After months and weeks of preparation, all roads lead to the Djembeh Hotel in Kololi today, where the 7th National Sports Award and Gala, organised by the Sports Journalists’ Association of The Gambia (SJAG), would be held.
In what promise to be an exceptional awards night, the event will get underway at 8pm and all invited guests, awardees and SJAG members are urged to be seated on time.
The event aims to honour and celebrate the country’s present and past sports personalities who have done exceptionally well in promoting Gambian sports. As usual, this year’s event is expected to be graced by prominent sports and non sports personalities from within and outside the country.
The various categories
WBC Super middleweight champion Boxer Badou Jack is the only candidate for the Sports Personality of the Year. This category, which is usually determined by the organisers went to FIFA referee Bakary Papa Gassama last year.
The nominees for the Local-based Athlete of the Year Award are Gamtel’s Yahya Ndong, Real de Banjul’s Abdoulie Jallow and athlete Adama Jammeh.
The Foreign-based Athletes are: Pa Modou Jagne of Sion FC in Switzerland, Baboucarr Steve Trawally of Yanbian in China and Judoka Faye Njie in Finland.
Mawdo Jallow, Sheriff Njie and Isatou Touray are contesting for the Best Referee Award.
The nominees for the Best Coach Award are Tapha Manneh of Gamtel, Abdoulie Ngum of Serrekunda West Basketball Team, and Jane Joof of Samger. The Best Team Award saw the nomination of Gamtel, Serrekunda West Basketball Team and Samger.
For the first time, a Best Local-based Female Athlete has been included in the awards category. Adama Tamba of Red Scorpions, athlete Gina Bass, Interior’s Isatou Jallow (Basse) and Mbassy Darboe are the nominees for this category.
The nominees for the Institution in Support of Sports Award are: MGI, First Eco Partners, and Bayba Financial Services. The winners will be announced on Friday during the event.
There will be awards for the late Salifu Ndure, late Assan Kujabi, late Abdoulie Jagne, late Yusupha Samba, Pele; late Abdou Jallow, Kebba Diyas, former international; Chico Njie, former athlete and trainer; Dodou Njie Barracks, retired referee; Musa Babanding Ceesay, wrestling; Ba Jabbie, administrator; Binneh Marong, basketball; Sense Muhamed Kaba, Karate; Lawyer Ousman Sillah, former International; Sheikh Omar Sallah, former international; Mary Gaye, pioneer of female football, and Abdoulie Star Jallow, Ex-Scorpion.
There will also be special awards for CAF Referee Bakary Papa Gassama; Lamin Samura, Africell for its annual support to SJAG Award Night and Bayba.
Awards for Unsong Heroes will go to Eliman Janneh; Kebba Balajo, Coach; late Alieu Sallah and Ali Qadra.
by Alieu Ceesay
