Who are the best big-game goal scorers in football history?

Gerd Müller picks up a few more points on his way to topping the list of big-game goal scorers. Photograph: Staff/AFP/Getty Images

Gerd Müller

Whose goals have most changed the course of football history? Lionel Messi scored 91 goals in 2012 to beat Gerd Müller's record of 85 in a calendar year set back in 1972. Messi seems to break records every time he plays. Putting five goals past Bayer Leverkusen in last season's 

Champions League was a remarkable achievement but, for all his heroics, Messi still lags some way behind Müller when it comes to changing games on the grandest stages. 

Sportswriter Liam Corbett of the Average Opposition blog has analysed all the goals scored in the world's biggest competitions since 1950 – that's 1,931 goals by 1,071 different scorers in 63 years – and complied a list of football's top 50 big-game goal scorers. This exercise is about the goals that have shaped matches at the very pinnacle of the sport. And Gerd Müller has scored more that anyone.

Seaview tactician Njie believes can escape from relegating

Seaview’s tactician has hopes, that his side can make-a-stay in the top tier of The Gambia Football Federation’s (GFF) domestic league for next year, following their goalless draw match against the defending champions Real De Banjul on Sunday at the Serekunda East mini stadium. Ousainou Njie who team is still in the relegating zone with only five games to go said his side has to fight very hard in order to stay in the first division competition. 

 “We are going to fight very hard until the last day of the competition, its football anything can happen. I am not happy with our draw, however the performance was good. Finishing is our main problem, we contain big teams but we sleep up at the finishing area,” He said.

Demba Kunda Khasseh emerged winners in DSACD Tourney

Demba Kunda Khasseh FC

Demba Kunda Khasseh were on Friday crowned the champions of Dynamic Serahule Association for Changes and Development (DSACD) third edition football tournament at the expense of their URR rivals Kulary, played at the Serekunda East mini-stadium.

The only goal from striker Saibo Jagana, alias (Police) in the 43^rd minute of the game was all but enough to give Demba Kunda Khasseh the victory after squandering a series of goal chances in the first half, which ended goalless. The goal puncher was booked for taking off his jersey, while celebrating his goal.

After resumption for the second half, it became a period full of chances where Kulary came closer to the chance of scoring, through their striker Hagie Touray, but faiedl to find the back of the net out of hesitation.  The closest shot for Kulary made a different in the game.

Njie Goree Promotions holds wrestling championship

Abdoulie Njie (Njie-Goree Promotions), a new state-of-the-Art entertainment and promotional organisation, last Saturday held a wrestling championship at the Serrekunda West Mini-Stadium, which coincided with the occasion marking the celebration of President Yahya Jammeh’s 48^th birthday.

The organization plans to revive the nation’s rich cultural heritage, through enhancing youths’ participation in wrestling.

President Jammeh, it is said, has been the number one supporter of the (Njie Goree Promotions) initiative.

Speaking at the programme, Modou Kara Gaye, a member of the Njie Goree Promotions, welcomed and thanked their sponsors, such as Africell, Gambia Bird, Warga Tabara, and Best and Panther from Senegal, for stepping in to revive the culture, through organising grand wrestling such as this.

GAMBIA PLANS FRIENDLY AHEAD OF IVORY COAST CLASH

Senior National Team (Scorpions)

Gambia are planning to set the ground running with a friendly match in sight ahead of a less-to-to-gain world Cup qualifier home match against Ivory Coast next month. The Scorpions team will host the visiting star-littered Ivorian side on June 8th at the Independence stadium. Mancini’s charges are condemned to Group C table baseline, picking a single point out of possible nine points with a lone draw to comfort with since the race for a slot in Brazil World Cup 2014 gathered momentum.

The 59-year-old Italian tactician watched helplessly his outfit turned to tatters by a rampaging slightly overhauled elephants of Ivory Coast. And, in an attempt to avert the inflicting of any further damages, Mancini and the country football body are planning a host of international test matches with one likely to be staged this month. “Yes, we are working on a friendly match and there is no element of truth that we have canceled four matches,” Normalisation Committee public liaison officer-cum journalist, Bakary B Baldeh, who wouldn’t be drawn into disclosing Gambia’s prospective opponent confirmed to our sports desk.

GBA and MoYS celebrate president’s 48th birthday with international tournament

GBA President Mohamadou Musa Njie (Papa Njie)

As part of celebration marking the 48^th birthday anniversary of His Excellency Sheikh Professor Dr. Alhagie Yahya A.J.J Jammeh, the Ministry of Youth and Sports in collaboration with the Gambia Basketball Association will organize a tri-nation international basketball tournament starting from 23-26^th May, 2013.

The tournament start on Thursday with the host country The Gambia basketball team lucking horns with the team from the sister republic of Senegal at the Independence Stadium in Bakau. On Friday will be another entertaining fixture between two visiting teams Senegal and Mauritania, and on Saturday Gambia will robe solders with Mauritania on the day of the birthday celebration to end the knockout stage. On Sunday will be the final between the best two teams of the group stage, all matches of the tournament will be play at the Independence Stadium starting at 4:30pm each day, and the entrance at the gate is free of charge.

Lamin Cham’s Tribute to late Max Jallow

Death struck Max Jallow on Sunday 19 May and thousands of Gambians are mourning the life of a rising charismatic figure whose charm and openness made him multitude of friends and admirers. But that was Max at a distance.

For those close to him among them myself, Max was a gigantic and towering personality laden with immense courage and determination that made him an indispensable ally in social and community service. I began to notice this ever-amiable young boy in the late 80s but when sport brought us closer on the birth of the Brufut Marathon in 1995, I came to know the man the more and his unrivaled  passionate and enthusiasm for sport and youth development, innovations and inspirational leadership.

DHL, Manchester United legend Quinton Fortune visit The Gambia

From left to right, Alhagie Biri Njie, Quinton Fortune, Sang Ndong

Banjul, May 2013- Recently DHL’s valued customers were fortunate enough to spend an afternoon with legendary Manchester United former striker, Quinton Fortune. This was made possible by DHL who are the official logistics partner for Manchester United, the number one football club in the world.

VIP guests attended the event at Hotel Karaiba and had the opportunity to meet Quinton Fortune, who was on hand to sign autographs and memorabilia, and to discuss what has made the team a success. This is evident with its 659 million supporters worldwide, of which 173 million are in Africa and the Middle East alone.

LAST RESPECTS FOR MAX JALLOW

 Late Mamudou Max Jallow

The Gambia’s sporting fraternity Sunday paid their last respects to the late executive secretary of the National Sports Council, Mamudou Max Jallow, who passed away the same day at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital following a brief illness, aged 43.
 

Jallow was appointed as the executive secretary of the Sports Council in 2011 after obtaining a Master’s Degree in Sports Science in the United Kingdom. He first joined the Sports Council in 2003 as a Development Officer. Several of his colleagues, friends, and acquaintances amongst others spoke to GRTS and Observer Sports as they paid their last respects to the man who will be difficult to replace in the sporting fraternity.

Sanna is top Gambian earner in MLS

Sanna Nyassi

Gambia international Sanna Nyassi is the highest paid Gambian football in the Major League Soccer, according to a players’ union release.

Gambian footballers earn some of the lowest salaries in the United States according to the MLS players’ union and as it does every year, the Major League Soccer Players’ Union has released 2013 salary information for every single player in the top flight with Sanna Nyassi being the highest paid Gambian footballer.

Sanna, who plays for the Montreal Impact is the only Gambian with a six-figure pay earning a base salary of $140,000 and a guaranteed compensation fee of $147,625.

Sanna’s twin brother, Sainey, who plays for New England Revolution, makes a base salary of $88,200 with a guaranteed compensation fee of $94,950.

GFA DIVISION ONE LEAGUE ROUND UP

Steve Biko FC

Steve Biko consolidated their lead at the peak opening up a five-point lead with a hard fought 2-1 win over tumbling Samger at the Banjul mini-stadium on Sunday. Coach Abdoulie Bojang side were teetering on the brink of being dislodged from the top but close title contenders Real De Banjul threw away the begging chance after the all whites lost to third place Armed Forces at the Serrekunda East mini-stadium last week Saturday. A lone goal from playmaker and midfielder landing Darboe sealed all points for the Soldiers.

Threatened by Real’s recent upsurge, Biko had the academy Boys packed off in bondage trouncing them 2-1 to amass twenty-seven points. The Bakau outfit looks on spot to clinch their first title of the division after dozens of attempts without success. Bakau United remains third in the league with twenty points in fourteen domestic matches following a 2-2 stalemate with eight positioned Gambia Ports Authority.

GAMBIA U-19 REVELS IN ITALY

Peter Bonu Johnson

Gambia U-19s teed off the Umbria tournament in Italy with a 2-0 win over San Marino in their opening Group A fixture on Tuesday. Goals in each half from Hawks Momodou Badjie and captain Modou Jallow had it all sealed for the Gambia Young Scorpions as coach Bonu Johnson gets off to a blistering start in the 8-team tournament.

However, Gambia were held to a 2-2 draw in a renew rivalry against a side they lost to during the last competition. Badjie came to the rescue and saved his side of their blushes converting from the spot-kick to secure a 2-2 draw in the nick of time when the Gambia were trailing With a twenty-man squad, gaffer Peter Bonu Johnson will be availed options for his next selection.

GFF inaugurates interim committees’ regional football

GFF Normalisation Committee Chairman

The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) formally GFA under the Normalisation Committee who’s term ends next month, is pleased to inform the general public that as part of its process leading to the election of new executives in June, it has recently inaugurated interim committees to assist in the process of establishing regional football associations.

The inauguration, according to a media dispatch from the Football Federation, was held at the GFF Football House in Kanifing on Wednesday 1st May, 2013. This is one step towards the June election of a new executive as contained in the adopted constitution of the GFF. “The Committee is set up for an interim period of one month to build up a framework for the creation of regional football associations and to elect regional executive members in preparation for the elections on June 29th,” it added. 

DHL Express to host former Man United duo Quinton Fortune Monday

Quinton Fortune former Man Utd player

The DHL Express Gambia Ltd will be hosting a Manchester United Talk Show in The Gambia on the 13^th May 2013 at the Kairaba hotel and the former Manchester United legendary midfielder Quinton Fortune and Mrs. Louise Otter of TREBLE GROUP who are organizing the event on behalf of DHL Express in many countries in Africa.

The high profile delegates are expected to jet at the Banjul International Airport at 00:35 on Monday morning. Base on the range of activities of the day, the delegates are will make a courtesy call on the Minister of Youth and Sports at the minister premises by 09:00am to 10:00am on the same day which is yet to be confirmed.

From 11:00am to 12:00pm, the former Man United duo will be engage in donation of children’s school bags to SOS village in Kotu, before appearing at a media interview at Kairaba Hotel at 15:30 to 16:00 hours. The activities of the day will wrapped up by DHL Man United Function at Kairaba Hotel Jama Hall from 16:00 to 20:00 hours.