Sport Journalists are Champions of Mbye’s Memorial

• Posted by Modou S. Joof on March 12, 2010 at 2:59pm

• View Modou S. Joof's blog

As Interior Remains indomitable in Female Football

Banjul, The Gambia (TNBES) The Sports Journalists male football team defeated the Youth Ambassadors of Peace in a closely fought final in the recently concluded Fatou Mbye Memorial Tournament, at the Serrekunda East football ground.

Goals from Unique FM’s Amadou Wuyeh Manga and The Point’s Lamin Drammeh in each half were enough to claim the title regardless of Ambassadors’ Famara Daffeh consolation before full time.

Amadou Wuyeh Manga put the journalists ahead 23 minutes into the game with a 25 yard effort which was slipped off the hands of the goalkeeper to hit the net.

The Ambassadors’ of Peace put up well coordinated attacks in the second half with a number of well taken shots on goal but Paradise FM’s Allasan Mballow was so much determined to keep a clean sheet in the goalpost.

Matar Saidykhan’s thounderous shot in the 18th minute was punched by goalkeeper Alasan Mballow into play but Famara Daffeh’s follow up blast from the near post was too poor to bring the game all square.

Alasan Mballow, arguably man of the match was very much up to the task, saving the Sport Journalists when he cleared the ball off his post following a long and coyly ball from the Ambassadors of Peace.

However, the Ambassadors hopes of coming back into the game were dented by Lamin Drammeh’s goal in the 59th minute. An interchange of passes between Besenty Gomez, and Baboucarr Sey left Drammeh
having only to beat the goalkeeper with a low tap into the bottom right corner of the post.

The Ambassadors’ pull back one exactly on the hour mark with a long drive that left Journalist shot stopper, Alasan Mballow injured. The goal left the Ambassadors’ more determined to fight back but indeed time had
already run out, leaving the result at 2-1 in favour of the Sport Journalists.

Earlier on, Interior FC edged passes KMC with a lone goal in the final of the female category. Interior’s Olie Njie netted a spot kick in the final stages of the game to clinch the championship title.

The victory is a manifestation of the team’s continued dominance of female football in The Gambia as they are the defending champions of the Gambia Football Association Female League.
However, in a rather embarrassing moment, players from both sides (Interior and KMC) resorted to throwing of punches in a fight that was quickly resolved by some members of the organising committee and officials from both sides.

Reasons for the fight could not be established but sources close to the two parties has it the players involved in the fight has an axe to grind within themselves.

“Interior might have won the match, but both sides shared the points in the fight,” our reporter said.

Interior and Sport Journalists were awarded trophies while the runners-up will be awarded certificates of participation on the occasion of the forthcoming National Sports Awards.

The kick-off for the official opening of the final was taken by seven year-old Musa Mbye, the late Fatou Mbye’s younger brother. VOL:2 ISSN:104