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Momodou
Denmark
11511 Posts |
 Posted - 22 Mar 2012 : 08:39:36
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Gambian champions relieved by Fifa ruling
 Brikama United coach Bassiru Barjo has expressed relief at the Fifa ruling that has allowed The Gambia's teams to continue playing football.
On Saturday, a team founded in 2003 faces the biggest match in its history when hosting African title-holders Esperance in the Champions League.
"It was a very important decision that has taken place," Barjo told BBC Sport.
Fifa created a Normalisation Committee to oversee new elections in the Gambian FA after the latter's dissolution.
The country's sports ministry risked the wrath of football's world governing body when sacking the Gambian FA (GFA) following the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations defeat at home to Algeria last month.
Despite the threat of 'severe sanctions' from Fifa should the decision stand, a meeting in Zurich on Tuesday created a path forward for the Gambian game.
While this clears the Scorpions to contest World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers in June, the decision in the immediate future was more important for Brikama United.
Despite being only nine years old,the Gambian league winners knocked out Senegal's Ouakam in the first round of their maiden Champions League campaign.
Esperance, a club founded in 1919 and which has twice been crowned African champions, visit on Saturday for a match Barjo believes is the biggest in his club's short existence.
"We were founded in 2003 - a very young team compared to Esperance, who were founded in the early 1900s - so that's nearly 100 years' difference.
"Esperance are the current club champions in Africa and Brikama is nowhere, so if we are playing Esperance at this level it is set to be one of the greatest days in our history."
Despite the gulf in years and experience, Barjo believes his side can pull off an upset - at least in the home leg of the second round tie.
"We still believe we can beat Esperance in Brikama. I know how well-prepared our boys are, and we are not distracted by the league, so I like to think the boys can do it," he said.
Brikama is a team that is owned by the town of the same name, but Barjo says support is not just coming from the diminutive town but from all across the West African nation.
"The whole town is excited about the match - and not just the town, but the whole of The Gambia," he explained. "We have moral and financial support from all ends of the country."
A crowd of some 10,000 is expected on Saturday, with the return leg set to take place in Tunisia on the weekend of 06-08 April.
Source: BBC
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2012 : 22:24:28
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RELATED BANTABA TOPIC;
DAILY OBSERVER NEWS;
THE POINT NATIONAL NEWS AND EDITORIAL;
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Edited by - kobo on 22 Mar 2012 22:28:16 |
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Momodou
Denmark
11511 Posts |
Posted - 26 Mar 2012 : 11:11:48
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African Champions Esperance of Tunisia held by Brikama
Esperance of Tunisia have begun the defence of their African Champions League title with a 1-1 draw in The Gambia against Brikama United.
Wajdi Bouazzi gave Esperance the lead in their secound round first leg game as early as the 3rd minute as he capitalisd on a defensive mistake to score.
The lead lasted just nine minutes as Brikama's Musa Bojang headed home a corner to level the scores.
Esperance went on to dominate the second-half but were unable to find a winner.
Source: BBC Sports |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 26 Mar 2012 : 18:35:42
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DAILY OBSERVER NEWS;
THE POINT NEWS;
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Edited by - kobo on 27 Mar 2012 00:39:10 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2012 : 02:06:08
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JOLLOF NEWS;
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2012 : 17:11:22
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DAILY OBSERVER NEWS;
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