Gambia: Scorpions Infuriated With Sports Ministry

FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)

Sulayman Bah

13 June 2011

The Scorpions redeemed its battered reputation at international level with an away victory over African cup of Nations co-host Gabon in their build up to the Group F games. But the national team players were reduced to “beggars’ in the West Central African country. At one point, the Gabonese had to come to their rescue.

And, at the Seaview Garden Hotel, the enraged boys couldn’t help, but pour out their displeasure over their ordeal in Gabon with even the usually calm Ous Jallow losing his temper.

Mustapha Alassan-‘Toubabo’ Jarju who spurred his club to a promotion spot to the first division on eighteen league goals said, it is ‘frustrating’ to be playing under such circumstances.

“It is frustrating to play under such circumstances. I can stand everywhere and say that without Dahaba been on our side, the team would’ve crumbled by now because we have seen the support he has been giving us along the way. Take yesterday as an example when we landed at the airport at 2:00 am, there was no vehicle to take us and Dahaba had to arrange for a bus to take the young players who are living in Brikama to go home because they did not have fares to return to their homes. I agree with the coach, let them do something” laments Jarju, who already has five goals to his name at senior level.

“We got attacked by the Gabonese fans after the game and Nda was punched in the eye and if he happens to sustain an injury and lose his football career for nothing, is that fair?” Toubabo quizzed rhetorically.

Clubless Ousman Jallow who made it from the start against Gabon is equally annoyed and called on the Ministry to start fulfilling its obligations. The ex Al Ain player was more direct, specifically launching his tirades at the permanent Secretary.

“We know the economic state of the country is not that good but let them give us the support we need especially the young players coming up. For us we know that the head of state is not aware of all these because he has always been there for us and I am sure if he was aware, he would’ve done something about it.” Jallow, 22, who is touted to stay in Denmark for next season said.

Pa Modou Jagne who was punched by a Gabonese fan on the eye suggested, the Ministry to shift the job to G.F.A if they are incapable of running the game.

“If the ministry knows that they cannot run football for us, let them give it to the GFA to run it for us because the GFA has been running the show for us and everything was going smoothly but since they took over, there has been a lot of problems” pointing out at the ministry’s setting up of the Gambia for Gold committee as an obstacle to the progress of the various teams”.

“For me, the experience is not the first time; I have seen it on several occasions ranging from cancellations of test games and changes of plans at crucial moments. You have to understand that some of the players aren’t here not because they don’t want to play for their country but because there teams do not allow them to travel when after already sending invitations to the players they will be told that the plans have changed and again after three days you have to inform those same players that for a third time that the plans have changed once more for the same test game. Clubs don’t take us seriously anymore and that is why they refused to release their players.

“The motivation is very important but it is lacking, these are players and they make their monies through match allowances. So if they have to sacrifice two games with their clubs which they would have made a lot of money coming to play for their country not only for free but to spend their own money is very unfair. I know my players they play with their hearts for the country but the motivation is lacking”

“For me I am very proud of my players and everyone around me because it has been a team work. You have to invest in football if you want to see the results. Look at the games against Angola and Tunisia which we have won, because the players were assembled together and the defeats to Guinea Bissau and Equatorial Guinea were due to the team not training together so I am vindicated because we spent six days together and we secured the result against Gabon.”

For his part, Terema Dahaba questioned the role of the ‘Gambia for Gold Committee’- a body set up for generating income for various national teams.

“This whole situation is becoming confusing because there are a lot of sections now and you don’t know who is responsible for what. You have the Gambia for Gold, I don’t know what their role is in this situation, I don’t know what the role of the ministry, the sports council and the department of youth and sports is and we need to get answers but what I do know is that we are at a very crucial stage because this team is getting prepared for two crucial games against Namibia and Burkina Faso which are both most win games and if our preparations are going to continue this way, it will be very difficult for us to qualify”.

Prior to the game against Gabon, the players were coaxed to travel with the promise that their match bonuses would be posted to their various accounts. Efforts to reach the Sports Ministry proved futile. The paper will contact officials at the ministry of youth and sports and other stakeholders.

AllAfrica – All the Time