondary School won 2-0 against Janjanbureh-based Armitage Senior School in another final played yesterday at the Stadium.

Just as the girls, similar prizes were awareded to the winners and runners-up.

by Alieu Ceesay

Delegates at the recently held Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the West Coast Region Football Association (WCRFA) have asked the Abdou Karim Sey-led executive to respect the constitution of the Association, as well as put its house in order  for the smooth administration of football matters in the region.

Lamin Jarju, Chairman of Foni Bintang Sports Association accused the body of violating its own constitution as they failed to abide by the 28 days’ notice prior to AGM, required by the constitution.

On the audited financial statements, he said the accounts were audited by “wrong people” and therefore challenged the WCRFA to put its house in order for the development of football in the region.

The Chairman of the Kombo Central Sports Association, Ousman Marre, expressed dissatisfaction at the manner in which the AGM was convened.

According to him, he was not issued with any letter for the AGM. “They [WCRFA] said I am not the right delegate and as of now I am the current Chairman. They said they are maintaining the old chairman who is not part of our current executive,” a dissatisfied Marre told the AGM.

He accused the Abdou Karim Sey-led executive of sidelining the constitution. He therefore called on them to go by the dictates of the constitution to ensure smooth administration of football in the West Coast Region.

Sang Mendy, who was representing the West Coast Region Football Coaches’ Association, said the AGM was “long overdue” even though he was equally not convinced and satisfied with what was presented to delegates.

by Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

As Muslims continue to celebrate the feast of Koriteh marking the end of Ramadan, The Gambia U-20 Scorpions are equally celebrating but, as well preparing for the much anticipated qualifier at home against Guinea Conakry tomorrow (Saturday) at the Independence Stadium, Bakau. Kick-off time is 5pm local time.

Guinea Conakry has arrived in the country since Wednesday getting ready for the crucial clash. The Guinean side was held to a 1-1 draw by Senegal in a friendly game last Sunday in Dakar.

The anxiety among football fanatics is high but so is the hope for a victory for the Scorpions. All hopes lie on these gallant boys who have throughout the qualifying campaign, so far, put smiles on disgruntled and hopeless fans’ faces. The Young Scorpions eliminated Sierra Leone and Morocco to advance to the third and final round of the qualifiers.

“We will go all out to support the boys because they are our only hope now. I want Gambians to come out and cheer the boys because they can do it,” said Pamatarr Jobe, a keen football fan.For a game that falls in a weekend when Muslims are still celebrating the Koriteh feast, it is hoped that Gambians will be filling the Bakau Stadium pavilions to its rafters in their beautiful Koriteh outfits for the “Salibo” the boys are ready to offer them.

“We want Gambians to come out in numbers and support the boys and we will do everything possible to win the game,” Coach Omar Sise said in an earlier interview with Observer Sports.

Sise and his boys will play the first leg at home before travelling to Conakry two weeks later for the return and decisive leg of qualifier to the African Youth Championship in Zambia early next year.

Quite to note that there are so many Guineans in the country and already they are not leaving everything to the home fans. “I and many Guineans residing in the country are looking forward to supporting our team [Guinea] when they come here. We have been doing it anytime Guinea is playing Gambia and we will do it again,” Ebrima Barry, a Guinean residing in The Gambia told Observer Sports.

by Alieu Ceesay

Omar Sise, coach of the U-20 Young Scorpions has expressed confidence that his side will qualify to the African Youth Championship in Zambia despite the goalless draw at home against Guinea on a rainy Saturday evening in the first leg of the third and decisive round of qualifiers.

In a post-match press conference Sise said it was a good game for the fact that his side did not concede a goal and is confident of better results in Conakry in two weeks time. “We will go back and work on our mistakes, develop ourselves and get much prepared. My message to Gambians is that [God willing] we will go to Zambia next year.”

The team, according to Sise, was unlucky inspite of creating more chances than the visiting side.

As to why he constantly starts with the same players in all the qualifying games, Sise explained that “it is not easy to break this starting line-up because they understand the system more than anyone on the bench.”

He brought in Yahya Ndong and Musa Barrow for Pa Omar Babou and Bun Sannneh in the second half, but for the coach, “Musa Barrow did not perform because he did not do what I expected from him.”

As to what made Guinea difficult, Sise replied, “We knew nothing about Guinea. We were to scout them in Senegal but our neighbours were not fair to us because they told us [their test game with Guinea] was on the 3rd and they played it on the 2nd July.”

Request to GFF, Ministry

Coach Omar Sise is now requesting the GFF and the Ministry of Youth and Sports to support his desire for the team to continue camping immediately.

The Guinean coach, Madjou Jallow said the game was difficult for his side, while congratulating the Young Scorpions for a good display. He was full of praise for star player and skipper Abdoulie Jallow.

According to him, they will go home and get prepared for the return leg in Conakry. He was quite confident of victory when the Young Scorpions travel to Conakry.

by Alieu Ceesay

 Veteran sports journalist Pape Saine has told Observer Sports that the Saturday qualifier game between The Gambia U-20 and their Guinean equivalents was a good encounter and a thrilling match “but unfortunately our boys were over anxious and missed several dead chances.”

He however expressed optimism that there is still chance of qualifying to Zambia 2017.

Going down history lane, the veteran sports journalist, who doubles as the Honorary Life President of the Sports Journalists’ Association of The Gambia (SJAG), said the Saturday encounter was the third between The Gambia U-20 and Guinean U-20, while at the senior level, the two nations have played over 23 times,  Guinea winning 11 times and Gambia winning 7 times.

As to what should be done ahead of the return leg, Saine said the team should improve and play better, especially in the attacking side. “Maybe lack of experience and/or cohesion [resulted to] the several missed chances, but I am hopeful they can improve a lot during the return leg,” he told Observer Sports.

Lamin Kaba Bajo, the President of GFF was quite optimistic. He commended the boys for playing a good game even though there were missed chances. He urged the technical staff to go back to the training ground and work on the weak areas. Regarding the motivation from the GFF especially in terms of timely payment of match allowances, Bajo said there was no problem regarding that.

by Alieu Ceesay