President Jammeh Cautions NGOs

The Gambia’s president Yahya Jammeh has cautioned NGOs in the country to distance themselves from anti-government activities, warning that his government will not tolerate any such activity.
Jammeh made this remark on Saturday 11 February, in a statement read on his behalf by Gambia’s health minister Fatim Badjie, at the maiden NGO Week.
Organised by The Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (TANGO), the umbrella body of NGOs in the country, the week-long event seeks to showcase the achievement registered by NGOs as well to highlight challenges. 

Sa Thies Sets fire on Yekini, Balla Gaye 2 “face to face”

The younger brother of Balla Gaye 2, the lion of Guédiawaye, Sa Thies purred hot water on the face to face that supposed to happen between his brother Balla and the king of the arena Yekini on April 11, at hotel Radisson Blu Dakar by hitting Yekini junior on face.
The face to face which is part of the contract signed by the two wrestlers with promoter Lui Necola and was to be a platform for sponsors to showcase their products, was the second failed event between the two big fighters.

Darbo Verbally Agrees Wigan Deal

Alieu Darbo

ByAbdoulie Nget

A Sweden-born former Gambian U-20 player, Alieu Darbo Thursday entered into a verbal agreement with English first division club, Wigan Athletic after breaking up with his former French club, Le Mans recently, according to Fotbolltransfers.com.

Darbo has over the last few months impressively trained with several English Premier League clubs including Sunderland, Scunthorpe, Newcastle and Wigan Athletic. It is now revealed that talented forward is close to signing for Wigan.

Coach Sallah - Our Future is in Bonu’s Hands

Bonu Johnson

By Omar Bah

Nyanga Sallah, head coach of Serrekunda East’s second division team said the appointment of a Gambian-born coach to manage senior national team, Scorpions, is a welcome news to all Gambian coaches.

Sallah, who doubles as head coach of Leeds however cautioned that the future of local coaches in taking up such a responsibility depends on what coach Peter Bonu Johnson delivers.

He made this remarks in an exclusive interview with The Daily News sports at his team’s training grounds, behind the Charles Jow Senior School.

“If Bonu execute his duties as expected, Gambian coaches will benefit from it one day, but may god forbid if he fails, it will be a big blow to all Gambian coaches. So, I wish him good luck and successful two year,” he said.

Steve Biko Handed first Defeat

Steve Biko

By Mandu Sanneh

Since their impressive 1-0 win against Samger in the opening weekend of matches in the GFA first league, Steve Biko have only managed a goalless draw against Real de Banjul before suffering another setback against rivals Bakau United at Serrekunda East mini stadium last Saturday.  

Bakau United took the lead in the 37 minutes after a fine piece of play by Modou Lamin Sanyang and Lamin Jallow found Amadou Baldeh unmarked and the striker nodded home the only goal of the game from close range.  

Steve Biko had chances of their own through Sainey Ceesay in 20 minutes, but the striker’s effort was well gathered by Bakau and former Gambian international Alagie Nyabally.

Sallah Hopes for First Division Promotion

Nyanga Sallah, SK. East and Leeds

By Omar Bah

The head coach of the Serrekunda East second division team Nyanga Sallah expressed optimism that his side can bag a promotion to The Gambia Football Association premier league come the second tier later in 2012.    

Sallah who doubles as the Leeds United head coach, manage to finish sixth position with the Serrekunda East second division side in the last second division league, and he is currently training with more than 30 players ahead of the tournament.

In an exclusive interview with The Daily News Sports Sallah said, his team is ready this year to gain promotion to the first division after two attempts under him went failed. Sallah also believes that he can select a very strong team out of the players currently training with him at the Charles Jaw Football ground. 

Sallah said that most of the players he is training with are new players whom he spotted this year in the Nawettan while some of them joined the team on trials but at the end he is convinced that he can come up with the right players deem fit into his system. 

“We have learnt from our mistakes and be rest assured come the second division league in 2012 we will put up a respectable performance to finish top so that we can gained promotion to The Gambian Premier League division with the help of God,” said Sallah.

Sarr Protests GFA’s Decision on Buba Jallow

Alagie Sarr

By Rohey Dem

The suspension of former Samger striker Buba Jallow alias (Melles) by The Gambia Football Association due to what they called improper transfer as no green light papers were signed during the process of his transfer to Real de Banjul.

This move did not go well with coach Alagie Sarr of Real De Banjul, and he protested to the Gambia Football Association’s suspension to Buba Jallow, saying they no right to take such ‘unconstitutional’ decision.

Coach Alagie Sarr was speaking to reporters in a post-match interview at the independence Stadium following their goalless draw against Steve Biko F.C in the second week fixture of the GFA league one.

“I know that Buba Jallow was a Samger player but he told me that he now have nothing to do with former club Samger.  Before sending a letter to Buba Jallow they should have wrote to the club (Real de Banjul) first,” he said.   

After his side losing their first game two nil to Armed Forces, Alagie Sarr said he is still happy with the performance of his players in the league.

Brief Report on the 2011 Achievements of (GVBA)

Musa Casa Taal

By Mandu Sanneh

Even though Volley Ball is not popular like the game of football in the country, The Gambia Volleyball Association has tremendously done well to achieve a lot in the 2011.

 Speaking to The Daily News Sports Casa Taal, president of GVBA Casa said the association was having a review of their activities and programmes.

“Last year was an attainment year for the association, we organised coach’s perfection training which was well thought-out in collaboration with the Development Center in Senegal to enhance the capacity of our local coaches in the country,” said  Taal.

He said the training help the local coaches a lot, as many of them are now embarking on grassroots development in the greater Banjul area and in some schools.

14 Gambian Referees Bag FIFA Accreditation

By Mandu Sanneh

Fourteen Gambian football referees were on Monday 23 January, 2012 internationally accredited by the world football governing body Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) in a ceremony held at the Gambia Football Association (GFA) secretariat.

Three central referees, eight assistant referees in the male category and one female central and two assistant referees were for the first time in the history of Gambian football referring  given FIFA accreditation badges to officiate in any FIFA international game.

The accredited referees are: Ansu Jatta, Mawdo Jallow, Bakary Camara, Decoreh Jawo, Musa Jawara, Sulayman Touray, Sulayman Sosseh, Salief Baldeh, Karamo Force, Yaya Fanneh, Mariatou, Jobarteh, Amie Ceesay, and Isatou Bah.

Abdoukarim ‘Pique’ Jaiteh, a Starlet to Watch

By Mandu Sanneh & Rohey Dem

The outstanding performances of the young football starlets are undermined by the Gambia football association and its’ coaches but I see this young starlet, Abdoukarim Jatta cum ‘Pigue’ as fitting footballer for the Gambia in the near future in monitored.

Abdoukarim Jaiteh 15 played for the Tallinding outfit Medina Football Club as a permanent figure in both the 2011 Serrekunda east Knock out and league Cup. The versatile player who plays at all positions within the back four of Medina helped his team win the FA cup against Ball Conge of Bundung.

Sang to respond to SJAG ‘Unconstitutional’ Decision

By Abdoulie Nget

After consultation, the removed Secretary General of the Gambia Sports Journalists Association which is dubbed by many members as ‘uncommitted’ is to respond to what he called unconstitutional removal from the SJAG executive in a press conference to be held on Thursday 19 January at City Limit Radio premises.

Sang Mendy was removed as a Secretary General of the SJAG and replaced with his immediate assistant Abdoulie Bah of West Coast Radio in a general meeting held on Sunday 6^th January 2012 at The Daily News Premises. The meeting was witnessed by the president of the association Sainabou Kujabi Njie, the first vice president Amadou Wuyeh Manga, assistant treasurer Ebrima Bah and some members. The said meeting filled in Observer Sports’ Baboucarr Camara as the assistant Secretary General of the association.

Sang who promised to get back to this paper if he is to take a decision did so by informing the paper’s sports that he is to hold a press conference aimed at responding to the decision taken by the association in his absent.

“After consultation with my family, friends and love one, I want to convene a press conference on the decision of SJAG in what they called sacking me, which
I see as unconstitutional and out of touch so I am inviting you to my press conference on Thursday at City Limits Radio,” a statement from sang reads.

It was also said during the meeting that a warning letter signed by the president Mrs. Kujabi Njie was addressed to Sang, but he failed to respond.

Sang Mendy,  who was not present at the meeting said he was not aware of the removal, noting that until he receives his removal letter, he sees himself as the secretary General of the Gambia Sports Journalists Association.

Editors Note:

But the big question need to be answered is, who is right here? Is it the SJAG or Sang? Time will tell in this case.

Jammeh - Effective Management of Sporting Institutions should continue

PS Jammeh

The Permanent Secretary at the ministry of Youth and Sports Alieu Jammeh has advised that ‘effective management of sports institutions should continue in the years to come.’

Mr. Jammeh was addressing participants at the National Sports Council meeting with its associations partners at the Friendship Hostel on Thursday.

“We need to be organized in the way we run our institutions, we were doing it in 2010 and we will continue the same in 2012 so that we come with effective management of our sporting disciplines, any report that comes to the ministry will be quickly provided a response,” He said.

Jammeh said sports will be decentralize in the country. “Like in the regional level there is no institution and facilities but we want to reach all this areas, we are working towards these problems to make sure we archive our goals,” he said.

Reshuffle at Sports Journalists Association

By Abdoulie Nget

The Sports Journalists Association of The Gambia on Wednesday in a meeting at their secretariat at The Daily News offices removed Sang Mendy of City Limit radio as secretary general of the association and replaced him with his immediate assistant Abdoulie Bah of West Coast Radio.

Gambia Women U17 Team to host Sierra Leone on Sunday

By Omar Bah

The Gambia National women football team will on Sunday 22 January play host to their Sierra Leonean counterparts at the Independence Stadium in the 1^st leg qualifiers for the FIFA U-17 Women World Cup to be staged in Azerbaijan, 2012.

The Gambia registered the National U-17 Women team in the competition as part of the GFA’s drive to put Women football as a top priority in its activities.

The development occurred after the Women`s team excellent performances in during friendly international matches played in Dakar Senegalese last year, this will be the first time for a Gambian female to contest in the FIFA world Cup qualifiers.

Bonu Eyes African Cup of Nation

Bonu

By Abdoulie Nget & Adama Jobe

The newly appointed coach of The Gambia national football team said he wants to qualify the scorpions to higher competitions such as African cup of nation and the world cup.

Mr Peter Bonu Johnson has been appointed head coach of the senior national football team of The Gambia, the Scorpions, replacing the sacked Belgian Paul Put who failed to qualify the country to the 2012 African Cup of Nations to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea later this month as stipulated in his contract.

Bonu’s appointment came just 24 hours after The Gambia Football Association (GFA) confirmed that they have, in consultation with them ministry of Youth and Sports, shortlisted five candidates for the job, but Bonu was not among.