The Daily Observer (Banjul)
Nanama Keita
12 November 2009
column
The dispute between the Banjul Sports Committee and the Organising Committee of Muhammed Yahya Jammeh Perpetual Cup competition, formerly Zonal Cup, seems to be over after the former decided to confirm their participation despite having their protest over match venues turned down.
The City Boys have earlier threatened to boycott this year's Championship if the Gambia Football Association did not address their request to have two of their three group matches moved to a different venue. The capital team, who share the group as arch rivals Brikama, Serrekunda East and Lamin, had insisted that the venues for their first and final group fixtures against Serrekunda East and Brikama respectively were not at their advantage and insisted on change of venue if they were to cooperate with the Organising Committee.In a protest letter to the national football's governing body, the City Boys proposed that their first fixture against Serrekunda East, which is scheduled to take place at the Serrekunda East ground, be moved to Serrekunda West, while their final fixture against Brikama be moved from Brikama Box Bar mini-stadium to Serrekunda East mini-stadium in the name of a fair play.
In response to the request, the Gambia Football Association said its decision on the fixtures were final and later gave the City Boys a 24-hour ultimatum to confirm their participation in the event or otherwise.Expectedly, the last year's runners up subdued to the decision, but hinted that their decision to participate was only meant to accord their youngsters the opportunity to showcase their talents with pride and integrity for the good of their career. "The aims and objective of the Super Nawetaan is to build, cement and unite the football bodies as a family unit within the GFA and also to enable the blossoming young talents to showcase their talents, so that they can be scouted and recruited by the divisional clubs."
"Banjul as one of the biggest and most successful zones has been at the forefront of discovering and supplying the country with talented players who has used the Super Nawetaan as a platform to build their career. The Committee cannot deny these boys and the country this opportunity but we will compete with pride and integrity even though the GFA is too pompous to accept that the fixture is bias and discriminatory," an acceptance statement issued by the Banjul Sports Committee and signed by secretary general Ebou Faye reads.
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