Green Light for Banjul teams to register new Players

By: Mandu Sanneh

According to information received yesterday, The Banjul Sports Committee has announced that teams can register up to five more players from now on to the Wednesday 19 October, 2011.

According to the secretary of the zone Ebou Faye, teams can either complete their registration list if they are not exhausted or withdraw player(s) from the list or register new player (s) who has not played for another team in Banjul or other zones. Moreover, the fee for registration is 25 Dalasis for each player.

In addition, Faye said; if any registered player(s) during the first round has not played any match that player(s) can automatically transfer to another team. 

 “Players with one or two yellow cards will have an official pardon, their cards will be wiped out but those with three yellow cards must serve a one-match suspension and also those with red cards,” said Faye.

Burkina’s Coach Hails Scorpions

Gambia V. Burkina

By: Lamin Darboe

After drawing against The Gambia on Saturday at the independence stadium, Banjul in their final game of the African cup of nation’s qualifiers, Pualeh Duarte the Burkinabes’ said the Gambian team is a good team and can make it to the African cup of nation next time.

When asked whether he was disappointed with the 1-1 score line after he collected maximum points from The Gambia in Burkina, Duarte said no my system is always the same, I always play 4-3-3 and I also bring in 5 new players who are just new in the team; so having a draw is obviously not a disappointment.

Leeds Came from Behind to Win Culture

Nyanga Sallah

By: Omar Jarju

Monday 10^th October 2011 marked a dazzling game in the ongoing Serrekunda east Nawettan between Leeds United of Tallinding and Culture FC of Bundung. Despite drawing their last encounter to the only 2011 relegated Tallinding team Zurich FC, Culture FC found it difficult to control the ball in the first half of the game due to the heavy pressure put to them by Leeds United.

However, an inspirational performance from Captain Abdoulie Jallow alias “saw”, the Bundung boys scored in the 12 minutes of the first half following a long powerful free kick leaving the Leeds goalie at bay. The Bundung boys however struggled very hard to double the scores in the first half of the game and thanks to a superb tab by Papis Colley in 20 minutes to give Culture 2.

Chances then emerged from both sides but credit goes to Abdoulie Bah alias “Beck” of Leeds United who capitalized on his first clear cut chance to give his side a hope in the 36^th minutes of the game. Meanwhile, in the tail end of the first half Serign Mbacke of Leeds United sent a strong header which went straight in the net to level the scores.

Father Gough Complex Upgraded

By: Mamadi B. Camara

The Secretary-General of Manjai Kunda Sport Development Committee Lamin Jumu told The Daily News Sports during an interview on Friday October 8, 2011 that he and his teams are now happy with the condition of the Father Gough football complex, describing it as another step forward in their history.

Jumu stated that the complex can now be compared with other zones of the country saying that the condition of the pitch is improved.

After hailing the rehabilitated Complex, Jumu talked about the young talents competing in the Manjai Kunda Nawettan, saying that “we now have many young talented players who are indeed doing their best to promote the game of football in the zone.’’

The Daily News Trio Put up Outstanding Performances

Our very own Lamin Njie, editor, Abdoulie Nget, sports editor and Binta A. Bah, a judicial correspondent have all made it through to the second stage of Gambia Press Union and Article 19 training programme for Gambian journalists.

Gambia’s 2012 AFCON Dream Over

By Mandu Sanneh

The national team of The Gambia, Scorpions will not take part in the upcoming African Nations Cup football tournament slated for 2012 to be co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon,  following their one-all-draw against Burkina Faso on Saturday at the Independence Stadium.

Gambia’s group which consisted of Burkina Faso, Namibia and the withdrawn Mauritania, was described by many as an easy group and hopes were high that the Gambia will qualify for the first time in the continental tournament.

Musa Manneh Backtracks on GAA Presidency

Musa Manneh

By Mandu Sanneh

Musa Manneh, a member of the Gambia Athletics Association (GAA), who had recently declared his intention to run for GAA presidency, has made a sudden U-turn on Sunday.

“I hereby announce that I am withdrawing my candidacy decorously and refrain myself from its ramifications,” Mr Manneh, who currently serves as the sports manager for Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) told The Daily News sports.

Mr Manneh had promised to sanitise the operations of the GAA - ensure transparency and equity, but in his own words, the current secretary general, who he had planned to run against, is the right man for GAA presidency.

“I have come to realise that the Secretary General, Alh Dodou J. Joof has single-highhandedly and manfully strived to bring big and beneficial developmental projects such as the overhauling of the Independence Stadium running tracks into a modern one which is about to commence by international experts,” he said.

Gambia Condemn Bush Fire, Logging In a Bid to Combat Desertification and Drought

Minister Jatto Sillah

In their bid to combat deforestation, desertification and drought, The Gambia government through the minister of Forestry is not taking lightly engagement of people engage in logging and causing bush fire.
Government has shown enough demonstration in the past years and months, which shows their commitment in preserving the land and not to fall on the wrong trap of bad effects like deforestation, which causes desertification and can result to drought.
Desertification is the gradual transformation of habitable land into deserts; usually caused by climate change or by destructive use of the land by its own people. Though Gambia has not been deeply affected, but plans are on the way to avoid it in the long run.
Mr. Jatto Sillah minister of Forestry and the Environment has recently decried the high rate of bushfires in rural Gambia; and renewed calls for the citizenry to embrace forestation with a view to enhancing and protecting the country’s forest cover to guarantee “good living”. Honorable Sillah

Fatou Bensouda Bags 2011 World Peace Law Award

Fatou Bensouda

Fatou Bensouda, The deputy Prosecutor of The International Criminal Court (ICC), bags the 2011 World Peace Law Award. Mrs. Bensouda was born on 31 January, 1961 in The Gambia. She received a bachelor-in-law degree from OAU University in Nigeria and a barrister in-law degree from Nigeria Law School. In addition, she holds a master’s degree in International Maritime Law and the Law of the Sea, which makes her the first interna¬tional maritime law expert of The Gambia.
Bensouda was elected Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court by the Assembly of States Parties in 2004 and since then has headed and overseen the Prosecution Division of the Office of the Prosecutor. Prior to her election, Bensouda served as Senior Legal Advisor and Head of the Legal Advisory Unit at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.

Information Minister Tells Journalists: ‘Don’t Be Partisan’

Minister Alagie Cham

The Gambia’s minister for Information and Communication Infrastructure on Monday warned against a polarised media industry, urging Gambian journalists to observe neutrality in party politics.
“As media practitioners, you should guard your integrity, be sincere, truthful, and accurate, and be impartial because you have an obligation to provide a truthful, comprehensive and intelligent account of daily events to the society,” said Minister Alagie Cham in a statement read on his behalf by information directress,  Aisha Davies during a week-long long training for twenty Gambian journalists on “International Standards for Freedom of Expression for Journalists at Gambia Press Union secretariat.
Under the auspices of Gambia Press Union and Article 19, the programme is funded by the European Union (EU).
“As journalists, you should be non-partisan. You should make sure that you weed out the sensation and focus on the matter,” he said.
Minister Cham said, Gambia government attaches a lot of importance in the development of the media in Gambia.