As Muslims continue to celebrate the feast of Koriteh marking the end of Ramadan, The Gambia U-20 Scorpions are equally celebrating but, as well preparing for the much anticipated qualifier at home against Guinea Conakry tomorrow (Saturday) at the Independence Stadium, Bakau. Kick-off time is 5pm local time.
Guinea Conakry has arrived in the country since Wednesday getting ready for the crucial clash. The Guinean side was held to a 1-1 draw by Senegal in a friendly game last Sunday in Dakar.
The anxiety among football fanatics is high but so is the hope for a victory for the Scorpions. All hopes lie on these gallant boys who have throughout the qualifying campaign, so far, put smiles on disgruntled and hopeless fans’ faces. The Young Scorpions eliminated Sierra Leone and Morocco to advance to the third and final round of the qualifiers.
“We will go all out to support the boys because they are our only hope now. I want Gambians to come out and cheer the boys because they can do it,” said Pamatarr Jobe, a keen football fan.For a game that falls in a weekend when Muslims are still celebrating the Koriteh feast, it is hoped that Gambians will be filling the Bakau Stadium pavilions to its rafters in their beautiful Koriteh outfits for the “Salibo” the boys are ready to offer them.
“We want Gambians to come out in numbers and support the boys and we will do everything possible to win the game,” Coach Omar Sise said in an earlier interview with Observer Sports.
Sise and his boys will play the first leg at home before travelling to Conakry two weeks later for the return and decisive leg of qualifier to the African Youth Championship in Zambia early next year.
Quite to note that there are so many Guineans in the country and already they are not leaving everything to the home fans. “I and many Guineans residing in the country are looking forward to supporting our team [Guinea] when they come here. We have been doing it anytime Guinea is playing Gambia and we will do it again,” Ebrima Barry, a Guinean residing in The Gambia told Observer Sports.
by Alieu Ceesay