The head coach of the senior National Team, has urged all Gambians to support in the rebuilding and rebranding process of the country’s football.

He added that Gambians should not think about qualifying to the 2017 AFCON tournament because they just started the process, and rather should think about long term achievements.

Sang Ndong was speaking on Tuesday at a post-match press conference following the Scorpions goalless draw at home against the Mourabitones of Mauritania at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.

The Scorpions, who had succumbed to a 2-1 loss in the first leg in Nouakchott on Friday, were hoping for a win in Banjul.

Speaking further, Sang Ndong assured the public a reputable national team that everyone would be proud of by the end of his two-year contract.

The process, he told reporters would give chance to all Gambian players both local and foreign based.

“I honestly told the players exactly the way we want to do our rebuilding process. Players should be actively playing and also be good enough in their clubs if they want to be selected,” he affirmed.

He disclosed that he is planning to have series of test matches from now against the next game at home to South Africa in June and as well scout Gambians playing outside the country.

by Arfang MS Camara &

 Alieu Ceesay

Sunderland are set to terminate the contract of defender Emmanuel Eboue after he was suspended by Fifa from all football-related activity for one year.

The 32-year-old, who joined the Black Cats until the end of the season on 9 March, was given the ban after failing to pay money owed to a former agent.

Sunderland said Eboue did not make the club aware of the matter, which relates to a dispute from July 2013.

The Ivory Coast international has two weeks to appeal against the decision.

Eboue, who has not made a first team appearance for the Black Cats, had been ordered by Fifa to pay agent Sebastien Boisseau an undisclosed amount he was entitled to under the terms of an agreement between the pair.

The former Arsenal full-back was fined 30,000 Swiss francs (£21,000) in September 2014 and given four months to settle the matter.

Eboue spent eight seasons at the Gunners after arriving from Belgian side Beveren in 2004, before moving to Turkey, where he won three Super Lig titles and five domestic trophies with Galatasaray.

He began training with Sunderland in February.

Source: BBC Sports

Lebage Sanneh of The Gambia Armed Forces and Sohna Saho of The Gambia Police Force who were recently crowned winners in the 21km race of the annual Bajana Marathon will be running in European marathons later this year.

Facilitated by The Gambia Volunteers Trust, organisers of the Marathon, the two air tickets were pledged by The Gambia Tourism Board and The Gambia Experience to help expose Gambia’s long distance runners.

Roy Sanyang, founder and CEO of GVT expressed delight at the success of this year’s marathon.

“The support from institutions and individuals indicates that our efforts in promoting long distance running through Bajana Marathon are highly recognised,” he told Observer Sports.

by Jainaba D Jatta

The players and officials of the unbeaten Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) football team are confident of a victory when they clash with Zenith Bank this evening at the Father Gough Sports Complex in the semifinals of the ongoing inter-bank football tournament.

The two sides will meet in the first semi-final, while Trust Bank Limited entertains Skye Bank in the second semi-final. The tournament, which is named after the late Governor of CBG, Famara Jatta, is aimed at bringing the country’s banking fraternity together to share the same understanding amongst others.

In an Observer Sports interview, Pa Omar Jobarteh of GTBank said his side is determined and motivated to win the tournament after their disappointing performance last year.

The team, he recalled gave a lot of effort and energy in the past but couldn’t go beyond the quarterfinal stages. “Our management was highly disappointed in the last year’s tournament.”

Jobarteh, who also doubles as the financial controller of the bank, said the team has learned from its last year’s mistakes.

Efforts to reached Zenith Bank to gather their level of preparedness proved futile.

by Arfang MS Camara

A 10-day handball technical training coaching course, organised by The Gambia Handball Association on Thursday kicked-off at the Friendship Hostel, Independence Stadium in Bakau.

The training is meant to capacitise handball coaches in the country. Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Secretary General of The Gambia Handball Association, Haruna Cham, said the training is the first of its kind, and is aimed at promoting the game in the country.

He described capacity building as very important in the development of the game.

Alhaji Momodou Dibba, President of The Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) hailed the efforts of The Gambia Handball Association, describing such trainings as very paramount.

Pascal Camara, Programme Officer for National Sports Associations at the National Sports Council, expressed gratitude to The Gambia Handball Association for coming up with such training course for coaches.

Beatrice Allen, the first Vice President of the GNOC spoke on the importance of promoting the game at the schools.

The course instructor, Mr Achifon Henry Amba from Cameroon thanked the Association for the warm welcome accorded to him. He assured to deliver up to expectation.

by Alhagie Babou Jallow

The media officer of the under-fire Serrekunda East Sports Development Organisation (SESDO), Baboucarr Njie, has yesterday announced his resignation from the Committee with immediate effect.

His resignation came in the wake of controversies, as teams’ representatives accused the SESDO Committee of financial mismanagement, poor management and lack of transparency in their daily dealings. The teams said they have loss trust in the Committee and are calling for a change in the leadership.

Njie who started working with the Committee in 2009, in a letter sent to Observer Sports Desk said he resigned due to his busy schedule at work and believed that he cannot serve the Committee as he used to do in previous years.

When contacted, Alagie Nyassi, the first Vice President of the Committee confirmed receiving Njie’s resignation letter.

by Arfang MS Camara

By Alieu Ceesay

History was made on 12th March 2016 when Modou Barrow became the first Gambian professional player to score in the English Premier League in his Swansea’s 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth.

In a chat with Observer Light, the sensational forward said his every goal is dedicated to his late mum. “Yea! Am glad to be the first Gambian to play in Swansea and to score in the premier league. Am really happy to get that goal and I thank God for that. To be honest every goal I score is for my mum and I am praying for her. My every goal and work is for her.”

Modou Barrow’s mother Wonto Ceesay died in 2003 when the sensational forward was just 11years old. Barrow holds high respect for his late mother. He wishes his mother were still alive to enjoy her son’s success.

by Alieu Ceesay

Football coaches in the country have been sharing their opinion with Observer Light on the Scorpions’ goalless stalemate with Mauritania on Tuesday.

Tapha Manneh, the Gamtel Football Club Coach, opined that the team did not have a bad game depending on what the coach wanted. In his opinion, the attacking part of the team was not enough, adding that both Carayol and Barrow were not used on the flanks to penetrate the Mauritanian defense.

Sang Ndong brought in Omar Jagne for Demba Savage in the 85th minute, but according to the Gamtel gaffer, the change should have been effected much earlier.

Amat Cham, former Real de Banjul Coach, said the team played well despite the draw, adding that Sang Ndong was very brave to do certain changes, particularly when he had to remove a defender for an attacking player. “We should have played more in our opponent’s half and saw some urgency into the team.”

Foday Bah the Wallidan Coach said there is the need to improve on so many things, observing that the team played much better in Nouakchott than at home. According to him, the Mourabitones were much more tactical and disciplined, but added that Coach Sang Ndong needs much time to be together with the players.

“There is the need to concentrate on the local players. We need to build a home-based team and focus on it,” he added.

In this edition of the Hits and Misses, we bring to you some of the great opportunities missed by Gambian footballers while on international duty for the Scorpions across the various levels of the National Teams. Some of these misses became very crucial while others had little or no meaning to the final outcome of the games.

Aziz Corr Nyang:

He will forever be remembered for the goal he scored at Dakar’s Leopord Sedar Senghor Stadium that secured The Gambia a 1-1 draw with hosts Senegal, the first time the Scorpions secured a result at the home of their nemesis in more than four decades. But there is also a darker side to this tricky winger’s eventful National Team career that the younger generation of Gambian fans might not remember; probably never heard of. Aziz Corr missed a glourious opportunity when faced one-on-one with Senegalese goalkeeper Tony Silva at the same stadium during the 2004 African Cup of Nations qualifiers. From inside the penalty area, Corr Nyang’s tame effort was thwarted by the big Senegalese keeper as the Lions secured a 3-1 win against the Scorpions and went onto qualify for the event at the expense of The Gambia.

Njogu Demba-Nyren:

Njogu Demba also had a night to forget for The Gambia against Senegal during the joint 2010 Afcon and World Cup qualifiers in Banjul. Demba-Nyren bamboozled the visitors’ defense on several occassions and had almost half-a-dozen chances to beat past Silva in the Senegalese goal during that goalless stalemate but any opportunity thrown at him were foiled. He frustrated the towering striker in the second leg in Dakar as well, but such was his influence in the game that when Aziz Corr scored the equaliser in the return leg, Njogu-Demba’s name was written in the Scoreboard at the Senegalese Stadium as the scorer of the Gambian goal. In the end, Njogu’s miss in Banjul became crucial as The Gambia missed out on a place to the final round of the qualifiers by goal difference. Imagine what would’ve happened if Gambia had gone through to the final rounds where the top three teams from each group made up of four teams would qualify for the Nations Cup and the top ranked side also playing in the World Cup.

Cherno Samba:

He was tagged the player to spearhead England’s assault on the 2006 World Cup in Germany, but Cherno Samba ended up choosing The Gambia at full international level. He scored a gargantuan 132 goals in just 32 games as a schoolboy international and he represented England at every youth level up to the U-20 team, having moved to England at an early age. On his debut for The Gambia, Cherno Samba came off the bench against Liberia in the joint 2010 Afcon and World Cup qualifiers at a packed Independence Stadium. Samba had a great opportunity to score with almost his first touch of the ball but his close range effort was saved by the visitors’ keeper at point blank range. In the end, The Gambia ran out 3-0 winners at home following a 1-1 draw in Monrovia. On his 25th birthday on January 9, 2010, Samba scored his first goal for the Scorpions in a 2-1 friendly win over Tunisia when he headed in a Sanna Nyassi cross to open the scoring.

Haruna Jammeh:

Does Haruna Jammeh’s name ring a bell? A graduate of the Cherno Samba Football Academy, the Bakau born Jammeh is a natural scorer and came to prominence when his goals almost secure Samger a national championship title in their first ever season in the Gambian top flight. Rone, as he is fondly called, was invited to the National U-20 Team by Lamin Sarr, now deceased, and after notable performances in the opening rounds of the qualifiers, Jammeh missed the glourious opportunity in the final game at home to Ghana. From just a mere two yards out, Rone skied the ball over the bar as the Ghanaians captained by Andre Ayew won over the two legs and went on to win the World Cup in Egypt later that year. That miss, among several others of that fateful night, is still fresh in the memory as just a single goal was needed to send Gambia through to the African Youth Championship following a 2-1 first leg defeat in Accra.

Arthur Gomez:

Arthur Gomez should’ve been the first Gambian to play in the English Premier League, instead of Modou Barrow, after he was signed from Hawks by Sir Alex Fergusson for the mighty Manchester United in 2001. He remained in the books of the 20 times English champions for four years but spent that entire time on loan at Belgian side Royal Antwerp where he played 44 league games, scoring 12 times during an injury-disrupted career. He last played for The Gambia in 2003 during the Afcon qualifiers for the following year and he missed a great chance as Gambia drew goalless at home with Senegal. Both he and the Coach Sang Ndong came in for scathing criticisms after the public became aggrieved over what it described as Sang’s preference for Arthur over the goal-hungry Latiff Janneh.

by Modou Lamin Jammeh

Momodou Zaka Jallow, a young Gambian footballer based in Qatar, is said to be one of the country’s most exciting youngsters in the Gulf State.

The 15-year-old youngster started his football carrier at Foday Bah Memorial Academy in Manduar, Kombo Central, where he developed a dream and aspiration to someday become an international footballer.

Zaka, who is currently a player with the prestigious Aspire Football Academy in Doha, told Observer Light that football has tremendously transformed his life in a way that he can encourage anyone to do it.

“I was born to be a soccer player and forever I will be. My interest in football is huge and my focus of developing myself can never be distracted; as I always take the game seriously after knowing what I am meant to be,” he stated.

According to Jallow, Aspire Football Academy is one of the best academies in Qatar, as it makes and produces quality players that are tactically and technically fit and oriented to play in any league in the world. “I leant a lot and travelled to various European countries for games since I joined the Academy in 2014,” he noted.

The midfield general said he played against youth teams of Spanish sides Espanyol and Villarreal, and won a trophy against the much-acclaimed Barcelona Academy.

Zaka added that academy football is nice as it enables you to acquire all what it takes to be a professional. “Football has strategies and plans you need to develop yourself and it is only in an academy you can have the opportunity to learn various issues about all that. I am glad that my country, The Gambia is getting well blessed with academies that are working to develop youngsters,” he said. Momodou encouraged the Gambia Football Federation (GFF) to keep up the good work and continue supporting young players to showcase their skills and talents. “Football is a very special game as it brings unity, love and understanding amongst people. It is the world’s leading sport with a whole lot of opportunities,” he explained.

Zaka thanked each and every one helping him to attain his ultimate goals in football. He expressed sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Observer Light team for exposing young Gambians with talent, ranging from the area of sports down to entertainment.

The Gambia Prison Services (GPS) were Saturday crowned champions of the National Inter-Departmental Sports Association (NISA) Super Cup final after a narrow 1-0 win over The Gambia Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) team, in a game played at the Serrekunda East Mini-Stadium.

Ousman Badjie of Prison Services scored the game’s only goal in the 35th minute.

The two teams had met in last year’s final and it was GCAA that defeated GPS 2-1.

In an Observer Sports interview, the head coach of GPS, Muhammed Ali Jarju, expressed happiness with the win.

He bragged that no team can defeat his side twice in a row, while thanking all for the support.

Gambia Civil Aviation Authority’s gaffer Dawda Jawara also told Observer Sports that he was disappointed after the loss but would take it in good faith.

“Last year we were the champions after we defeated our opponents in the final and now they have won us in the super cup; we take it in good faith,” he remarked.

by Arfang MS Camara

The domestic GFF league leaders Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) bounced back from the shocking loss to Hawks to narrowly defeat Real De Banjul 1-0 on Friday in a Banjul derby played at the KG5 Mini-Stadium in Banjul.

Abdoulie Bah scored the game’s only goal in the 72nd minute to maintain the Ferry Boys’ lead at the summit.

Speaking in an Observer Sports interview shortly after the game, Haji Tunkara, assistant coach of GPA, expressed delight with the win over their arch rivals.

The GPA assistant gaffer however admitted that it was not an easy encounter.

Real de Banjul Coach Frank Van De Valde expressed disappointment at the result, but sounded satisfied with his boys’ performance.

In other league games, Gamtel FC drew 2-2 with Samger FC, Brikama United defeated Steve Biko 2-0, while the rejuvenated Hawks thrashed Wallidan 5-0, and Banjul United drew 2-2 with Bombada, with Serrekunda United also winning 2-1 against GAF.

by Fatou Gassama

The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) on Friday kicked off a five-day capacity building programme for referees on the FIFA Member Association (MA) Refereeing Course at the Paradise Suites Hotel in Kololi.

The training is part of a series of development programmes for member associations provided for by FIFA. The course will focus on the education and instruction of member associations’ top and elite referees and assistant referees.

Twenty eight referees including four women are participating in the course.

In his opening statement, Lamin Kaba Bajo the GFF President said the course marks another very important step in the development of the GFF refereeing programme in The Gambia. He reaffirmed GFF’s commitment to the implementation of the policies and programmes approved by FIFA and CAF in the overall development of referees in The Gambia. In doing that, he added, the GFF would continue to seek new partnership with all stakeholders to develop football and move referee management and technical development forward.

Bajo further assured that the Federation would continue to provide technical guidance and resources to develop referees in The Gambia, in collaboration with FIFA, CAF, Government, National Sports Council and other partners. “Referee development programme has taken a centre stage in our strategic long-term plan and this training today is another milestone in the technical development of referees in The Gambia,” he stated.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Carlos Henriques, FIFA instructor, noted the significance of such capacity building courses for referees, while urging the referees to take the training seriously since it is going to enhance their experience on officiating games.

by Samba Jawo

The head coach of the U-20 Scorpions, Omar Sise, has saluted his players for their exceptional performance on Saturday against Sierra Leone in the first leg of the double-legged qualifier for the African Youth Championship (AYC) to be held in Zambia next year.

The Scorpions’ two goals in Makeni, both scored in the second half, came courtesy of Bun Sanneh and Captain Ablie Jallow.

The return leg is scheduled for 23rd April.

This win has brought joy to the fans who have in the past week struggled to cope with the disappointing performance by the senior team.

“It was a good game. We dominated the game from the beginning to the end. The sun was too hot but we let the boys play calm in order to avoid dehydration or something else,” Coach Omar Sise told Observer Sports immediately after the game.

Sise described the opponent as a good side, saying they need to be careful when playing with them even at home. “I thank God we got the points that we were looking for and the performance in the second half was very good,” he added.

The U-20 coach said the win is a positive step for him, ading that it gives him a big motivation to prepare for the return leg in three weeks time.

On the approach to the game, Sise said the approach was to attack in the second half because the sun was hot and the heat was disturbing the boys.

Sise’s priority is to qualify for the tournament in Zambia and the World Cup.

He finally congratulated the players for the brilliant performance and his team of technical staff. “This squad can take on virtually any of their counterpart teams in the world. They are brilliant,” BBC’s Umaru Fofana who watched the game posted online.

by Alieu Ceesay

The Gambia women’s beach volleyball team has intensified training in preparation for the final round of the 2016 Olympics qualifiers scheduled to hold in Abuja from April 13 to 18, 2016.

Ranked 16th in Africa with 740 points, the Gambian team entered the competition in the preliminary stages at the sub-zonal level where it booked its place to the second round held in Ivory Coast last November.

Speaking at their training ground at the Palma Beach, Gambia Coach Ebrima Nyass expressed confidence ahead of the historic finals. “We have prepared enough for this event and I believe we can do upset,” he said in a Gambia Volleyball Federation (GVBF) press release sent to Observer Sports Desk.

“This level of competition is no more new to us; we made history in Senegal, and recently in Ivory Coast; why not Nigeria. When my players wrote down their plans during the second round in Abidjan, many [people] termed us as minnows, but we went and amazed and this time around they are more mature and hungry for glory,” Nyass stated with confidence.

The Abuja competition would be contested by 12 teams. The participants are hosts Nigeria; Rwanda, Kenya, Mozambique, Mauritius, Sierra Leone, Morocco, Egypt, The Gambia, Ghana, Namibia and Burkina Faso.

The 12 teams are paired into four groups of three teams each with The Gambia in Group B along with Ghana and Burkina Faso. The overall winner of the competition would qualify directly to the Olympic Games in Rio while the second and third placed teams would qualify for the world cup and world championship respectively but Nyass said he wants his team to qualify directly to this summer’s Games.

The Gambia’s participation, according to the Association, would be fully funded by The Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC).

Report by Muhammed Lamin Saidkykhan, GVBF Media Officer

The Gambia Ports Authority U-19 boys last week defeated their Brikama equivalents by 13 runs to win the 2015/16 community cricket league following a final played at the home of Gambian cricket, July 22nd Square in Banjul.

Brikama won the toss and decided to field but GPA batted and scored 110 runs in 18 overs with 10 wickets down. Ebrima Camara batted and scored 16 runs, the highest, while Sipiterr Gaye bowled and took 4 wickets for 19 runs in 3 overs bowled.

Brikama batted in the second innings and scored 97runs in 14 overs. Baliou Jarju batted and scored 39, the highest for them while Yahya Fadera bowled and took 3 wickets for 10 runs in 3 over bowled.

As a result, it was the GPA that won the finals by 13 runs and have been crowned champions of the competition. As winners, GPA was handed a trophy and a cash prize of D2,000 while Brikama pocketed a consolation prize of D1,000 and a trophy.

At the presentation ceremony, which was held at the July 22nd Square, the President of The Gambia Cricket Association, Johnny Gomez, thanked Andrew Shanks and Sussex County Cricket Club for providing the trophy and supporting the Association over the years.

The annual National Sports Award and Gala Night, organised by the Sports Journalists’ Association of The Gambia (SJAG), has been scheduled for 22nd April 2016 at the Njembe Hotel, formerly Jerma.

The event is meant to recognise and reward past and present sports personalities.

The Association has been staging the event for the past six years, and the organisers are looking forward to another successful event.

“It is, therefore, important and befitting for all Gambians to come on board and be part of this event, as we want to celebrate our own countrymen and women who immensely contributed to sports development in the past and present. It is high time we are seen celebrating our own athletes in a different style,” said Alieu Ceesay, Secretary General of SJAG.

Like previous editions, Ceesay said, this year’s award is expected to be graced by prominent personalities from within and outside the country. “This is a national event that The Gambia and every patriotic Gambian should be seen actively contributing towards making it a successful one. The Association is calling on the public and private institutions to partner in staging the event. Institutions are encouraged to buy a gala table for ten people at D25, 000 and as well sponsor an award for D30, 000.”

The different categories for this year’s award ceremony are: Sports Personality of The Year Award; Best Local Based Athlete 2015; Best Foreign Based Athlete 2015; Best Coach of the Year 2015; Best Team of the Year 2015; Best Institution in Support of Sports, and Best Referee of The Year 2015.

by Arfang MS Camara

Zenith Bank will on Friday at 4pm play Trust Bank in the final of the annual inter-bank football tournament at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.

Zenith and TBL eliminated GTBank and Skye Bank respectively in the semi-finals last Friday in games played at the Father Gough Sports Complex in Manjai Kunda.

Zenith Bank, who were the underdogs coming into the game against Guaranty Trust Bank, silenced their doubters after a 4-3 post-match penalty shoot-out win following a 1-1 stalemate at the end of regulation time.

Meanwhile, Trust Bank also defeated Skye Bank 5-4 in a post-match shoot-out following a 2-2 draw in regulation time.

In an Observer Sports interview shortly after the game, the head coach of Zenith Bank, Asimi Mahmud, commended his players for proving their doubters wrong.

The Trust Bank Coach, Yusupha Gomez, expressed delight and thanked the TBL management for the support to the team.

Going into the final, Gomez is very optimistic that his side can win the tournament once again.

by Arfang MS Camara

The 2016 edition of the annual Sports for Health event begin on Friday, starting with a march past from the Churchill’s Town Petrol Station to the Serrekunda East Mini-Stadium.

The event is organised by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports through the National Sports Council. The theme of this year’s event is “Keep sporting to fight diabetes.”

Speaking at a press briefing held at the Independence Stadium, ahead of the event, Marcel Mendy, the Executive Director of the National Sports Council said this year’s event, the fifth edition, would begin with a march past from Churchill’s Town to the Serrekunda West Mini- Stadium.

He noted that the aim of the event is to create a platform for people to engage in physical exercise, adding that people who are not engaged in physical exercises are likely to be prone to more illnesses or diseases.

He pointed out that Sports for Health mainly targets politicians, the legislature, the civil service, judiciary, parastatals, the business community and the United Nations system.

The event, he concluded, is expected to be graced by the Vice President, Cabinet Ministers, Directors and heads of institutions among other senior government officials.

Siffoe Singateh of the Non Communicable Disease Unit of the Ministry of Health noted that this year’s event would include free blood screening for diabetes and help people with obesity problems.

“Ageing with A Smile Initiative (ASI) will also conduct free screening for the elderly with sight [defects] during the three days and all these activities will take place at the Serrekunda West mini stadium.”

by Momodou Faal &

Awa Gassama