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.