by Saffiatou Colley

The Access to Justice (A2J) Noran football cup, organised by the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCCE) through funding from the European Union, got underway at the Box Bar Mini-Stadium in Brikama at the weekend.

The tournament dubbed A2J Civic Education Campaign is aimed at involving young people in the understanding of access to justice at community level through entertainment and sports.

In the opening game of the competition, Fortune FC defeated Misira United 2-0 with goals from Modou Sowe and Baba Sanugo in the 2nd and 45th minutes respectively. Greater Tomorrow booked a date with Fortune in the finals of the competition after a 6-5 post-match penalty shootout defeat of Brikama United in the other knockout game.

Speaking at the event, Muhammed Jawla, the Deputy Executive Director of the National Sports Council said football has fair play in justice because of the points and awards given to winners at the end of competitions. He added there is justice in everything we do particularly in football.

“Such initiatives will encourage youths to take part in national development geared towards complementing Government’s efforts,” he said.

Isatou Bittaye, Senior Programme Officer at the NCCE stated that the main focus of the project is to enhance access to justice through legal education and provision of the available justice mechanisms information. The tournament, she opined, will avail participants the opportunity to learn about the traditional justice mechanisms which are sometimes forgotten, adding that young people are important stakeholders of a nation.

“Hence there interest is sports and entrainment we brought these two activities in order to get their attention,” she said.

Shelly Liberto, the EU A2J team leader urged all participating teams to be ambassadors of A2J in their communities after pledging allegiance of justice.

by Baboucarr Camara

Gamtel’s chances of prolonging their stay in the CAF Champions League were dashed on Saturday when they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Olympique Club de Khouribga, going down to a humiliating 4-2 aggregate defeat after two legs.

The Moroccans had led 2-1 from the first leg but Gamtel Coach Tapha Manneh was so confident of reversing the deficit in the return leg that he told reporters at a news conference on Wednesday that the Telecom giants would qualify to the next stage of the qualifiers in their first ever season in the competition. “I am disappointed, because we could have done better,” were his comments after the final whistle.

But just as the away side took the lead in Khouribga a fortnight earlier to shock the hosts who would later recover from a penalty miss to secure the win, it was again the visitors that drew first blood in this deciding encounter when Najib Koumya headed from a corner kick after 26 minutes to make the task ever harder for the Gambian champions.

Although Gamtel equalised with 18 minutes remaining when Modou Sarr scored from a set piece, any hopes of a Gamtel comeback were dashed in stoppage time when Ibrahim Bezghoudi sealed the win from a counter-attack as the home keeper Baka Ceesay surged forward to meet a corner kick.

With the win, Olympique Khouribga, who themselves are making only their second appearance in Africa’s flagship club competition, will now face 2007 champions Etiole du Sahel of Tunisia in the next round.

by Baboucarr Camara

A 19-year-old Joe Sise made his debut for Halmstad BK in October 2008 against GIF Sundsvall in the Swedish Allsvenskan. He was expected to be the next big star in Swedish football.

He played for Sweden at U-21 level and became the target of several big clubs after his strong 2010 and 2011 seasons with great games for his boyhood club, scoring several decisive goals.

Joe became one of the biggest revelations in Swedish football and after shunning the opportunity to play for the Scorpions of The Gambia, with hope of representing Sweden at the time, he refused to extend his contract with Hamstad and instead joined FC Nordsjaelland of Denmark ahead of the 2012 season.

He signed a three-year contract, amidst pomp and fanfare, with the then Danish champions who decided to boost their strike force ahead of that season’s UEFA Champions League campaign. At the end of his contract in 2015, the striker left Farum Park Stadion without a single minute of competitive football due to series of injuries.

His last competitive game came in October 2011 when he played in a goalless stalemate with Kalmar in Hamlstad’s final game in the top flight before relegation to the Superettan. It was in that game that he first suffered the injury that had threatened his career in the subsequent four years.

The former AC Milan trialist recently returned to full training after several of hard work. Now 26, Sise, got a fresh start last week after returning to the city of Hamlstad, not with his boyhood club but with local rivals IS Halmia, who were last season relegated from the Division One Sodra and will begin the new campaign in the Swedish fourth tier. He               signed a short-term contract until June with         an option to extend.

“Joe Sise himself displays an incredible spirit and is determined to get back to the top of football, and we’re not talking in any of the top leagues in Sweden but internationally,” wrote Halmia’s Christoffer Andreasson on the club’s official website to announce his capture.

Joe Sise’s time in Denmark was a real nightmare. He pulled his tendon during his first practice with Nordsjaelland and then came all sorts of setbacks for the lad as if he were cursed. When his contract with the Danes ran out at the end of 2015, Sise was forced to dip into his pocket to take care of the medical expenses on his own in an attempt to return to the football field. The sacrifice, determination andhard work has paid off and the Swedish born Gambian is expected to play again in six weeks.

At Halmia, Sise is joined by 34-year-old veteran of Swedish football, Patrik Ingelsten, who also signed with the club as they attempt to make an immediate return to the third elite of Swedish football.

by Samba Jawo

Technical and Distribution Department of NAWEC were Friday crowned champions of the annual inter-department football tournament organised by the Company.

The trophy, which is played for the third time in a row, is named after the Managing Director of NAWEC. The winners defeated the Administration Department 2-1 in a final played at the Serrekunda East Mini-Stadium.

As winners, they went home with a trophy and a cash prize of D20,000 while Admin pocketed home a consolation prize of D15,000. Certificates were also awarded to all participating departments and individuals.

In a dominant first half, the Technicians got off to the best possible start by opening the scoring after just 17 minutes through Jack Obega. Pa Jallow dispossessed the Admin midfielders and built a strong counterattack before unleashing a ferocious shot which saw Sainey Jarju inadvertently put the ball through his own net to give Technical a commanding lead in the 28th minute.

Admin came into the second half banging from all sides of the field and their industrious football paid off 10 minutes after the restart when Wuyeh Jabbi smashed a fierce free-kick into the net. Admin laid a late siege on the Technicians goalmouth but some resolute defending coupled with their profligacy in front of goal ensured the second half strike was a mere consolation.

Speaking in a post-match interview with Observer Sports, Malick Jagne the head coach of the winning side expressed delight in securing a second straight triumph in the competition against the same opposition. “I opened this year’s tournament with them and there as well I defeated them 4-1 so this win didn’t came a surprise to me,” he added.

For his part, Alieu Fofana the coach for Admin Department faulted his players for not doing justice to the hard work they put in their training sessions. “We failed because they [my players] were not listening to my instructions and as coach that is the only thing you can do; to give the instructions and if the players fail to go by your tactics you are automatically going to loss,” he added.

by Samba Jawo

The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) in collaboration with The Gambia Football Coaches Association (GFCA) on Saturday hosted an award night for local coaches that have successfully completed the CAF B and C licences courses.

Speaking on behalf of the President of the GFF, Bakary K. Jammeh, an Executive Committee member of the Federation congratulated the coaches, describing them as deserved recipients. Jammeh said the GFF is highly committed to the development of all technical cadres of football as enshrined in its strategic football development plan.

“Our plan to develop and expand the capacity of coaches is manifested in the continuous training programmes designed for them in order to upgrade their technical capabilities, hence football is about technical and tactical,” he said.

He reaffirmed the Federation’s resolve to help the Coaches Association all the way to make their dreams a reality. “Let me assure you that the GFF is committed to strengthening the capacity of all structures of the Federation to also put in place competent and efficient personnel to deliver the desired results,” he reaffirmed.

Jammeh thanked CAF for the support to the Federation, disclosing that many more assistance programmes are in the pipeline for the GFF. He emphasised that all stakeholders will be part of the project.

The President of the Coaches Association, Pa Suwareh Faye, challenged the recipients to live up to expectations. “Your licences are not for you alone but should translate the knowledge gained from the coaching courses to benefit the players and the nation as a whole,” he said.

He added that it is a pre-condition from CAF that any coach henceforth must be a CAF certified licence holder in order to sit on a team’s technical bench.

He thanked the GFF for all the support in terms of monetary, logistical and moral for the success of all their programmes. “Without the support and collaboration of the GFF executive and staff, we would not have arrived at this point,” he affirmed.

by Baboucarr Camara

Gambian hopeful Joe Sise said he had shunned offers from top clubs within and outside of Sweden to join IS Halmia in the fourth year of Swedish football.

Sise, 26, a prolific striker born to Gambian parents in Sweden, hasn’t played a competitive football in more than four years due to recurring injuries but signed with the little known team from Halmstad this week as he attempts to return to top level football.

“I had offers from abroad, Allsvenskan [Swedish Premier League] and Superettan, but with the [injury] background I have, I’m very careful with what step I take and I feel Division 2 is a good level to build me up,” Sise told Halmia’s official website after putting pen to paper on a contract that runs until the summer with the option to extend.

“My plan is that I will be available in four to six weeks. I have built up my strength and have never been stronger, but I need to work on my fitness. I am grateful that I have been given this chance. There is so much that I have been through so I take nothing for granted.”

Sise made his debut for ex-Allsvenskan side Halmstad BK at the age of 19, seven years ago and after allowing his contract to run down at the end of the 2011 season, he signed a three-year deal with Denmark’s FC Nordsjaelland in the winter of 2012 but left at the end of his contract without featuring in a single competitive fixture.

He tore his Achilles tendon on his first day of training with the Danes and as he neared his return to action after almost four months on the sidelines, he suffered another setback; he first broke his foot and later his knee.

“I got an infection in my lap when I had surgery and was hospitalised again for further operations. Then I lost all the muscles in my body and has since been building up the body again; it has taken me two years to get to this shape,” Joe Sise added.

“In the winter, I started to train with the ball again. Martin Pringle was assistant coach in Copenhagen and we commuted together from Helsingborg when I was in Nordsjaelland. Now he is the coach of Eskilsminne IF and I followed him there and trained with them but ended up signing for Halmia even though I had never played in the Division 2 level. The team is young so it is clearly a challenge for me.”

Halmia’s Club Manager Leif Jonsson played a critical role in bringing Joe Sise to the Orjan Valls Stadium. The Club said the deal is an overall concept that suits both parties. While hoping that the Gambian will soon return to match sharpness, the Club added that the financial terms of the agreement is nothing that endangers its economy, contrary to what some seem to think.

After their relegation from the third tier last year, Halmia lost several of its prominent players to other clubs and as a result, the club invested its energy in attracting seasoned campaigners with credentials from playing at the highest level. Joe joined former Kalmar and Heerenveen striker Patrik Ingelsten at the club.

“Already in December we decided what we wanted and the focus was already on Patrick and Joe,” Leif Jonsson told his Club’s official website. “But at the same time it is a gamble to bring in Joe. We are aware of his injury history,” he concluded.

 The President of the Central River Regional Football Association, Numukunda Kanyi, has expressed gratitude to the Norway-Gambia International Holding Company Norga for donating six complete sets of jerseys, eighteen footballs and thirty Adidas T-Shirts to his Association.  The presentation took place in Bansang over the weekend

According to two of the region’s top coaches, Pa Ngum and Ebrima Saine, they were surprised by the huge quantity of materials Norga brought for them. “What is even more amazing is that Norga travelled more than four hundred kilometres to reach here at their own cost,” Ngum said.

They thanked Norga through their officials Ba S Jabbi, Mamadi Ceesay and Louis Andrew Mendy for bringing a huge smile to the faces of the regional footballers.

The occasion was also used to present certificates of appreciation to Ba S Jabbi, Mamadi Ceesay, Louis Andrew Mendy, Ousman Nyan and Stian Lund by the CRR Coaches Association whose members took part in a coaching clinic organized by Norga at the FIFA Goal Project earlier.

According to Norga officials, the presentation of materials will continue to the Upper River Region, North bank Region, Kanifing Municipality and finally Banjul City. “Norga International believes in sharing with the deserving and the needy,’’ said CEO Jabbi.

Source: Lamin Cham

By Baboucarr Camara

Ex-Gambian international defender Omar Jawo has joined Swedish third division side Brommapojkarna for the whole of the 2016 season.

Omar is an experienced central defender who played for many years at several top flight teams in Sweden and it is hoped that with 89 top flight games under his belt, his experience will help the club in making an immediate return to the Superettan following last season’s relegation.

“Omar joins from AFC United, where he played for the last three years. Before that he played in Syrianska FC for two years and Gefle IF for two years,” Brommapojkarna said in a statement while announcing the capture of the 34-year-old defender.

Omar was born in The Gambia but moved with his family to Sweden at an early age. He has been capped six times by The Gambia. He is the eldest of nine siblings, four of which have football background. Amadou Jawo, who plays as a striker for Djurgarden IF is one of them as well as Ebrima Mabou Ousman Jawo, a played as a striker before turning his attention music, and Momodou Jawo, a goalkeeper who had a spell with third tier side IK Frej.

Omar began his youth career with Assyriska FF where he was handed his first two professional caps with the squad in 2002, before signing with IK Frej in January 2003. After one season with IK Frej, he was sold to Vallentuna BK where he played for one year. He later signed for Vasby United in 2005 and after 57 games, where he scored three goals, he was sold to Gefle IF ahead of the 2009 season.

Gambia born striker Amadou Jawo could drop a division below in search of more playing time after finding it hard to break into Djurgarden’s starting eleven since joining from Allsvenskan rivals Elfsborg in 2013.

Swedish publication, Expressen, reported this week that Jawo, 31, could move on loan to Dalkurd FF, who will this season play in the Superettan (an equivalent of the Swedish second tier), thus linking up with his Gambian compatriot Omar ‘Jack’ Jagne.

The publication said Dalkurd has enquired about the availability of the striker on loan as they attempt to gain promotion to the top flight and Amadou’s lack of playing time at the Tele2 Arena, coupled with the strong financial muscles of Dalkurd, a deal is a real possibility. His former team, Gefle, who plays in the top flight is also said to be another team interested in his signature.

Djurgarden in the off-season acquired the services of strikers Mathias Ranegie and Michael Olunga, meaning the team now has six recognised centre forwards within its ranks and as a result, either Sebastian Andersson or Jawo would be forced to leave the club.

“It’s a tough situation. We have many strikers and in the system that we play now it’s hard for me to play anywhere other than in attack. In Elfsborg we played a little bit different, and then there were other positions that I could also play in,” Jawo told Expressen in an interview this week.

“We’ll see what happens. I have not discussed with either the coach [Pelle Olsson] or sporting director [Bosse Andersson] but if something shows up we’ll see what happens then.”

Dalkurd recently shocked Swedish football when they made two high profile signings in the close season by acquiring the services of seasoned campaigners Dusan Djuric and Tom Soderberg for the coming season, and, Jawo’s exorbitant salary wouldn’t be a problem to meet.

“We will sign a striker and we have check on different options. Who they are, I have no comment. We never close any doors,” Dalkurd’s Sporting Director Adil Kizil told Expressen when asked about the prospect of signing Jawo.

“It is clear that clubs have inquired [about Amadou Jawo]. We know that we have good strikers in the squad. Which clubs are they, this is something I will not comment on but by March 31 [when the transfer window would’ve closed] we will have the answer,” Djurgarden’s Sporting Director Bosse Andersson said.

Amadou Jawo was one of the biggest prospects in Swedish football but his career stalled after a serious injury just after signing a big money move to Elfsborg in the winter of 2009. His lack of playing time forced him to a temporal move to Djurgaden in 2013 and after a strong season he was signed to a five-year lucrative contract.

The striker has never played for Sweden at any level and even though he was courted by subsequent Gambian football authorities, he has so far shunned every opportunity to represent the Scorpions at international level. His brother Omar Jawo was capped several times by The Gambia.

A team of refugees will compete at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro this summer, according to International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach.

The BBC reports that a total of 43 athletes have been earmarked for the team, which will be called the Team of Refugee Athletes (ROA) and will compete under the Olympic flag.

“By welcoming ROA to the Olympic Games in Rio, we want to send a message of hope to all the refugees of the world,” Bach said on Wednesday.

“We have all been touched by the magnitude of this refugee crisis. By welcoming this team, we want to send a message of hope to all the refugees in the world. This team will be treated like all the other teams.”

The Guardian claims three high-performance athletes were identified by the IOC in December 2015 as being suitable to form part of the team.

Two of those are believed to be Yusra Mardini, the 17-year-old Syrian swimmer who fled Damascus for Germany and now trains in Berlin, and Raheleh Asemani, the Iranian taekwondo fighter from Iran who now works as a postwoman and trains in Belgium.

Bach said he was not sure how many athletes would make up the proposed team. This team may end up between five and 10 athletes maybe,” Bach said. “We have no target. It depends very much on the sporting qualifications.”

Each athlete will require United Nations refugee status.

Source: Europe.Newsweek.com

By Baboucarr Camara

The President of The Gambia Football Federation, Lamin Kaba Bajo, said the Federation remains committed to the development of a competent human resource base for the sustainable development of the national game.

Bajo, who was speaking in an exclusive interview with the Daily Observer on a wide range of issues, was making reference to a four-year football development strategic plan document designed by the current GFF administration that seeks to train 385 coaches, 100 administrators, 190 referees and 80 medics by the end of 2017. He added that looking at the target they’ve set for themselves, they have achieved a lot in terms of capacity building, expressing hope that by the end of his first term in office, most of the targets would’ve been achieved beyond the objective.

“[Capacity building] is going on very well and we still give it priority because we know that there is no proper development without a competent human resource. What some people see is just football being played on the pitch but what leads to that is they either don’t know that it goes well beyond that or deliberately they don’t care,” Bajo said.

“For sustainability and for future posterity, I think we have to do it and that is why FIFA and CAF also give priority to our programmes because they know it is the future. [Capacity building] is very fundamental in our plans and programmes and we continue to emphasise on that.”

Grassroots football

In an attempt to reorganise the Technical Department of the GFF to be in line with internationally recognised standards as dictated by the strategic football development document, the Federation recently received a technical consultant from the Confederation of African Football to help in implementing the objective.

The consultant has since left The Gambia but not without making recommendations to be used as a mechanism to put in place a competent Technical Department that would introduce programmes geared towards the sustainable development of the national game, but Bajo said he is not in a position to disclose details of his recommendations as they are still going through the document.

He also said that the proposed National Youth League, which is a FIFA sponsored programme, is now awaiting approval from the world football governing. He added that schools football has already started in the Greater Banjul Area.

“We are not doing it alone; we are doing it in consultation with the School Football Association and the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education so that we can better reach the target groups in schools. The Federation has already financed the first stage of it which is in the final stage and in the next couple of months we will look into the second stage which is countrywide. We want to ensure that before the end of 2016, the school football league is implemented,” Bajo affirmed.

Football infrastructure

In the area of football infrastructure, the GFF said it is committed to build eight international standard football pitches; twelve fit for the local leagues; fourteen in the regions; twenty at the district level; twenty-one for the school league and four FIFA Goal Projects.

This is expected to reduce the demand on the five grounds that the various national and regional leagues in the different categories are all concentrated around in the Greater Banjul Area. The infrastructure will help in the efforts to decentralise the game, which the GFF said is very fundamental to its development agenda. In achieving this, the GFF wants to build football infrastructures throughout the country by ensuring that gradually, each of the 43 districts has a standard football field.

“The Soma Mini-Stadium, which we inherited at its conceptualisation stage, is in progress and as soon as that is completed, we will start another artificial turf project in Basse after which our concentration will turn to Farafenni. If we have these standard fields around the regions, at least for a start, I think that will also help them a lot to alleviate the constraints of infrastructure,” he emphasised.

Professional league

He also spoke about professionalising the domestic league with the possibility of increasing the number of teams in the first division in future. To achieve this, the GFF recently conducted a CAF Football Licensing seminar for all the twelve first division clubs in The Gambia.

Bajo described the licensing system as a very tedious one because clubs need to have the capacity to be able to put in place a permanent address which must be a fully functional secretariat with highly competent staff, structures of a team manager, senior coach, and a youth coach.

“It is not an easy thing because you must also run a youth team in parallel with the senior team and if you look at the financial situations of our clubs here they are struggling but we will have to get there by sitting down to discuss because there is also the opportunity of support from CAF and FIFA. There will be a time when every club must achieve that level in order to participate at CAF inter-club competitions,” he said, but was quick to emphasise that instead of persecuting the clubs, they will work towards helping them in any way they can.

“We are working on a stakeholders consultative forum because that is important and in this anybody who is interested in football will come out and see how much we can better direct our football in the interest of all.”

Bajo also spoke about implementing a robust marketing strategy to ensure that the Federation will at some point become financially independent. He spoke about the FIFA Win-Win Programme, which through the world football governing body’s funding and knowledge, the Programme supports member associations to generate more income for the development of the game.

The Federation, Bajo said will soon begin the process of comercialising the National Technical Training Centre in Old Yundum by turning the facilities into a three-star hotel which will be registered under The Gambia Tourism Board and would serve as the main source of revenue generation for the GFF.

The second segment of Lamin Kaba Bajo’s exclusive interview with the Daily Observer will be published in our Monday edition.

In their quest to further promote and decentralise the game of handball across the length and breadth of the country, The Gambia Handball Association, through the Upper River Region Sports Committee, recently launched the game in the provincial town of Basse.

during the launching ceremony, the Handball Association donated handball equipment to the Regional Sports Comittee in Basse.

Handball is a sport in which two teams of seven players each (six outfield players and a goalkeeper) pass a ball using their hands with the aim of throwing it into the goal of the other team. A standard match consists of two periods of 30 minutes, and the team that scores more goals wins.

Haruna Cham is the Secretary General of The Gambia Handball Association. He told Observer Sports that the Association’s next target is Farafenni and other provincial towns.

This move to decentralise the game is part of the set requirements that all sports associations must meet in order to be recognised by the National Sports Council.

Meanwhile, in the ongoing league, GAF female side on Saturday thrashed Nema Kunku 27-4, while Konge Bi male side won GAF male side 10-7. Both games were played at the French School in Kanifing.

On Tuesday, Saamasang will face the Police in both the male and female categories in Brikama.

by Alieu Ceesay

Ahead of next weekend’s national inter-schools athletics championship, defending champions Gambia Senior Secondary School (GSSS) was crowned champions of the Region 1 inter-school athletics heats after they narrowly saw off the challenge from Muslim Senior Secondary School in the senior school category.

Gambia Senior School pulled 381 points, followed by Muslim Senior School in second position with 364 points. Nusrat Senior School emerged third place with 319 points and St. Augustine’s Senior School finished fourth place with 171 points.

The four-day event that was organised by The Gambia Secondary School Sports Association (GSSSA) also saw Latrikunda Sabiji Upper Basic School win the junior school category of the competition after pulling 374 points. Bakoteh Upper Basic School finished second place with 192 points and Abuko Upper Basic School came out third place with 178 points.

About 19 senior schools and 16 junior schools in Region 1 participated in the inter-school athletics heats held at the Independence Stadium’s newly-installed athletics tracks.

The four-day event, which started last Thursday, attracted record turnout and among them included students, teachers, principals, parents and athletics enthusiasts.

In what usually used to be a two horse race between Gambia Senior School and long time rivals St. Augustine’s Senior School, this year’s heats saw a keen competition between Muslim Senior School, Gambia Senior Secondary School, Nusrat Senior School and in some instances St. Augustine’s.

The national inter-schools athletics championship is one of the main highlights of school sports calendars and two schools shall qualify from each zone per event for the national championship slated for next weekend.

According to the Secondary School Sports Association President Martin Gomez, the winners can be good contenders in the national championship.

As to how difficult it was to stage this popular annual event, Gomez said it is never easy especially when there are no sponsors. “This is one event we have never missed to organise unless otherwise.”

The North Bank Region settlement of Farafenni has been hosting the national championship for the past couple of years due to work being done on the athletics tracks at the Stadium.

by Alieu Ceesay

The second round of the GFF 1st Division domestic football league will resume from the break next Saturday when league leaders Gambia Ports Authority take on struggling Banjul United in an all-Banjul affair at the KG5 mini stadium in Banjul.

Banjul United are just two places above the relegation zone with 8 points in the first round and a win for them will be worth celebrating.

On the other hand, a win for the Ferry boys will extend their unbeaten run and lead in this year’s campaign.

League’s bottom side Bombada will also entertain 6th placed Gamtel at the Box Bar mini stadium in Brikama on Saturday. Bombada are currently sitting at the bottom of the league with 7 points and Gamtel are on 6th place with 14 points.

Also to watch on Saturday is Hawks taking on Steve Biko at the Serrekunda West mini stadium. Hawks are on 9th place with 12 points, while Steve Biko are on 5th place with 15 points.

In the Sunday games, Real De Banjul host Serrekunda United at the KGI mini stadium in Banjul; GAF face Brikama United at SK East while Wallindan welcome Samger at the Stadium.

by Alieu Ceesay

The 2015 domestic National Male and Female Basketball Leagues, organised by The Gambia Basketball Association (GBA) are in full swing at the Indepdence Stadium in Bakau.

Eleven male teams and five female teams are competing in the separate leagues and according to the GBA President Muhammed Papa Njie, the league is progressing well. He, however lamented that sponsors are not forthcoming and appealed for support from public and private sectors to sponsor the league.

In the games played over the weekend, on Friday, YMCA girls won Late Babou Sowe female team 61-31; Serrekunda West boys defeated Old School 90-74.

On Saturday, Kotu Ninja lost to Banjul United by 78-70; YMCA thrashed Lamin 20-0 and Kotu United won Brikama United by 77-68.

Finally on Sunday, Bakau United basketball team lost to Old School by 64-86 and Serrekunda West proved too strong for Kotu Ninja after a 81-65 win.

Games resume today (Tuesday) with Kotu United taking on Vicotry Creators. The Sateba Basektball team take on the Capital Basketball team tomorrow (Wednesaday) and Old School will take on YMCA on Thursday.

All games are taking place at the Independence Stadium.

by Alieu Ceesay

After successfully staging what is so far the biggest wrestling contest by any local promoter in the country, Burr Wresting Promotion over the weekend staged its second mega wrestling contest at the Wellingara football field.

During the highly attended two-day event, twenty wrestlers drawn from different wrestling clubs contested in different bouts.

The traditional sport has over the years been going through revival thanks to the efforts and support of His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh Babili Mansa.

On Saturday, wrestler France, of Club Saku Hamham of Banjul, prevailed as winner over Flex, of Club Roots of Pipeline, for the flag named after Meitre Alhagie Diouf, a renowned international lawyer in Senegal.

In another grand combat on Sunday, Manduar of Club Jefjel of Latrikunda wrestled down Balla Nyamina of Club Kaibaaxh of Bundung after a hard-fought bout for the flag named after Hon. Abdoulie Bojang, the Speaker of the National Assembly of The Islamic Republic of The Gambia.

In another interesting bout on Saturday, Kojaro of club Gumsarew of Serrekunda won Tangagir of Club Police Force for the flag named after Marcel Mendy, the Executive Director of the National Sports Council. Giri of Club Balla family of Bundung triumphed over Escuterr of Bakau, while Boy Njie of Club Kaibaxh defeated Bebe Sanghai of Club Transport Union. Boy Jola of Club Jefjel was also in celebration following his defeat of Boy Faal of Brikama.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, R13 of Club Nema downed Halle Bu Ndaw of Club Bulfaleh of Kerr Serign, while Dennu of Club Brikama lost his bout to Tonerr of Club Kololi.

Finally, Tripleless of Club Transport Union won Damarerier of Gumsarew of Serrekunda.

by Samba Jawo

Barely less than three weeks to the double-legged Gabon 2017 AFCON qualifier tie between the Scorpions of the Islamic Republic of The Gambia and Mourabitones of Islamic Republic of Mauritania, head Coach Sang Ndong has spoken to Observer Sports about the level of preparation ahead of the encounter.

The Scorpions will play away to Mauritania in Nouakchott on the 25th March before hosting the return leg on 29th March at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.

Gambia are in Group M together with South Africa, Cameroon and Mauritania. According to the CAF regulations, the group winners and two best second placed teams will join the hosts for the finals.

“I think we have come far because we started with 18 local-based players that are training three times a week at the FIFA Goal Project for the past two weeks. We are getting ready and we played our first test game against GPA last Wednesday which we won 3-2. We are now looking forward to playing our second test game,” he told Observer Sports.

The preparations for this all important double-legged tie, he told this paper, are in high gear and Sang is upbeat for a positive result in the first leg in Nouakchott.

Of the 18 local-based players invited for pre-selection training, the Scorpion’s Coach said over 80% of them are from the CHAN team. “I think everybody is hungry and they are all eager to show what they can do and that is the most encouraging thing in this local team.”

As to what were the selection criteria for the local-based, the former Gambian international explained that the national team is a composition of the elite players playing in the national league and performing week in, week out. “The criteria used [include] most of them were playing in the CHAN team and are doing well with their teams in the league.”

Sang Ndong, who is being assisted by U-17 Coach Matarr Mboge, is also being supported by domestic league leaders GPA Coach Alhagie Sarr; and Alhagie Marong, as goalkeeper trainer.

On the availability of foreign-based players for the game, the former Hawks Coach said he is expecting some players playing in Europe and Senegal to join the squad. “Maybe by the end of this week or next week, we will come out with a list of players that we have identified. After my unveiling, I did send letters to all the players that I have found their email addresses in the office, introducing myself and showing them what I am up to. Over 90% replied positively assuring me of their support,” he told Observer Sports.

Though not finalised at the time of the interview, the Scorpions gaffer revealed that plans are underway to have a training camp before travelling to Mauritania.

He finally called for the support of the general public in rebranding and changing the face of Gambian football.

by Alieu Ceesay

The village of Mbollet Ba in Niumi were recently crowned champions of the 2015 Ndofan Sports Committee-organised Nawettan, following a narrow 1-0 defeat of Medina Serign Mass in a final played at the Biri Biri football field in Ndofan village.

The game’s only goal came in the 21st minute courtesy of Amat Jobe.

The inter-village tournament was sponsored by Alhagie Mbaye, Customs Manager at The Gambia Ports Authority, for the second consecutive year. Mbaye has, this time, dedicated the trophy to the Minister of Youth and Sports and Basic and Secoundary Education, Alieu K Jammeh and Fatou Lamin Faye respectively.

Speaking at the final, Mbaye said: “I feel deeply honoured to have this important trophy named after me. National development, in whatever area, is everybody’s business and, as                                     good citizens, we should be seen to be contributing our quota in one way or the other. Football tournaments have the potential to bring people together, especially the youth, who are the future leaders.”

While thanking the Ndofan Football Committee for giving him the honour for the second time to sponsor the tournament, Mbaye said he dedicated the trophy to the two Ministers in recognition of their efforts in youth, sports and education development in the country.

Mbaye concluded by thanking The Gambia Revenue Authority boss Yankuba Darboe, Alhagie Conteh of Customs, Biri Njie and others for contributing to the success of the tournament.

Jabang Bobb, Chairman of the Ndofan Sports Committee, thanked Mbaye for sponsoring the tournament, the fans, and players for maintaining discipline throughout the tournament.

Twelve villages, he said, participated in the tournament, which is a popular inter-village tournament since its inception in 1994. He announced that the committee is looking forward to increasing the number of particpating teams.

Bobb finally appealed for support to fence the football field.

As winners, Mbollet Ba went home with a giant trophy and cash prize of D8000, while the runners-up Medina Serign Mass also pocketed home a consolation prize of D5000 and a trophy.

by Awa Gassama

Highly-rated midfielder Ebrima Sohna is being                                                                           tipped to miss out in the squad for this month’s Afcon qualifiers between the Scorpions of The Gambia and the Maurabitones of Mauritania.

A Source close to Football House told Observer Sports that the former U-17 and U-20 tough tackling midfielder is among the foreign-based players not invited by Scorpions Coach Sang Ndong for the all-important double-legged tie on the 25th March in Nouackchott and 29th March in Banjul.

In an interview with Observer Sports on Monday, Sang Ndong said he is expecting some players plying their trade in Europe and Senegal to join the local-based squad, but would not disclose their identities at the time.

The 27-year-old Sohna first joined the National Team set-up in 2003 when he helped Gambia secure a first ever continental qualification in the African U-17 Championship in Swaziland that year. He later became an African champion in that category when Gambia hosted and won the tournament two years later.

He was one of the best performers for the country in the 2005 championship in Peru. He later graduated to the U-20 team, where he won silver at the 2007 African Youth Championship in Congo, and played at the World Cup in Canada later that year.

Sohna has since graduated to the national team, and is regarded by many as one of the most committed players for the Scorpions. “The fans see everything. They see how committed you are and how ready you are to win for the country and that is why they give me that respect and I appreciate it. I promise that I will continue to fight on the pitch for the fans and my country anytime I am in the Gambian jersey,” he said in a recent interview with Observer Sports.

by Alieu Ceesay

Observer Sports has been sounding the opinion of athletes and coaches on their level of preparations regarding this year’s Gambia Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) national inter-schools athletics championship. The three-day sporting event opens today (Friday) afternoon at the Independence Stadium’s newly-installed athletics track.

Thousands, including students, teachers, parents, and athletic enthusiasts, will crowd the stadium’s pavilions to watch and cheer athletes of their past and present schools.

Preview of Nusrat SSS

Nusrat Senior Secondary School is one of the highly respected schools in terms of academic excellence. However, the Bundung-based school was the new revelation in the Region 1 athletics heats, haven finished 3rd place with 319 points above St. Augustine’s Senior Secondary School.

‘We Can Do Both’, was the slogan the school came up with to the athletics heats last weekend and indeed they never disappointed.

Jainaba Touray is one of Nusrat’s best female athletes. She told Observer Sports that she is ready to replicate the same performance when she takes to the tracks today.

As to what inspired her to take up athletics, Touray said she is inspired and encouraged by the great athletes she watches on the international stage. “I want to be like them one day. “We are ready because in terms of education we lead and in the area of sports, Nusrat is coming up,” Jainaba Touray told Observer Sports.

She finally calls on both past and present students of Nusrat to come out and watch what the students of the school would do on the tracks. “We want to make a difference this year and let the senior secondary schools get ready for Nusrat as victory is certainly ours,” she affirmed.

Preview of LK Sabiji UBS

Latrikunda Sabiji Upper Basic School (LKSUBS) will also return to the tracks today with the hope of retaining their title for the fourth consecutive year.

The school was, last weekend, declared winners of the Region 1 heats after after scoring 374 points. Bakoteh Upper Basic School finished second place with 192 points and Abuko Upper Basic School came out third with 178 points.

The female captain Awa Dibba told Observer Sports this week that her school is ready for the challenge of defending the title.

She disclosed that the athletics team trained twice a day in the entire week. “My brain might not be too good when it comes to academics but with sports I can become a celebrity in The Gambia and the rest of Africa. I intend to take sports as my career,” the teenager told this medium.

She warned their opponents to get ready as it is not going to be easy with any school.

Sheikh Tijan Ngum of the LKSUBS team said victory is only for those who work towards it and they are determined for that victory once more.

“Sport plays a major role in the development of any country, and The Gambia cannot be an exception as we hope and pray for a better Gambia.”

Preview of Bakoteh UBS

Bakoteh Upper Basic School finished second place behind Latrikunda Sabiji in the junior school category during the heats. Yusupha Jarju, Physical Education Teacher at the School said his athletes were fully prepared for the competition. According to him, the team is far better compared to previous years as they have improved on the fitness and commitment of athletes.

“We are sending signal to other schools that Bakoteh Upper Basic School is coming with full force and that they should watch out for our athletes,” he told Observer Sports.

Preview of St. Augustine’s SSS

Mbemba Gibba of St Augustine’s Senior Secondary School expressed frustration at the dull performance of his school in the heats.

He said since the departure of former Principal, Martin Gomez, sports is not given the due attention it deserved. He urged the new Principal to give due attention to sports.

Mamud Waggeh said St. Augustine’s is losing so many good athletes, saying sports has greatly helped in selling the image and name of the school

Preview of Gambia SSS

Athlete Yaya Saidy of The Gambia Senior Secondary School is one of the students very proud and glad to represent his school in such championships.

After his outstanding performance in the heats, Saidy is looking forward to the finals.

Sheikh Omar Jobe said Gambia Senior School is fully prepared to retain their title this year, while warning other schools to get ready for the challenge.

Musa Touray said their school has the best coach (Momodou Njie) and there is no doubt they can prevail over other schools.

Compiled by Awa Gassama,

Lolly Camara, and

Jainaba D Jatta