On Its 13th, SJAG Honours 14

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• Senegal Stars Embrace Gambia As Homeland
• West Ham Versus Airport

Senegal's El-Haji Diouf Poses with other award receipients

On Its 13th, SJAG Honours 14 

The Sports Journalists Association of The Gambia, SJAG on July 2, 2011 honoured 14 during the 3^rd Edition of the National Sports Awards, among them individual athletes, administrators, institutions and living legends in and out of the country.

The annual event was established in 2007, nine years after the establishment of the Association in 1998. The winners of this year’s categories include: Player of the year: Lamin Sarjo Samateh of Samger; Coach of the year: Lamin Sarr National

U20 Coach; Referee of the year: Dikory Jawo; Tennis player of the year: Basuruwa Conteh, Gambia Tennis Association, Independence Stadium Club; Paralympics player of the year: Isatou Nyang; Sports personality of the year: Peter Gomez, Proprietor West Coast Radio; Best company in support of sports: Africell, GSM Company; Broadcaster of the year: Amadou Wuyeh Manga, Unique FM; Writer of the year: Cherno Omar Bobb, The Point newspaper; and Photojournalist of the year: Abdoulie Fatty.

Sports journalist Lamin A. Darboe, who died in a ferry accident early this year, was also honoured for his unflinching services to the SJAG and sports in general. The SJAG also honoured Senegal trio Elhaji Diouf, Khalilou Fadiga and Alasan Ndoure for their heroic contributions to African and World Football. They played a huge part in Senegal’s 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup campaign.

Speaking on the Night, SJAG President Sainabou Kujabi-Njie said sports play an integral role in the socio-economic development of nations and serving as a powerful tool for molding people, communities and promoting peace.

“The award is part of efforts to raise the profile of Gambian sports among sports elite nations, in countries all over the world, sports journalists associations are mandated to stage national sports awards as part of their quota in promoting not only sports but national development as well,” she said. “It is for this reason and in our quest to raise the standard of national sports that we are gathered here today to celebrate the achievements of our beloved sportsmen.”

She also noted that July 2, has been set aside by the International Sport Press Association (AIPS) as International Sports Journalists Day. “This day is set aside by the AIPS to be commemorated globally by its affiliates and member countries every year. It was first celebrated in 2008 by the Sports Journalist Association of The Gambia.”

Douf & Fadiga @ the SJAG 2010 Awards

Diouf, Fadiga, Ndoure and Gambian Athlete Nusrat Ceesay at a press conference

• Senegal Stars Embrace Gambia As Homeland

Two-times African Player of the Year, Elhaji Diouf and compatriot Khalilou Fadiga have said that Gambia is not just a sister country to Senegal but a homeland where they enjoy brotherly love.

The Senegalese stars and football heroes were speaking during a press conference on July 1, 2011 at the Libyan Hotel, Jerma Beach in Banjul shortly after their arrival from Senegal to attend the 3^rd Edition of the National Sports Award 2011.

Diouf, Fadiga and Alasan Ndoure, all former players for Senegal who participated in the 2002 World Cup Finals, were in The Gambia on the invitation of the Sports Journalist Association of The Gambia (SJAG), the organisers of the annual Sports Award.

“Gambia is just like a home to us because our 2002 national team kicked off their qualifying campaign in The Gambia prior to their game against Algeria. It is the prayers and support of Gambians that made us lucky to have one of the best things in our football career,” Diouf said.

The Blackburn player is far from quitting the game; however, he is already considering becoming a coach after he has hanged his boots. He said: “I want to be a coach after I retire from football, nobody knows, maybe I can be the coach of the Gambian national team, football is a crazy thing.”

Known for his outburst, Diouf added his voice to the recent protests in his country, Senegal, saying: “If people are not happy, they will go out on the streets to show their anger, but if they are happy, they will not do such a thing.”

“Nobody denies Senegalese not to show their anger, but they should not destroy any thing, because at the end it belongs to them. If you have a leader that is not making you happy, remove him as he is there to serve the interest of the people who put him in that position.”     

He adds: “If people are not happy with the government, election is coming, they own their votes and they can vote the president out and put someone there who will serve their interest.”

Khalilou Fadiga, the midfield maestro who played a great part in taking Senegal to the quarter finals of the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, cited his brotherly love for Gambians. He noted that he was the closest brother to Gambians because he has played alongside Gambian star Ebou Sillah in Brussels, Belgium.  

He lamented that he did not have much time in his football career because of his health problem; however, he noted that he performed to his best within a short period.

Fadiga retired from football in 2009 and has already acquired a FIFA License as a footballer and is now working with a company in Senegal and Belgium to help young talented African footballers become professionals.

“Am looking forward to making ten to twenty young talented Africans become stars in the future,” he said.

Nusrat Ceesay, a Gambian-UK based athlete, whose parents are Gambians has said she switched nationality to run for The Gambia. The athlete has been running for England for a very long time.

Ceesay said her first trophy came at the age of eight year, she represented England at the age of sixteen and Great Britain at the age of eighteen, and the 30 year-old believes now is the time  to switch nationality. “I am looking forward to representing Gambia in the World Championship 2011, the Olympics 2012 and the all Africa Games.

• West Ham Vs Airport

West Ham FC

Barra Noran Produces An All Essau Final

The 2011 Barra Noran, a non-league football tournament played at the Yahya Jammeh Park, organised by Barra Sport Development Committee over the weekend entered into the semifinal stages.

The tournament started on the 9^th April with eleven teams from Barra, Essau, Mayamba, Kanuma and Mbollet Ba. Group A involves Dego Anacondaz, Lions, Zebra, Ice Land, and Cellou Dalin and Group B comprises Guigie, Late Bakarr Hydra, West Ham, Mbollet Ba and Air port.

Following closely fought games in the group stages and the quarter finals, the Late Bakarr FC, West Ham FC, Zebra FC and Air port FC qualified to the semi-finals.

On Friday June 24, Late Bakarr Hydra FC of Barra and West Ham FC of Essau played the first semifinal. With an equal share of ball possession, the Late Bakarr Hydra FC went into the break with a 1-0 lead through a 16^th minute free kick from Salieu Sarra.

Sarra’s long range free kick slipped off the hands of the West Ham goalkeeper and went straight into the net.

West Ham quickly substituted striker Tamsir Jammeh for another Doudou Jammeh, but they would have to be content with trailing a goal behind going into half time.

West Ham effected another change as play resumes with the introduction of sturdy striker Ousman Sallah posing a lot of threats to their opponents. The change paid this time when West Ham’s Tamsir Jammeh equalized in 52^nd minute after a defense lapse.

Jammeh’s first effort was denied by goalkeeper Madi Camara, the ball landed on his left foot and from a close range, he tapped the ball into the net.

As tensions grew, Bakarr FC’s Abdou Ndure was cautioned by the referee for a rough challenge on goal scorer Tamsir Jammeh in the 67^th minute.

West Ham’s penalty claim in the 78^th minute was dismissed by the central referee, who adjudged it to be a ball-on-hand.

West Ham's defender Alagie Drammeh denied Alagie Bah’s close range shot in the 77^th minute, and as time was running out, both sides have to settle for a penalty shoot-out, which West Ham won by 4-3.

In the second semifinal on Saturday, Air port FC of Essau defeated Zebra FC of Barra by a goal to nil. Tabora Manneh’s lone goal coming from a header in the 56^th minute was enough to send the Zebras parking.

Meanwhile, West Ham FC and Airport FC have both secured an all-Essau Final which is yet to be schedule by the organisers, the Sports Committee. The tournament has attracted large crowds during the semifinals. The committee said it has sold-out 700 tickets in each match, more tickets are expected to be sold for the final.