Preparations towards the first ever international club football competition organised in The Gambia reaches its climax after the draw for the 12-team tournament was held at the Oasis Apartment in Senegambia on Wednesday.

The tournament, which will bring together four teams from The Gambia, five from Senegal and one each from Guinea Conakry, Mauritania and Nigeria, is part of celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Real de Banjul.

“The symbolic nature of this draw cannot be overemphasised. This is the first of its kind as far as club football in The Gambia is concerned to bring such clubs together and foster unity within the region,” Bakary K. Jammeh, second vice president of the Club said, while expressing gratitude to its partners within and outside the country.

“This is all geared towards celebrating 50 years of the existence of Real de Banjul and towards the professionalisation of the Club.”

Real de Banjul and Wallidan are the two Gambian clubs to participate in the competition and they would be joined by the finalists of this year’s Super Nawettan tournament. All four teams have been seeded as the top ranked sides across the four groups.

Real were drawn in Group A alongside Olympique de Ngor of Senegal and Mauritania’s FC Nouadhibou while Wallidan are joined in Group B by Senegalese duo Guediawaye FC and Casa Sports. Group C is made up of AS Generation Foot of Senegal and Horoya AC of Guinea Conakry and they will be joined by the winners of the Super Nawettan. Group D consists of FC Ifeanyi Ubah of Nigeria and Niarry Tally of Senegal. The group would be completed by the runner up of the Super Nawettan.

The tournament would begin on Saturday October 29 with Real de Banjul involved in the opening match. The final would take place a week later on November 6.

Speaking after the draw ceremony, Marcel Mendy the executive director of the National Sports Council hailed the founders of Real de Banjul for laying the solid foundations and the present Exco for consolidating those gains.

He encouraged William Abraham [club president] and team to keep up the momentum while urging the other league clubs to learn from them by introducing something similar to this initiative.

He challenged the players to give their best during the tournament, noting that it is an opportunity to showcase their talent to a wider audience, thus availing them possible professional contracts with teams outside of The Gambia.

All visiting foreign teams are expected to be in the country on October 28 with eliminated clubs departing the following day after their match.

by Baboucarr Camara

The maiden edition of the Miss Super Nawettan (Zonal) is slated for next Thursday, 27th October at Jakarlo in Senegambia.

The event is being organised by the Sports Journalists’ Association of The Gambia (SJAG) in collaboration with the Super Nawettan Organising Committee and Emids Promotion.

The idea was conceived by SJAG to boost the competition.

The 12 participating zones will present two contestants each for this much-talked about Miss Super Nawettan event.

The organisers are hoping for a huge turnout and are calling on the general public to come out in numbers and support their various contestants.

“Preparations are in high gear and the tickets at the gate are D200. We are calling on all to come out and witness this glamorous night,” said SJAG Secretary General Alieu Ceesay.

by Fatou Trawally

The draw for this weekend’s quarterfinal games of the 2016 Super Nawettan was held on Wednesday evening.

The quarterfinal games will be played on Saturday and Sunday at different venues as determined by the organising committee.

On Saturday (tomorrow), Brikama will lock horns with Gunjur in an all-West Coast Region derby at the Serrekunda East mini-stadium while Banjul takes on BEM at the West Mini-stadium on the same day.

On Sunday, last year’s runners-up Sukuta will battle it out with Manjai at the East mini-stadium, as defending champions SK West will take on SK East at the Father Gough Sports Complex in Manjai Kunda.

Meanwhile, the organising committee, chaired by Ba S Jabbi, is urging fans, players and coaches to maintain high sense of discipline before, during and after the games.

by Fatou Trawally

The Real @ 50 football tournament will kick off with Wallidan FC facing off with Senegalese side Guédiawaye FC on October 29 at 4pm.

The fixtures, released on Thursday morning after Wednesday’s draw, will see two schools face off for the opener at 3pm before AS Génération Foot of Senegal square up with Guinea Conakry’s Horoya AC at 6pm.

Hosts Real de Banjul will kick-off their campaign in the late game against Olympique de Ngor of Senegal on the same day at 8:30pm.

A slight change to the fixtures and has been made after the late withdrawal of Nigerian Premier League side FC Ifeanyi Ubah who are kicking off their partnership with English Premier League club West Ham United two days after the start of Real @ 50.

Ifeanyi Ubah have now been replaced by ASC Linguère of Senegal in Group D together with ASC Niarry Tally and the runners-up of the Super Nawettan/Zonals.

 Source: Real De Banjul

Herewith some reactions from the official draw from the TOTAL Africa Cup of Nations 2017 held on Wednesday, 19 October 2016 in Libreville;

Baciro Cande (Head Coach, Guinea Bissau)
All the groups are tough. For us (Guinea Bissau), it will be our first time and we are a team with no experience. We have good and professional players who can contribute in our quest for good results. During the qualifiers, we eliminated Zambia, Kenya and Congo, and we can do better. It will be difficult playing the host country in your first match in a competition of this nature. We will work hard for good results. We are here (in Gabon) to work and do our best to make Guinea Bissau proud and not as tourists.

Manuel Lopes Nascimento (President, Guinea Bissau Football Federation)
I’m content with the content of the draw. It is a joy to participate and in the opening match of the tournament. I’m very confident and optimistic of victory in the opening match. It’s our first time yeah but we are here to play football. There will be no room for our opponents. I’m very confident we will make a good piece of history in this competition.

Hugo Broos (Head Coach, Cameroon)
Being in the same with Gabon, the host country is not easy. However, there are two other teams (Burkina Faso and Guinea Bissau). Expectations will be high of us because everyone will be expecting us to qualify to the knockout stage. Without taking into consideration the strength, and a team like Guinea Bissau for example is an unknown team to me and I will be doing a lot of research in the next months to be able to figure out the strength of this team.

George Afriyie (Vice President, Ghana Football Association)
I think that our group is the toughest. It is similar to the World Cup Draw (because we have Egypt and Uganda). It will be a repeat of the World Cup qualifiers. I always trust my boys and the results of the draw will bring the best out of them.

Herve Renard (Head Coach, Morocco)
It’s a very tough group. If I had to choose teams to avoid before the draw, I would’ve chosen some of the teams in our group. This is football and this is how the draw wants it to be. We will have to prepare ourselves very well. There will be an important emotional value but we will have to ignore all that because we will face Cote d’Ivoire which is very difficult especially when you have had the chance to know these players, and it is technically the same group. It will be tough but we have to be competitors. The match against Togo will be even harder on me during the 90 minutes but I will have to forget all what this man (Claude Le Roy) has done for me and do everything to win over. He has given me so much in my life and not just in football, but how to evolve as a man. I think I will need a lot of time to speak just of the good things that Claude has brought to my life but that is not today’s topic. Let’s concentrate on the tough matches.

Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic (Head Coach, Uganda)
It is destiny and divine intervention that we are once more in the same group with Ghana and Egypt, as in the World Cup qualifiers. Mali is also there making it a very tough group. We need to prepare properly in order to be competitive enough. I have to say that it has not been easy in our last three matches against Ghana, we have drawn twice and won one. Now we will be playing on a neutral and is difficult to play four times against such a big team. We have a surprise and it would be a great proof that we are moving towards a bright future for Ugandan football. Egypt is hungry after missing out on the last three editions. We are looking forward to playing against them, and Mali too. Personally, I believe that impossible is nothing. I believe in working and the players. We shall have to prepare well and call upon the 40 million Ugandans to support the team.

Ihab Leheta (Team Manager, Egypt national team)
It is the same group as in the World Cup qualifiers except Congo. All teams in Africa now are very strong. We have not been participating in the last three editions and this is why we have to be in a good shape. It is very difficult to play the same teams in the World Cup qualifiers (Ghana and Uganda). On the other side, it is a good sign as the teams will get to know each other. Now it will be left to the coaches.

Source: Cafonline

A 10-day training course for table tennis coaches and Physical Education (PE) teachers on Thursday got underway at a hotel in Kololi.

The training is organised by The Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) in collaboration with the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and Gambia Table Tennis Association (GTTA) through funding from Olympic Solidarity (OS).

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the president of The Gambia Table Tennis Association and secretary general of GNOC, Peter Prom, reaffirms GNOC’s commitment to the development and promotion of table tennis.

He describes the training as very timely and important, while urging on the participants to make best use of the training.

The president of GNOC, Momodou Dibba advised the beneficiary participants to stay focused and listen keenly to the deliberation by the course instructor.

The course instructor, Nicolas Petit, from France, promised to live up to expectation during the course of the training.

By Binta Jammeh

.Football’s world ruling body has appointed respected Gambian official Bakary Papa Gassama as referee for next month’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria and Algeria, scheduled for the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.

The Matchday 2 encounter between two of the fiercest rivals in African football will see Jean-Claude Birumushahu from Burundi as assistant referee 1, Marwa Range from Kenya as assistant referee 2 and Gassama’s compatriot, Maudo Jallow as fourth official.

FIFA has also appointed Jean-Olivier Mbera from Gabon as referee assessor, Ghanaian Anthony Baffoe as match commissioner and Nicholas Chumba Musonye from Kenya as security officer.

Gassama, 37, and who has been an international referee since 2008, is one of the most respected referees in Africa. He has already been appointed as referee for this year’s CAF Champions League final, second leg clash between Zamalek of Egypt and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, taking place in Alexandria on Sunday, 23rd October.

Birumushahu and Range will also be part of the officiating crew for that match, at which Nigeria’s Paul Bassey will serve as General Coordinator.

Group B leaders Nigeria welcome the Fennecs to the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Saturday, 12th November in one of the most anticipated matches of the Matchday 2 of the African qualifying race.

News24 reported that work has commenced apace on the pitch of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo ahead of next month’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria and Algeria.

Source: news24 Nigeria

The Gambia Golf Association (GGA) has announced that Kololi Beach Club (Gambia) Ltd. became the newest member of Association on 22nd October, 2016.

The GGA described the development as a historic and important milestone for the Association, noting that not only because Kololi Beach Club has one of the only two golf courses in the country, but it is also the first club to become a member of the GGA.

“Golf is one of the few games that is primarily an individual sport, and this was reflected in GGA’s membership, which has up till now being composed only of individuals. GGA and Kololi Beach Club are working on a memorandum of understanding that would define their partnership for the promotion of the game of golf and tourism in the Islamic Republic of The Gambia, complementing Gambia government’s laudable efforts in national development,” the GGA said in a press release.

“In the meantime, Kololi Beach Club has accepted for its beautiful and challenging golf course to be one of the venues for the forthcoming 2016 Gambia Open scheduled for December 2016, and for subsequent Gambia Open Tournaments, in addition to Fajara Golf Course. Having two golf courses to play at in the Gambia Open would add more variety to the tournament and GGA expects to see an increased number of participants this year, especially as there is a category for tourists.”

The GGA was established in 2009 as the national governing body for golf in the country under the general direction of the National Sports Council and it is affiliated to the Gambia National Olympic Committee, the R&A and the International Golf Federation.

In the end, it turned out to be a mere walk in the pack for the Gambia’s Women National Football Team at the newly inaugurated Jarra Soma artificial turf. It was billed as the game to mark the women team’s return to international football but few had expected a comprehensive defeat of one of the best women teams in the Senegalese premier league, Casa Sport.

A first half hat-trick from Red Scorpions mesmeric forward Awa Tamba and an audacious left footed volley from Brikama’s Mbassy Darboe showed the Women Scorpions took a commanding 4-0 lead at the break before another thunderous strike from Penda Sowe in the second half completed the comprehensive win. A last minute penalty conceded by captain Fatoumatta Fatty was the only blip on an otherwise thorough performance as the game ended in a 5-1 win for Abdoulie Bojang’s charges.

The crowd that turned up to this game could only be compared to that of Super Nawettan matches as thousands of people, young, old, men and women, turned out to cheer the National Team on including the regional governor, the chief of Jarra West, Gambia Football Federation officials, amongst a host of other important personalities within and outside the region.

Before some of the dignitaries would even take to their seats, Miss Tamba made a Xavi-like turn and sends a low ball into the bottom corner to give Gambia a first minute lead. Few minutes later, Mbassy Darboe sends in a thunderbolt from an estimated 30-yard to redouble the lead. Tamba added another two before she was taken off having suffered a blow to the stomach for receiving a nasty elbow from an opponent.

The permanent secretary at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Lamin Ceesay was assigned on behalf of the vice president and minister for Women’s Affairs to preside over the official inauguration of new artificial turf.

Speaking at the event, PS Ceesay commended the Gambia Football Federation for its commitment towards the decentralisation of football in the country. He noted that sports bring about unity, cooperation and common understanding among people of diverse backgrounds.

“There are many countries in the world that have made a name for themselves because of the performance and the results their national teams achieve,” he affirmed.

by Baboucarr Camara

The Commercial Department on Friday defeated Technical in a post-match penalty shoot-out following a 1-1 draw to be crowned champions of the maiden Africell Inter-departmental football tournament.

The final was played at the Father Gough Sports Complex in Manjai Kunda and was graced by staff and customers of the GSM Company.

The tournament was organised in order to bring staff of Africell together from outside their official working time to interact and get to know each other more.

Three minutes into the first half, Technical took an early lead courtesy of Amruf Sanneh who scored a stunning free kick.

A well taken headed ball by Lamin Samateh from a brilliant cross after 11 minutes of play gave Commercial the equaliser.

In a post-match chat with Observer Sports, Ronald Sengore of Commercial Department was quite happy with the victory. He commended his teammates for the hard work and team spirit.

by Fatou Trawally

The Brikama Zonal Team suffered a 3-1 humiliating defeat to a more determined and hungry Gunjur in a quarterfinal game played on Saturday at the jam packed Serrekunda East Mini-Stadium.

The Southerner did not only prevail over the Sateba Boys, but dominated most part of the game as they outplayed and outclassed a disappointing Brikama side.

Gunjur made its intentions clear from the first whistle, tenaciously tormenting the Brikama defenders. Their dominance did not take long to pay dividends as Malang Jassey put them ahead after just 10 minutes.

Brikama made a swift comeback in the 48th minute as Bakary Kuyateh scored to ensure parity.

Just like wounded lions, Gunjur kept mounting pressure on a disjointed Brikama side. Man of the match Mbemba Fatty’s brace in the 62nd and 65th minutes was enough to dump Brikama out of the competition.

Brikama Coach Pierre Gomez was in total disbelief with the final result and took blame for his side’s terrible campaign.

Gunjur gaffer Babucarr Kakai Bojang told Observer Sports that he is quite optimistic of winning the trophy for the first time. “This year it is “Operation win the zonal”.

Banjul Defeat BEM

Elsewhere on Saturday evening, City Boys Banjul eliminated Barra, Essau and Mayamba (BEM) with 2-0 defeat at the Serrekunda West Mini-Stadium.

Meanwhile on Sunday, Sukuta secured a place in the last 4 with a 1-0 defeat of Manjai, while Serrekunda East completed the semifinal lineup following a 3-2 post-match penalty shootout defeat of Serrekunda West. Regulation time ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

Elsewhere, the draw has been held for the semifinals. Sukuta will take on Gunjur in an all West Coast Region affair while Serrekunda East will entertain Banjul in the other semifinal final. both games will be played on Tuesday.

by Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

Brikama United right back Hamidou Bojang is set to sign a three-years loan deal with a Senegalese top league club ASC Linguere in the coming days, Observer Sports has gathered.

The Gambia U-20 right back is currently in Senegal with the St. Louis-based team after a successful two week trial.

“Hamidou Bojang is with the team in Senegal. We didn’t sold him financially, but we made an agreement,” said Brikama United Coach Sulayman Kuyateh even though he would not go into details of the agreement.

Hamidou Bojang has been an influential figure in Brikama United’s success last season and he played in every game for Gambia’s 2017 U-20 African Youth Championship Zambia qualifying campaign.

by Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The head coach of Banjul, Alieu Jagne is quite upbeat that his side can defeat Serrekunda East when they lock horns in the semifinals of the competition this evening.

Banjul ousted BEM in the last eight with a 2-0 defeat of the North Bank settlement.

He told reporters that his side is ready to face Serrekunda East and would give a respectable performance.

by Fatou Trawally & Fatou Gassama

It turned out to be a night of celebration for players and fans of the Serrekunda East Zonal Team after a 3-2 post-match penalty shoot-out win over rivals Serrekunda West in the quarterfinals on Sunday at the Father Gough Sports Complex.

Regulation time ended in a 1-1 draw. Sana Sonko scored from the penalty spot after 24 minutes to give Serrekunda East the lead but SK West scored to esnure parity in the 75th minute courtesy of another penalty converted by Lasana Drammeh.

Serrekunda East will now entertain Banjul in the last four at the West Mini-Stadium today.

Speaking in an interview after Serrekunda East fan Lamin Saidy, expressed delight with his side’s progress to the semifinals.

“I don’t know what is our problem this season. We have good players but tactically they don’t play as a team,” he fumed.

Another fan Rohey Jeng said Serrekunda West has never been a problem to Serrekunda East when it comes to zonal football.

“Though we started very badly in this tournament I still have hope and confident in the Serrekunda East team,” she told Observer Sports, adding that she is hopeful of victory against Banjul in the semis.

Lamin Dugal Jammeh is the head coach of Serrekunda East and he admitted in a psot-match interview that it was a tough encounter against West especially in the second half.

He promises fans a respectable performance against Banjul in the semifinal.

by Arfang MS Camara

Sukuta Zonal Team will be hoping to reach their second consecutive Super Nawettan final when they face a strong and determined Gunjur in the semifinal today (Tuesday) at the East Mini-Stadium.

Sukuta lost to Serrekunda West in last year’s final, but in what is already dubbed, “a final before a final”, the all West Coast Region derby is certainly not going to be an easy encounter.

Both sides enjoyed impressive campaigns this year and eliminated Manjai and Brikama respectively in the quarterfinals.

In an exclusive interview with Observer Sports, Badou Saidy, coach of Sukuta expressed delight after his 1-0 quarterfinal win over Manjai.

“Football is all about reading the game and understanding the players.”

According to him, he is going to prepare his side very well for the crucial encounter against Gunjur.

by Binta Bah &

 Binta Jammeh

Officials of The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) and local authorities of the Lower River Region over the weekend gathered in Jarra Soma to witness the official inauguration of the newly built artificial football pitch in the town.

Speaking at the event, the LRR Football Association President Ansumana Sanneh said the event is historic and yet marked another important moment in the history of the country, particularly the development of football at the grassroots level.

“We in the LRR-FA have been reliably informed that GFF in collaboration with CAF and FIFA shall further develop this facility into a modern 15,000 seater stadium soon and plans are at an advanced stage to commence work. With this world class artificial football turf now in place, LRR is going to become one of the best footballing regions in The Gambia in the near future. We have the best football field and that is one of the most important elements of football development,” Sanneh said.

“GFF is living to their words of decentralisation of football in the regions. The Live Your Goals Festival also celebrated in LRR is another stride to develop women football in The Gambia.”

The president of the Federation, Lamin Kaba Bajo also disclosed plans to build a modern and multi-purpose sports complex within the vast land to enable other sports to be played at the site.

Sainabou Cham, the chairperson of the GFF Women Football Committee in her remarks said the FIFA Live Your Goals Festival is an event which plays a key role in the Federation’s drive to develop women football in the country. She further noted that the event is geared towards promoting and encouraging the participation of women in football.

“The event is also meant to create the platform for women’s football to grow from strength to strength with more females becoming lifelong participants in the sport of football. At this juncture I must salute GFF and its President Lamin Kaba Bajo for the foresight. We are aware of your plans to equate women football to their male counterparts and that will go a long way towards helping the development of our football in general,” she affirmed.

“This fourth edition of the FIFA Live Your Goals is in relation to the GFF leadership’s resolve to place women football at the top of its development agenda.”

Alhaji Yaya Jarjusey the chief of Jarra West commended the GFF leadership for what he described as their stance towards the development of football at the grassroots, citing the official opening of the artificial turf in Jarra Soma as an example.

“I have no doubt in my mind that with this turf now in place the game of football will be further developed. I will also use the opportunity to call on the athletes to make best use of the field because the game of football attracts and involves a lot of money thus the need for them to take it up for their own benefit and society for that matter,” he said.

Ousman Touray, a goalkeeper for Zurich FC in Soma commended GFF and FIFA for the initiative to build an artificial turf in Soma, saying that with this turf now within their reach, the game of football will be improved in the region.

Ebou Sambou the coach of Sitaba FC also expressed similar sentiments. “Our field has now been upgraded into an international standard thus the need for us all to seize the opportunity and enhance our potential in the game of football,” he concluded.

By Salifu M. Touray              in LRR

The head coach of the Senegalese league club Jaaraf, Malick Daff,  has said that Gambian footballers are doing well in the Senegalese football league.

Daff, who was speaking in an interview with Observer Sports added, “They [Gambian players in Senegal] are good ambassadors of The Gambia.”

Daff and his ASC Jaaraf were in the country for a pre-season training during which they played against Steve Biko and Brikama United.

As to whether the team realised the purpose for the pre-season training to The Gambia, he replied, “Yes!! Brikama United is a physical team and they played like our opponent Jambarr.”

Jarraf already has a Gambian in their ranks in the name of Saikou Conteh and Daff revealed his intentions of signing more Gambians.

by Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The Gambia College Sports Ministry is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Gambia Football Federation in the area of capacity building for the under-study Physical Education (PE) teachers.

Luntang Bah, Gambia College’s sports minister said the two-year MoU is expected to help build the capacity of the students at the College. “The Gambia College is the only tertiary institution in the country offering Physical Education studies to its students,” he stated.

The PE teachers, he told Observer Sports, are a critical pillar in the development of all sports disciplines starting from the grassroots.

by Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

All roads lead to Jakarlo in Senegambia where the maiden Miss Super Nawettan is happening tomorrow (Thursday night).

The event is being organised by the Sports Journalists Association of The Gambia (SJAG), the Super Nawettan Organising Committee, and Emids Promotion.

Contestants representing the Super Nawettan participating zones are currently having their training at Allinace Francaise, getting ready for D-day.

The event promises to be another crowd-puller as fans’ clubs of all the zones are ready to turn up in numbers to support and cheer their contestants. “The programme starts at 9pm and we are urging all the fans clubs to be there in time. There will also be musical entertainment by Silky, Big Faa, Tanga Chama and Mansa Kunda among many other invited artistes. The tickets are D200 at the gate,” said SJAG Secretary General Alieu Ceesay.

by Fatou Trawally

Coach Buba Kakai Bojang yesterday guided Gunjur to its first ever Super Nawettan final following a semifinal win over Sukuta at the Serrekunda East Mini-Stadium.

Regulation time ended in a 1-1 draw before Gunjur went on to win 4-3 on a post-match penalty shoot-out.

Sukuta took the lead in the 5th minute courtesy of Omar S Bah’s powerful shot outside the 18-yard box. Gunjur forced the game into the gruesome post-match kicks when Mbemba Fatty scored a last minute penalty.

Elsewhere yesterday, Banjul defeated record winners SK East in the other semis played at the SK West Mini-Stadium. The game ended in a goalless draw before the City Boys prevailed on another post-match shootout.

Gunjur will now face Banjul in the finals on Friday at the Independence Stadium in Bakau. The two sides have also secured a place for themselves in the Real de Bajul Golden Jubilee football competition that would get underway on October 29.

by Alieu Ceesay