Gambian Kora maestro Jaliba Kutayeh has revealed that he is a keen follower of Gambian football.

Jaliba Kuyateh made the revelation as he entertained guests at a Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony organised by Real de Banjul FC Sunday at the Penchami Hall of the Paradise Suites Hotel in Kololi.

He also said he has been a staunch supporter of Real de Banjul since he was a young boy.

It was not the first time that Jaliba declared his support for football, having already had a football club renamed after him -Jaliba United in the Brikama Youth and Sport Committee Nawettan.

Real, who have made two previous appearances in the CAF Champions League, exiting in the preliminary stages in 1999 and at the first round stage in 2001, are hoping to go two more steps further to become the first Gambian team to qualify to the group stages of the CAF Champions League. If they are able to achieve that, then they will become the richest club in Gambian club football.

With a purse of US$1.5 million on offer to the winners and US$1 million to the losing finalist, the new Champions League has become the second richest club competition in Africa after the South African ABSA Premiership worth $2 Million. Semi-finalists in the competition pocket home $700,000 while the third place teams in the group stages each receive $500,000. The fourth place teams in each group pocket home $400,000.

In the new format, the league champions of the respective CAF member countries go through a series of preliminary rounds until a last 16 stage. The eight winners of this round are then drawn into two mini-leagues of four teams each, with each team playing each other on a home and away basis. At the end of the league stage, the top two teams in each group meet in the semi-finals, with the winners going through to play the final.