Sponsors of the 2016 Super Nawettan tournament, First International Bank (FIBank) together with the Gambia Football Federation (GFF), yesterday presented awards and cash prizes to winners of the Super Nawettan tournament, at a ceremony held at the Football House in Kanifing.
The awards include: Best player, leading goal scorer; best goalkeeper; best defender; most discipline team; best fan club and most hardworking administrator.
The best player award which was named after one of Gambia’s greatest veteran player, Biri Biri was awarded to Salifu Bojang of Gunjur with a trophy while the leading goal-scorer was also awarded to Gunjur’s Mbemba Fatty with a football boot. Banjul’s Abdoulie Samba took the best defender award with football boots and the best goalkeeper sets of gloves was award was given to Ahmed Savage of Banjul. A cash prize of D5, 000 was given Manjai as the most discipline zone; Sukuta were given D5, 000 for as the best fan club while the most hardworking administrator a wasrd was given to Lamin Darboe from the Super Nawettan Organizing Committee.
Speaking during the presentation, president of The Gambia Football Federation (GFF), Lamin Kaba Bajo said Super Nawettan is the biggest football tournament in the country as it attracts the largest number of spectators and create lot of excitement.
He said the Super Nawettan tournament is an important activity on the GFF calendar, saying the entire GFF is much grateful for the partnership with FIBank as they maintained their sponsorship commitment of the tournament for the second consecutive season.
According to him, Gunjur being the champions of the Super Nawettan competition speaks a lot about the potentials of Gambian football in the not-too-long distant future, adding that it was not a surprise because Gunjur has produced many talented footballers in the past at both national and local levels.
Bajo thanked the Super Nawettan Organizing Committee for tackling all the challenges to successfully complete the tournament, adding that GFF always believes in coordination and partnership.
Pa Ousman Njie, General Manager of FIBank Institutional Banking and Treasury, thanked the GFF for giving them the opportunity to contribute their quota towards the development of Gambian sports particularly football. He said football is a game that most of them played and loved.
“This is a three years partnership between the Super Nawettan Committee through GFF and our bank. The partnership is entering its final year. We thank the committee for handling all the challenges during the tournament.”
Mr Njie however observed that they can always overcome the challenges if they maintain consultation among themselves, saying that if they sit together and review the tournament, they can have a better Super Nawettan competition in 2017.
He thanked the Super Nawettan Organizing Committee and the zones for successfully conducting the tournament. He also thanked the zones for not only benefiting from the sponsorship but also becoming FIBank customers.
Ba S Jabbi, chairman of the Super Nawettan Organizing Committee said the tournament had brought together football enthusiasts from different parts, which he said signifies unity and strength.
He added FIBank’s sponsorship of the tournament was a great initiative, while expressing hope that their partnership will continue to development and strenghten Gambian football.
By Arfang M.S. Camara and Fatou Trawally