Swansea forward Modou Barrow and Leeds United winger Mustapha Carayol are tipped to join Coach Sang Ndong’s squad to face Mauritania in the Gabon 2017 Afcon qualifier tie this month.

The Scorpions will play away to Mauritania in Nouakchott on the 25th March and home on the 29th March in Banjul.

Barrow has not appeared in the Scorpions squad since the 1-0 home defeat to Cameroon last September. He was not available for the World Cup double-legged qualifiers against Namibia when the Scorpions were eliminated.

Mustapha Carayol played the first half of a 1-1 friendly draw with Uganda in his solitary appearance for the team in June 2015 and is yet to make his competitive debut. He was part of the squad in the opening game of the qualifiers away to the Bafana Bafana of South Africa where the Scorpions drew goalless but was left out of the match-day squad because of a stomach upset.

Observer Sports sources said other foreign-based players invited by the Scorpions gaffer include striker Babucarr Trawally (Steve) of China, defenders Buba Sanneh and Pamodou Jagne as well as striker Omar Jack Jagne of Sweden.

Notable absentees include the Nyassi twins (Sainey and Sanna), Abdoulie Ken Mansally, and Ebrima Sohna.

by Alieu Ceesay

The Independence Stadium will host the 2016 traditional May Day Sports, otherwise known as Workers’ Day, observed 1st May each year.

Organised by the Sports Ministry through the National Sports Council, and a National Organising Committee, this year’s May Day Mass Sports is set to return to the Independence Stadium after a long absence. The 22nd July Square in Banjul has been hosting the event for the past years.

Celebrated in the form of a sporting competition in The Gambia, the May Day Sports will feature sprint runs and fun events such as 100m, 3-legged race, team relays, tug of war, musical chairs, the greasy pole, potato race, sack race, pillow fight, race for cabinet ministers, permanent secretaries and managing directors.

Ebou Secka the Programme Manager at the National Sports Council told Observer Sports that this year’s Mass Sports shall be preceded by some sporting activities where institutions compete among themselves. “Now that the track is ready, we are going to have the May Day Sports at the Stadium. We have started our consultative meeting with institutions’ representatives and we are looking forward to another successful event,” he said.

Secka went on to announce that the registration fee is D20, 000 with a banquet dinner for ten people.

by Alieu Ceesay

Last year’s 2nd place winners Bottrop Senior Secondary School are the new champions of the annual Gambia Secondary School Sports Association organised inter-schools athletics championship for the senior school category.

The Brikama-based senior school pulled 341 points, followed by Essau Senior School with 261 points. Mahaad Senior School finished 3rd place with 244 points, while the Banjul-based and last year’s winners Gambia Senior Secondary School finished 4th place with 215 points. Muslim Senior School finished 5th place with 177 points.

The three-day event brought no changes at the top of the upper basic category as Latrikunda Sabiji Upper Basic School defended their title after pulling 290 points. Barra/Essau Upper Basic School finished second place with 215 points, followed by Kabafita Upper Basic School in third place with 188 points.

Victor Bingi is the head coach of Bottrop Senior School and he was quite happy and proud that his school is the new champion. The success, he said came as a result of the tireless efforts of the school Principal Martin Gomez who serves a source of encouragement when it comes to sports.

“We started training for the inter-schools championship since September 2015. A lot of investment has been made for this championship and the athletes have promised a victory and they have fulfilled the promise,” a satisfied-looking Bingi told these reporters.

He finally thanked the school’s Board of Governors and the school management for the support.

Pa Bully Sanyang is the head coach of Latrikunda Upper Basic School. He told Observer Sports that his athletes were well prepared for the championship. “The victory is absolutely ours simply because of our determination and our level of preparedness. We have been training three times daily and it would not be a surprise to emerge victorious once more.”

As to the secret behind their success, Sanyang attributed their triumph to hard work and proper preparation. “I am so proud and delighted together with students and school management. I thank the students for their cooperation and the support,” he told Observer Sports.

More on the weekend championship will be published in our subsequent publications and on Observer Light.

by Awa Gassam & Fatou Gassam

Observer Sports has been sounding views of Gambians on Modou Barrow’s history-making goal on Saturday in the Barclays Premier League game between Swansea and AFC Bournemouth, at the Vitality Stadium.

Barrow is the first Gambian international footballer to score a goal in the Barclays Premier League, and here is what Gambians have been saying:

Sang Ndong, Scorpions’ Coach

It is good for him and for every Gambian, because it was his fourth start this season for the Swansea side. It will give the Swansea coach more confidence in Barrow and we hope he will continue to score in order to break into the bigger teams. We wish him all the best.

Fatou Sanyang, Jarra Pakalinding

I feel so glad that a Gambian is playing in the Premier League and that Modou Barrow has become the first Gambian to find the back of the net in one of the top European leagues. It is good step and we want to see more Gambians play and do well in the top leagues. This will also encourage aspiring young players to have hope that they could be like Barrow one day.

Tapha Manneh, Gamtel Coach

I think it is one of the ways and opportunities for the country to be recognised in world football. Barrow is doing well in the season and he recognises that he is from The Gambia.

To be precise, he is a good player and could be very instrumental for the Nation. I am really impressed by his performance and we all need to support him. It is a sample and we hope to have many of him in the Premier League.

Maimuna Jobe

As a fervent female football follower, I am so happy for Barrow; I wish him good luck. I pray that he continues to score so that he can make The Gambia proud.

Sunkaru Jobarteh

I am thankful to God for his first goal and I pray that this won’t be his last goal. I really like his style of play. I congratulate him on making The Gambia proud.

Mustapha Touray

I’ll like to wish our brother Modou Barrow the best after scoring his first Premier League goal. May Almighty Allah continue to give him more and bless him to realise his dreams.

Pamatarr Jobe

I feel so much excited as a Gambian and I congratulate him. It is something that every Gambian should celebrate and I urge other players to emulate Secka Barrow. Every Gambian should encourage, support and motivate him to do more.

Bai Serign Colley

Congratulations to Mo Barow! Gambians are proud of you. You’ve made the world media especially the BBC to expose and talk about you. No let up or taking your foot off the gas pedal. Congrats once again!!!!.

Dodou Bojang

To play in one of the most popular leagues in the world is in itself an achievement. To cap that being the first Gambian to score a goal in the league is a wonderful achievement. That goal will inspire so many young people whose dream is to play Premier League football. I hope it will open the floodgates for more Gambians.

Ndey Busso

As a Gambian, I felt so happy for Barrow and the entire nation. It was a day filled with emotions of joy. Being the first Gambian to score a goal in the EPL is worth celebrating. I was also so overwhelmed by the amount of love and support he received from the entire Gambians, which simply means we need each other to progress. Finally, I would like to congratulate Barrow. I look forward to watching him play against Mauritania and hope to see him net a goal for the motherland.

by Alieu Ceesay

History was made on Saturday when Gambian international and Swansea forward Modou Barrow became the first Gambian footballer to score a goal in the Barclays English Premier League, as his Swansea side was beaten away to AFC Bournemouth 3-2 at the Vitality Stadium.
Barrow’s 39th minute eye-catching strike means 95 different nationalities have now scored in the famous Barclays Premier League.

Max Gradel’s first goal since returning from a six-month suspension gave Bournemouth the lead in the 37th minute, but that sparked Swansea into life as the threatening Barrow equalised two minutes later.

Barrow rushed up the right flank and tricked his way inside Charlie Daniels before finding the net with a low drive.

The home side retook the lead early in the second half through Joshua King. King, whose father is Gambian, beat Lukasz Fabianski at his near-post in the 50th minute. Swansea equalised in the 62nd minute through Sigurdsson who hammered home from 12 yards out after good work by the Gambian forward Mo Barrow on the right, as both sides continued to push forward in numbers.

Steve Cook’s 78th minute header clinched a third successive victory for AFC Bournemouth as they beat Swansea to take another huge step towards survival.

Swansea, meanwhile, remain eight points clear of the bottom three, with rock-bottom Aston Villa their next opponents at the Liberty Stadium.

Shortly after the game, the highly-fancied Gambian and Swansea forward Barrow took to his Facebook Page to thank God, his friends and fans in the UK, The Gambia and Sweden. “Am happy to represent my country [The Gambia],” he posted.

In spite of his much celebrated goal by all Gambians, the lad said his side deserved more and that he was not happy with the final result.

A game to be ever-remembered by the striker, Barrow told the Swansea TV that he was happy to have the first goal because his teammates kept pushing him. “The fans wanted me to score and finally I can get that off my mind and focus getting more goals instead,”

said Barrow, who is tipped to be among the foreign-based players invited by coach Sang Ndong for the game against Mauritania later this month.

By Alieu Ceesay

St. Mary’s Lower Basic School girls have been crowned champions of the 2016 Primary Schools Cricket League following their win over Albion Lower Basic School on Friday, 11th March 2016 at the July 22nd Square in Banjul.

St. Mary’s won the toss and elected to field. Albion bat and scored 59 runs in their allotted overs for the loss of 6 wickets. Aminata Fatty scored 14 runs the highest, and Aminata John took 2 wickets for 4 runs.

In the second innings, St. Mary’s Lower Basic School batted and scored 59 runs in their allotted overs, and lost 6 wickets, which made the game a tie with same runs and same wickets down. Aminata Ndow batted for them and also scored 14 runs the highest and Abie Keita bowled and took 3 wickets for 15 runs in 3 overs bowled.

To decide the winner, 3 overs was given to each team. Albion Lower Basic School batted again and scored 9 runs in 3 overs and St. Mary’s Lower Basic School batted and was able to win the match in 2 overs with 11 runs.

Johnny Gomez, the President of The Gambia Cricket Association, thanked the school heads and physical education teachers for allowing and preparing the students to participate in this tournament, saying every school that participated is a winner.

A trophy and cash prize of D1,500.00, a cricket set and a certificate were awarded to the winner, while the runner-up went home with a certificate, trophy and a cash prize of D1,000.00 and a cricket set. Certificates of participation were also presented to all the schools that participated.

Community Cricket League

Meanwhile, Wallidan U-13 boys are the champions of the 2015/2016 Community Cricket League.

Cricket Association Received Equipment

In a separate development, The Gambia Cricket Association (GCA) has received cricket equipment from Sussex and Lord’s Taverners based in the U.K.

The gesture was a goodwill indicator of the willingness of international stakeholders to support the growth of cricket development in The Gambia.

The equipment are 80% new and the rest are used ones from schools in the U.K. The equipment include, bats, gloves, balls, cricket boots, cricket scoreboard, stumps, melmets, bating grips and cricket clothing.

by Alieu Ceesay

The Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) FC on Saturday continued its unbeaten run in the GFF First Division League after a narrow 1-0 win over Banjul United in a second round game played at the KG5 Mini-Stadium in Banjul.

Modou Njie Sarr scored the game’s only goal for the Ferry Boys to extend their comfortable lead at the top of the table as the second round gets underway.

As the struggling Banjul United tried so hard to level the game, they were found guilty of wasting some chances.

Banjul United are currently sitting 8th place in the league with 12 points.

Speaking with journalists at the end of the game, Alagie Sarr, head coach of GPA, expressed their determination to maintain their current form and to continue the unbeaten run in the second round of the league.

Omar Touray, the head coach of Banjul United, admitted that it was not easy to play with the league leaders. He attributed their loss to lack of concentration as it was in the first round. He promised to work on the lapses in their next game.

In the other games played at the weekend, Gamtel FC beat Bombada 2-0 in a game played at the Brikama Box-Bar Mini-Stadium on Saturday. Alagie Jawara and Modou Sarr scored to give the defending champions the maximum points needed.

Hawks FC also beat Steve Biko 1-0 at the SK West Mini-Stadium, thanks to Elliasa Sanyang’s goal in the 38th minute.

On Sunday, Brikama United drew 1-1 with Gambia Armed Forces in a game played at the Serekunda East Mini-Stadium, as Real de Banjul also drew 1-1 with Serrekunda United.

by Arfang MS Camara

GBA Male League Standing

Team representatives at last weekend’s Serrekunda East Sports Development Organisation (SESDO) AGM have faulted the committee for what they called ‘poor financial management’ on the side of the Executive Committee.  

The T-Central FC team representative, Nyawuru Coma, said the Serrekunda East Committee presented unaudited financial statement without following due process. He accused the committee of trying to manipulate the AGM in order for delegates to adopt their “unrealistic” financial report.

“This is the most bizarre AGM I have ever attended in my entire life,” he told Observer Sports, lamenting that SESDO has been operating without an active treasurer and assistant treasurer for three years.

“Failure to prepare a financial report for 2013 is a violation of Article 19, Section 6 of the SESDO constitution. We are not fighting for an individual but for the collective good of the zone.”

Abdourahman Bah of Abuko United said he was denied signing on behalf of Abuko United for the AGM even though he has been representing his team for many years. “I came to represent Abuko United because I have been representing the team for many years, but today, some people want to deny me access. They said I will not represent Abuko United because they got information from Abuko United that I did not come to represent them in the AGM.”

Reacting to the allegations, Saikou Bah, the President of the Serekunda East Committee, said he was satisfied with the report, calling it authentic.

Alagie Nyassi, the first Vice President of SESDO, who also read the financial report on behalf of the treasurer, said the financial report was authentic.

According to him, the reason for not organising AGM for the last two years is that their treasurers travelled to the USA and Scotland respectively.

by Arfang MS Camara

The Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) in collaboration with The Gambia Athletics Association (GAA) and the Japanese Olympic Committee on Tuesday commenced a five-day international athletics coaching course at the Friendship Hostel, Independence Stadium in Bakau.

The course targets 30 coaches in athletic field events, and is being directed by a Japanese expert.

Speaking at the official opening, the President of the Gambia National Olympic Committee, Alhaji Momodou Dibba, described the training as significant in broadening the knowledge of athletics coaches in the country. He said their aim is to develop and promote athletics across the country

The GNOC President urged the participants to take the training seriously.

Beatrice Allen, First Vice President of         GNOC and member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), described the training as timely, saying part of the mandate of the IOC is to promote athletics to the highest level. “We have been doing very good but we need to do more.”

Marcel Mendy, the Executive Director of the National Sports Council, challenged the coaches to take the training seriously and respect their instructors during the course.

by Alhagie Babou Jallow

Ex-Scorpion, Aziz Corr Nyang, has stated that he is hopeful that Gambian football would change for the better with “best Coach Sang Ndong” at the helm of affairs for the National Team.

Aziz Corr Jnr, 31, who won the 2002 Allsenskan (Swedish premier league title) with Djurgarden and played for Lindingo, Assyriska FF and Brommapojkarna, said everyone should close ranks for the development of the national game. He was speaking in a rare interview with the Daily Observer this week.

“The only way forward for Gambian football is to come together and play as a team because from 2000 up to 2010 Gambian football was rising and we had a very good Under-17 and Under-20 [teams] but now we don’t have any,” the former Gambia Ports Authority and ex-Under-17 mesmeric forward said in the interview, which would be published in full this Friday.

“But I strongly feel like things will change again because they have the best Coach in Sang Ndong. The GFF [Gambia Football Federation] should not also forget the legends of the Scorpions who [had] given their all for the nation.”

Aziz Corr had an on and off stint with the National Team but when available and on form, he was arguably the best player for the Scorpions. He will forever be remembered as the scorer of that decisive late goal at Dakar’s Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium in 2008 in a 1-1 draw against the Teranga Lions.

Though the goal wasn’t enough to secure Gambia a place in the final round of the joint 2010 Afcon and World Cup qualifiers, having missed out to Mozambique on goal difference, the 86th minute strike ensured the Scorpions didn’t suffer a defeat away to Senegal in more than four decades.

Aziz Corr was handed his National Team debut by Sang Ndong and returned the favour by banging in the first two goals in that famous 6-0 walloping of Lesotho at Banjul’s Independence Stadium in the 2004 Afcon qualifiers. The Scorpions failed to qualify having drawn at home to Senegal in their next game and lost 3-1 and 1-0 away in Dakar and Maseru respectively. The Scorpions finished second in the three-team group.

Meanwhile, with Sang Ndong expected to unveil his final squad for the two-legged Afcon qualifier against Mauritania at midday tomorrow, Friday, Aziz Corr has expressed optimism that the team can get a positive result in Nouakchott.

by Alieu Ceesay

The Executive Director of the National Sports Council, Marcel Mendy, has strongly encouraged athletes at the recently concluded annual inter-schools athletics championship to take the sport seriously.

Mendy, who was speaking to Observer Sports, on the sidelines of the event, expressed delight at the brilliant performance demonstrated by athletes from all the schools. With this he said there is brighter future for athletics in the country. “There are lots of talents embedded in the schools and I am hopeful that in the future there will be a good national athletics team.”

He went on: “We all want to compete and win for glory and we as a country don’t just want to compete for the sake of competition but we equally want to win like other countries.”

The Sports Council boss hoped hat the Gambia Athletics Association will start following  he foot-steps of the Gambia Secondary Sports Association by organising similar championship.

He finally urged the athletes to respect the sport, be conscious of their eating habit and listen to their coaches.

Abdoulie Kah, the Deputy Permanent Secretary responsible for Sports at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, told Observer Sports that he was quite satisfied with the performance of athletes from the provincial schools. This, he said indicates that talents are everywhere.

by Awa Gassama

The 2016 Handball League, organised by the Gambia Handball League, is in progress across the different venues designated for the game.

In the female league games, Warriors won Nema Kunku 51-6, Police against Warriors ended 6-28, GAF thrashed Nema Kunku 27-4, Lions’ Heart also prevailed over Nema Kunku with a 15-2 win.

In the male league games, Konge BI defeated GAF 10-7, Police boys won Saamasang 32-27, Lions’ Heart humiliated Ketel Kunda by 30-11 win and Warriors defeated GAF 13-6.

This weekend fixtures will witness a derby encounter between two of the most established Bakau-based handball teams, Warriors taking on Lions’ Heart in both male and female leagues at the Handball Court on Saturday.

On Sunday, the Police girls will take on Nema Kunku, while the Police boys take on Kogne Bi. Both games will be played at the Gambia College in Brikama.

by Alieu Ceesay

A contract was signed on the 29th January 2015 between the First Eco Partners and The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) for a three-year sponsorship deal for the GFF First Division League.

The D1 million per year partnership for a period of three years, includes the provision of sporting materials such as 100 footballs, sets of jerseys to all the first division teams bearing the logo of the company, a giant trophy and replica of the GFF trophy. Consequently, the league was thereafter named ‘First Eco Partners First Division League.’

However, an unconfirmed report emanating from the Football House in Kanifing suggests that First Eco is no longer interested in sponsoring the league.

Even though neither First Eco, nor GFF made an official statement on this development, sources told Observer Sports that First Eco Partners has notified the GFF of their intention to terminate the contract.

If it turns out to be the case, it would be a big set-back for the country’s First Division Football League which had in the past years struggled to attract sponsors.

For the first time in the history of Gambia League competition that 2014/2015 league winners Gamtel received a cash prize of D300, 000, runners-up Real De Banjul received D150, 000 and 3rd place GPA received D100, 000, all thanks to the partnership.

Another source has told Nna Gambia News that the deal had seized existing even before the beginning of the current league.

GFF President Lamin Kaba Bajo at the signing ceremony last year said the GFF executive was yearning for that day, describing it as “a dream come true, because we all know in sports, football in particular, it is very difficult for administrators and managers without sponsors.”

Ted Mcewan and Michael Bahsoon of the First Eco Partners expressed at the time that by sponsoring the league it could help the company sell its name to the general public.

About FEP

First Eco Partners (FEP), an energy company based in the UK and founded by Michael Embed Bah was launched in The Gambia at a local hotel in 2014.

The organisation was formed from a concept that, in partnership, they can achieve great things, cut the cost of everyday energy for residents, businesses and governments while changing and improving lives through renewable and sustainable initiatives.

by Alieu Ceesay

With the Paralympics Games just six months to go in Rio, The Gambia National Paralympics Committee is working very hard to get its athletes ready for the classification and qualifications either in Tunisia, Italy, Morocco or France.

“We are working very hard to get funding from the National Sports Council or any other source of funding to get our athletes to these qualification competitions. We are therefore appealing for support, particularly from the President who has always supported us,” Paralympics Committee President Sulayman Colley told Observer Sports.

The priority for the Committee, he told this medium is to send a team to Tunisia starting 20th March, which is cheaper. “If that is not possible we can target the competitions later in Morocco and in Italy for classification and qualification in May and June,” he said.

“We wrote to the GNOC but we received a letter from them saying their funding is only for Olympic qualifiers, which is really hard to understand.”

He concluded that the GNPC has the athletes that can raise the country’s flag high and urged the general public to support disabled sports.

by Alieu Ceesay

by Alieu Ceesay & Arfang MS Camara

With barely eight days to go, Gambia Coach Sang Ndong yesterday announced at a press conference, his 20-man squad to battle Mauritania in the ongoing Afcon qualifiers.

The most notable absentees in the squad include midfielder Ebrima Sohna, Abdou Jammeh, Babucarr Steve Trawally and Pa Modou Jagne, but Swansea forward Modou Barrow and Leeds United’s Mustapha Carayol have both returned.

Unveiling his squad, Sang Ndong told reporters that he had been training with 18 local-based players at the FIFA Goal Project and had three test games against Hawks, Armed Forces and GPA.

The team is set to depart Banjul on Sunday for a three-day camp in Senegal before proceeding to Nouakchott on Wednesday for the first leg of the double-legged tie which will be played on Friday.

“They [the players] will arrive [Nouakchott] on Wednesday, train on Thursday, play on Friday and come back home on Saturday for the return leg on the 29th March,” Sang Ndong said.

“Pa Modou Jagne was part of this squad and last minute he got injured when he was playing. The other player was Babucarr Steve Trawally who is just returning from injury. And the third player was Abdou Jammeh but he has two yellow cards and is not qualified to play.”

The former Gambian international and Hawks Coach said he intends to give opportunity to all players and that the absence of certain players did not mean they were being disqualified.

According to him, the team is going to play to win in Nouakchott despite being a difficult game. “Winning is not the most important thing but is a very important thing in this game because when you are in a process and coming up with positive results, it encourages officials and players to push up. We want to change the face of Gambian football and we are going to give it the all we have.”

The Squad: Modou Jobe (Niarry Tally), Christopher Allen (GPA), Kebba Ceesay (Lech Poznan), Bubacarr Sanneh (AC Horsens), Omar Colley (Djurgardens IF), Mass Manga (Hawks), Ibou Touray (Rhyl FC), Alieu Jatta (Generation Foot), Gregory Sambou (GPA), Kaba Sambou (Stade de Mbour), Alhagie Bah (Real De Banjul), Lamin Charty (Hawks), Hamza Barry (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Mustapha Carayol (Leeds Utd), Modou Barrow (Swansea), Muhammed Conteh (Mbour PC), Demba Savage (Hacken), Omar Jagne (Dalkurd), Pa Amat Dibba (GIF Sudnsvall), and Emil Sambou (Armed Forces).

by Arfang MS Camara

The Daily Observer has been sounding the opinions of Gambians in the wake of Sang Ndong naming his final squad to play Mauritania in a double-legged Afcon qualifier next weekend. Below are the reactions:

Saikou Manjang alias Mourinho: I am very happy for the selection of some players in the squad but have some objection for not calling up Alagie Nyabally who had a very good game against Cameroon in Banjul. Nyabally right now is one of the finest goalkeepers the country has and is a young and dynamic player. At least the coach should have called him in the team. Sang Ndong and his technical team should not look more on results as the aim is to rebuild the senior national team.

Saffiatou Colley, a journalist: It is a great move by the new national team coach because his decision is balanced and this will give a chance to many upcoming players to take part in the national and international competition. Blending the home-based players to play with professional players will help to enhance their skills. I believed such initiative would help to decentralise Gambian football as well as keeping the ground leveled.

Modou S Jallow, sport journalist, GRTS: I think Sang Ndong’s squad is not a bad side because this could have been the best list the head coach can call. Though we have some familiar faces like Demba Savage, Ibou Touray amongst others, basically I think is a good lineup. Two particular players will catch the attention of Gambian fans in the name of Modou Barrow and Mustapha Carayol. In football it is always difficult to predict the result but I believe that if all these players come, Gambia can get something in Mauritania. This is a great squad that is capable of achieving good result for the country. My problem is the time they will be joining their camp because if they camp together earlier it will be very nice for the team.

Balla Njie, the founder of Balla Academy: I really appreciate the players the Gambian head coach call for the Mauritania game, it is very good for what the coach did to give chance to the home-based players blending them with some foreign players. I believe that with these players Gambia can get something out of the two encounters against Mauritania. Though we are playing away, Gambian fans should still give their maximum support to the team and Sang Ndong as well.

Yankuba Fatty, keen football follower: I am really impressed with the selection because it has been a while we didn’t have such selection in the National Team. I believe that with this selection the players can achieve something for the Nation Team. It is also good to give chance to the local based players because we all know that foreign players cannot do it all alone. Gambians should rally and give full support to Sang Ndong and his technical team for the rebuilding process.

Omar Wally, journalist, Daily Observer: Is a good move by the coach to utilise local talents, and it will also be cost effective for the country because bringing professional players sometimes is too expensive for the country. The local players are the ones who can build a good foundation for the country.

by Alieu Ceesay

Shortly after the unveiling of the Gambia’s Squad by coach Sang Ndong yesterday, Gambia and Swansea City’s sensational forward Mo Barrow has reacted to his return to the squad.

Barrow, who last Saturday made history by becoming the first Gambian to score a goal in the English Premier League, is among the foreign-based players invited by Sang Ndong for this all important encounter.

The Scorpion will play away to Mauritania in Nouakchott on the 25th March for the first leg of the double-legged qualifier tie for next year’s Gabon 2017 African Cup of Nation. The Scorpion will host the returned leg on the 29th March at the Independence stadium in Bakau.

“Good to be back and give 100% to the Gambia. We’ll go there (Mauritania) play without any pressure because we got a good team and I hope the nation supports the coach.” Barrow told BBC Sport’s Momodou Bah.

Additional reporting by Momodou Bah

Editorial

The urge to lead in any field is legitimate for any member of a group, but the responsibility to bear the not-so-nice part of leadership must come with the privilege. Therefore, those in charge of a nation’s sports must be patient and rational in dealing with the public.

Of all leadership positions, those of youth and sports organisations must be the most challenging because of the emotionally-charged nature of such bodies. Therefore, our leaders in sports must be courageous enough to face the public torchlight that must be shined for the common good.

Gambian football fans have been waiting for so long to get the desired results in our national game. After many changes in the leadership of our football federation, we are yet to see any tangible signs of success. As if a botched international coach search campaign, and a domestic coach selection that leaves a lot to be desired is not enough, the sporting fraternity is greeted with the rude shock of a sponsorship failure, as we prepare for a crucial Afcon qualifying game.

Why must the GFF leadership take offence at the reporting of a fact that has direct bearing on the nation’s football. After so many lead stories praising the Gambian game and bringing good football stories to the spotlight on our front page, there was not a single thank-you call from the GFF. And now after the revelation of a truth they kept away from the public glare,  platforms of such facts are treated as some high treason.

GFF leadership should know that a professional newspaper like this one, with brand pedigree of more than two decades, cannot be bullied into silence when the national interest is at stake.

Daily Observer is neither fighting a battle, nor is the paper sent by any person to fight. What is certain is that the contract to sponsor the domestic football league has failed; and the GFF never came out to clarify this matter.

As the sporting world still reels from a catastrophic FIFA fiasco of opaque dealings, our national football federation owes the Gambian football fraternity TRANSPARENCY in all our national football matters.

We pray for Allah’s guidance and blessings upon the GFF leadership, the Scorpions and the entire Gambian football fraternity.

The Daily Observer is, and will forever remain, true fans of Gambian football; and To The Gambia ever true!

by Jainaba D Jatta

Red Scorpions female team on Friday stretched their lead at the top of the National Women’s Premier League table following a 2-0 defeat of Brikama United at the Serrekunda West Mini-Stadium on Friday.

Aminata Camara opened the scoring after 44 minutes before Kumba Kuyateh clinched the tie for Red Scorpions with a 77th minute effort.

With the win, Red Scorpions lead the standings with 16 points from six games, while Brikama United is rooted to the spot with no points after an identical number of games.

Speaking in a post-match interview with reporters, the head coach of Red Scorpions, Fatou Chorro Mbenga, said she was happy with her side’s run of form where they have dropped just two points so far this campaign.

She was quick to add that she wasn’t happy with the profilgacy  of her players in front of goal, saying they could have scored more goals.

Mbenga promised to prepare more for their next game against Abuko United, who are currently sitting 3rd on the table.

In other games played on Friday, Company Ten were held to a goalless by City Girls at the Serrekunda West Mini-Stadium.

On Saturday, Jam City also drew goalless with Future Bi in a game played at the Brikama Box-Bar Mini-Stadium, qhilw Interior FC beat Immigration 2-1 at the Brikama Box-Bar Mini-Stadium.