SCB continues CSR boost to Liverpool

SCB MD
Humphrey Mukwereza

Standard Chartered Bank Gambia Ltd on Sunday held a match-viewing of Liverpool Football Club’s crucial returning leg of the English Premier League against third-place holders Chelsea FC, as part of the international bank’s sponsorship agreement with the club over the years.

The viewing ceremony organised by SCB was held at the Sheraton Resort and Spa in Brufut.

Liverpool was held to a 2-2 draw after coming from behind twice to level the scores through Luis Suárez.

The injury-time goal, being the most significant of all, allowed the Reds to share points with Chelsea at the crucial stage of the premier league table. 

Liverpool  are struggling not to drop beyond the position of UEFA junior championship stage, while Chelsea are also trying to maintain their position in the first three of the table in order to play Europe champions league, after their poor performance in this year’s competition as defending champions.

 In his remarks on the match-viewing ceremony, SCB Managing Director Humphrey Mukwereza said: “In 2010, the bank saw a need to raise its profile and brand visibility across Asia, Africa and Middle East, through the sponsorship of Liverpool Football Club - a key contender in the English Premiership.

Zenith Bank Honoured for winning Governor Jatta’s Trophy

Zenith Bank Starting 11 for Saturday's final

Modou Lamin Badjie, captain of Zenith Bank (GAMBIA) LTD has said that, they were honored as a Bank for winning the 2013 edition of the Governor Jatta’s trophy.

Zenith Bank (Gambia) Ltd beat EcoBank by 5-4 on post match penalty kicks in the finals played at the Father Gough Sports Complex in Manjai Kunda over the weekend after drawing 1-1 in regulation time.   

Zenith Bank (Gambia) Ltd it could be noted reached the quarterfinals of the competition the previous two years.

Speaking to the captain of the team in an interview, he said winning the trophy was achieved through team work, noting that, either they win the trophy or not there is always motivation at Zenith Bank. He stated that, come next year they will defend the trophy, adding that, Zenith Bank have changed the Inter-Bank tournament because they have a fan club and also looking the crowd they pull in every game.

Zenith Bank is the champion of football, Says MD Emeka Anyaegbuna

MD/CEO Zenith Bank, Emeka Anyaegbuna

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Gambia Ltd, Emeka Anyaegbuna, has said that Zenith Bank is the champion of football. 

Mr Anyaegbuna was speaking on Monday to Marketplace Business newspaper in an exclusive interview at his office on Kairaba Avenue following his bank’s excellent performance over their archrival Ecobank Gambia Ltd in the final of the 10^th edition of the Late Governor Famara Jatta’s Memorial football tournament organised by the Central Bank of The Gambia, played on Saturday at the Father Gough Sports Complex in Manjai-kunda.

The aim and objective for organizing the tournament is to foster understanding and cooperation among bankers out of their banking halls.

“I am particularly excited about the fact that we have clinched the Governor’s trophy for the first time in 2013,” Mr Anyaegbuna said.

“The candid truth is that we prepared for the tournament. I appreciate the players and the entire staff of Zenith Bank who cheered the players to success.” 

Minister: Essential pillars are missing in our Gambian football

Y&S Minister Alieu K. Jammeh

The minister of Youth and Sports Alieu K. Jammeh has told journalists that essential pillars are missing in our Gambian football.  Minister Jammeh was speaking at a press conference on Saturday after the GFA constitutional adoptive congress held at the Independence Stadium Friendship Hostel hall.  “We have not been in the essential place; because the essential pillars of our football are not there,” 

Alieu Jammeh said “one these essential pillars are our domestic leagues, we want to have proper and very competitive leagues, we want our communities to go and watch our national leagues. We should have functional football clubs that can represent the country at the international competitions”, Jammeh said.

 “Other critical pillars are our schools and community sports, which are lacking, in those days we used to have very competitive schools and community sports, but now everything has varnish”.

“To have a strong and efficient secretariat and technical support, if these pillars are in place we can say our football is there.  People are not playing a respectable football in the country, that’s why we are beaten in the competitions and everybody at home is disappointed.”

Sukuta elect Councilor: My motto is community interest first before an individual interest

The newly independent elected candidate for Sukuta Ward Ebrima J. Cham has said that his development motto is putting community’s interest first before an individual interest in order to achieve his targeted development plans in the ward for the next five years as promised to his electorates during campaign period.

The newly elected councilor started his projects with a drilling a borehole in Sukuta Dembadu football field costing an amount of D75, 000 thanks to the financial supports he gained from the natives of the community, even though he is not yet officially inaugurated in to office.

Speaking to MatketPlce in an interview at the project side, the newly councilor Ebrima J. Cham expressed his happiness with turnout from the youth. “The turnout from the both side of the youths has real impress me especial on my first project even though am not yet inaugurate in to office. This has demonstrated to me that the youths are ready to work with me for the next five years for the development in the ward”, Cham said.

IOC CONDEMNS MEDDLING IN GNOC SAGA

International Olympic Committee has condemned interference into the issues of the Gambia National Olympic Committee, MarketPlace Sport desk can confirmed. The condemnation is in reaction to the recent injunction issued by the country’s upper court to put on hold the GNOC elective congress pending a court hearing –a move which, according to IOC and Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, runs counter to GNOC constitution and the principle of the Olympic Movement.

In a statement issued 11^th April, IOC and ANOCA urge that the matter that has led to the creation of two feuding camps be resolved at NOC level, while voicing ‘extreme’ surprise over the request for a government body to oversee the Committee’s presidential elections. Signed by IOC NOC relation director and ANOCA president Intendant General Lassana Palenfo and copied to Sports Minister Alieu Kebba Jammeh, the three-page dispatch states that elections must only be conducted by an independent three-member election commission elected by the GNOC General Assembly, as stipulated in the constitution.

SYSA CHAIRMAN WELCOME SUKUTA COUNCILOR INITIATIVE

SYAS chairman Bubacarr Cham

The chairman of Sukuba Youth and Sports Association (SYSA) Buba Cham has said that the sports committee has welcome the first initiative of the newly Independence elected candidate for Sukuta Ward Mr. Ebrima J. Cham’s intervention of drilling a borehole in the ‘Dembaduh’ mini stadium in Sukuta. 

The sports chairman was speaking in an interview with MarketPlace sports reporter on Saturday at the project side in Sukuta. Delighting on the importance of the project Mr. Cham said “the main purpose of this project is for the field to have a sufficient water to water the bahamas grass in the field. Some years ago we use to have a very good bahamas grass in the field, but apparently we ran into water storage which result to killing the grass in the pitch. Perhaps with the coming of this borehole project initiated by the newly elected councilor, we are confident that it will complement the effort of promoting sporting games in Sukuta”, he said.

DELEGATES ADOPT GFA DRAFT CONSTITUTION

Alh. Omar Sey and Minister Jammeh

Delegates on Saturday adopted Gambia Football Association GFA draft constitution in a controversial adoptive congress held at the Independence Stadium Hostel hall in Bakau. This is the second adoptive congress of the GFA draft constitution since the coming into office of the normalization committee, the first was held on the 8^th December 2012 which was subsequently rejected by the world football governing body FIFA and urged Gambia to go for a second congress in the quickest possible time

A total of 54 delegates were invited by the GFA for the second adopted congress on Saturday.  Only 48 were present 27 voted for and 20 voted against to have a total of 47, while one vote was missing to complete the total 48 delegates present. 

The method use in this last adoptive congress was quite different from the first congress. During the voting process, delegates were invited from the regions by the GFA normalization committee through their regional governors. Out of the five regions, four were allowed to vote, while Banjul, KMC and West Coast Region were exempted from voting. Each region was represented by five delegates, and out of the list only one was entitled to vote on behalf of each region according to the new rules governing the Saturday’s adoptive congress.

President Jammeh gives cash to Red Scorpions

President Jammeh

President Yahya Jammeh on Wednesday gave D100,000 to Red Scorpions football team.

Presenting the cash to the team, the Minister of Youth and Sports Alieu K. Jammeh hailed the performance of the team despite been a performance at a friendly international tournament.

Speaking to reporters shortly after the presentation ceremony at the Friendship Hostel in Bakau on Wednesday, the team’s head coach Choro Mbenga expressed his joy saying she was not amazed with the gesture from the head of state, as he has been a man of extraordinary generosity.

GVO to sent Marathon Duo Greater Manchester Marathon

Hoja Secka

The Gambia Volunteers Organisation (GVO) will sent Marathon duo Hoja Secka who also doubles as Gambia’s long distance female runner, to participate in the popular Greater Marathon which will take place on the 26th of May this year. The first Manchester Marathon took place in 1908. It resumed in 2012 after a 10-year absence and has re-established itself as a popular race.

Secka a product of Gambia Armed Forces, who participated in the last Bradford Marathon in the United Kingdom in November 2012 will be returning to Great Britain next month for the event. Her participation in the Manchester Marathon is facilitated by The Gambia Volunteers Organisation, a non-profit making organisation established in 2009 by Roy Sanyang, a Gambian based in the UK.

Gambia Wrestling Association members edified

Matarr Jarjue president of the Gambia Wrestling Association Wednesday presided over the opening ceremony of a six-day training course wrestling for referees, technicians, administrators, coaches and wrestlers held at the Baobab Resort Hotel in Senegambia. The training brought together over forty participants nationwide, with the main objective of to develop wrestling in the Country.

Speaking at the opening, Matarr Jarjue said that the training will cover both theory and practical aspects of wrestling, while the rules and regulations dealing with the game will be clearly dealt with during the course of the training. He further stated that the course facilitators are experienced wrestling experts from the sister republic of the Senegalese Wrestling Federation.

Gambia down again in FIFA ranking

Senior National Team

Gambia slipped off further down by two places on FIFA, according to the world soccer governing body’s monthly country-rating release. One method used to gauge performance is based on competition activeness on international level but the Scorpions yet again fell short of making a new climb after a succession of dismal runs. Condemned to the base of the World Cup qualifier group bossed by Cote d’voire in C, Scorpions fans will have trouble downing on these seemingly heart-wrenching result.

 Gambia is ranked 146 –four places above football unknowns Hong Kong – and rating 40^th in Africa. In the continent, Mancini and men are ten places from bottom place occupants Djibouti who are 54^th.

GFA DELEGATES TO DECIDE ON DRAFT DOCUMENT

FIFA Delegate Primo and Alh. Omar Say

Delegates of the Gambia Football Association are to vote on re-adopting the draft constitution tomorrow. Scheduled to take place at the Independence Stadium Friendship Hostel, the adoptive congress is prompted after FIFA’s rejection of the final document where the football governing body later uncovered, upon investigation, that some of the clubs that voted during the December 8^th 2012 adoptive congress –did not at all exist.

 “FIFA having consulted their envoy to The Gambia who witnessed the adoptive congress and other relevant stakeholders that culminated in their Member Associations meeting held in Zurich concluded amongst other items the Gambia’s fate at its last adoptive congress and therefore formally wrote to the GFA to hold another congress under the new dispensation that would allow only legitimate stakeholders (teams that play regular GFA competitions) to partake in the forthcoming adoptive congress” a separate circular from the FA reads.

OB LEAVES FOR CAF U-17

Alhagie O.B Conateh

Gambia Football Association President Ousman B. Conateh has left for Morocco as part of CAF youth tournament organsisers. The FA boss left the shores of the country to his North African destination last night to join his Caf organizing comrades for the U-17 championship to start this weekend.

The Baby Scorpions are non-participants in this 10^th edition having pulled out in the eleventh hour incurring a fine of $1000 USD in the process by CAF. Gambia won the U-17 title in 2005 and 2009. The 10^th CAF U-17 championship gets underway in Morocco starting this weekend with hosts taking on Gabon in Group A match to be played at Complexe Sportif Mohammed V stadium in Casablanca on Saturday 13^th April at 1500hrs local time.

Soumpou Doo- Khatti final is set for Sunday

Muhammed Papa Njie

The most awaited football final organised by the umbrella Sarahuleh organisation, Soumpou Doo-Khatti is set to take place this Sunday, at the Independence Stadium in Bakau between Julangel FC and Alunhareh FC.

This is the second edition of the tournament to be organised by the association, through the youth wing under the guidance of Muhammed Papa Njie, the Secretary-General of the association, who also doubles as the Chairman of the sports committee.

Alunhareh FC made it to the final at the expense of Darsilami FC on a post penalty shoot-out after drawing in the game, while their opponent Julangel FC also made it through after snatching a late one nil win against the last year’s semi finalist Garawol FC.

Serekunda United, Sait Matty play a stalemate game

Serekunda United and Sait Matty FC on Sunday played a stalemate game in the ongoing Gambia Football Association GFA 2013 Second Division League championship, played at the Serekunda West Mini-Stadium.

The game was a close affair as both teams displayed some piece of fascinating football. But it was last year’s relegated side from the top flight Serekunda United, which dominated the game, creating some decent half chances in the first half which they failed to convert.

GFA Normalisation Committee mandate extend, what does it mean to Gambian football?

The World Football Governing Body FIFA has decided to extend mandate of GFA Normalisation Committee until June this year. This development came days after the regional league clubs reacted strongly to the FA for describing them as ghost clubs and are not qualified to vote in the congrss. What does the extention of the normalisation committee’s mandate mean to Gambian football. MarketPlace sports went to the street to sound the opinions of football enthusians in the Grater Banjul Area.

Speaking to was one Baba Saidykhan of Bakau Kachikally, said the decision is best know to FIFA and maybe Gambians should respect it, if it is the best way for our football. “ For me i have no personal problem as to any how the authorities responsible of running football in the country want to run it. But also those in concern should not take the opportunity of capitalising this situation as a means of stating for good. All of us as Gambians should think of putting our heads together to put solutions to this problem happening in our football irrespective of age  or position, what is important here is the brilliant ideas form people that can surely move the country football further”. Said Saidykhan.

ROC react to GFA Normalisation Committee

The Regional Organisation Committee(ROC)  responsible of running the affairs of football in the regions has reacted strongly against the decussion of the Gambia Football Association (GFA)  Normalisation Committee for denying their legitimate rights of the Regional League Clubs to participate in deciding the constitution of the GFA. 

In a letter written by the secretary general on behalf of Regional League Clubs sent to the GFA acting secretary general of the normalisation Committee dated on the 25^th March 2013 and copy to the National Assembly, FIFA, Regional Governors, Mayors and the Media  in which MarketPlace Business Newspaper sports desk has a copy in possession.

Papa Gassama to attend Referee seminar

Bakary Papa Gassama

Gambia’s most potential central referee Bakary Gassama (Papa ) who recently served as the fourth official of the London Olympic football final will be part of seven central referees from across Africa to take part in a FIFA seminar for prospective referees hoping to officiate in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

This seminar is part of the preparations for the World Cup selected match officials from the five continents will attend the seminar in their various confederations in April this year. The African seminar will be hosted in Morocco from 27 to 30 April 2013 while

Meanwhile, the others Seminars according to the information gathered will be held in USA (from 4-7 April), Paraguay (9-12 April), Zurich (16-19 April), UAE (22-25), all the training will held in the same month April 2013.