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. ![BOTROP 1]()
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