Lack of experience result to our defeat

Gambian Coach Luciano Mancini

Scorpions head coach Luciano Mancini has blamed lack of experience for his side’s poor  performance in the 2-0 defeat against the Maurabitones of Mauritania in a fiendly international played at the Independence Stadium on Wednesday.
 He made this remark on pose match press conference on Wednesday who is yet to have even a since victory as the head coach of The Gambia since taking over from his assitant Peter Bonu Johnson sometimes last year.

He said: “Experience was the problem. Some of them this was the first time [they are] playing in such a match. This was the problem. For the next game we will try and bring new players into the team.”

The Mauritanians played their gameplan to perfection and refused to allow the Scorpions space to play their normal game and Mancini admitted they were outclassed by their visitors

 “Not winning the game is not a good result but I think the Mauritanians played a very good match. The Gambian team is young. This was a very important match [for the team]. [Despite the result] it is possible we can grow better and better. Players like Abdou Jammeh, Tijan Jaiteh and Dawda Bah made important appearances. Their appearances was important to prepare for the game against Ivory Coast,” he added.

Also speaking at the press conference, Patrice Nouvou, the Maurabitones coach said: “We started very slowly but as the match went on we kept pace with the game where we won most of the important battles and tackles [in the game]. Initially my plan was to paly the counterattack and hit the opponent on the break but later we managed to develop and knock the ball around.

“We have a very young team with some players we are trying to intergrate into the team. The match was a bit physical although it was a friendly match. On the physical aspect it does not translate a friendly nature and it was a very interesting game.”